View Poll Results: Which decade do you think Tom Cruise was at his best?
1980's
15
38.46%
1990's
14
35.90%
2000's
9
23.08%
2010-Present
1
2.56%
Voters: 39. You may not vote on this poll
Which decade did Tom Cruise do his best work?
#26
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: Which decade did Tom Cruise do his best work?
#27
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Re: Which decade did Tom Cruise do his best work?
I love some movies with Tom Cruise, such as Vanilla Sky, Rain Man, Last Samurai, Edge Of Tomorrow.
I did not like the Vampire Diaries (
I did not like the Vampire Diaries (
#28
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Re: Which decade did Tom Cruise do his best work?
Eyes Wide Shut is of course his masterpiece. So I guess the answer is the '90s. But I like more of his 80s films.
He, or someone, developed a sort of framework during that period that was repeated successfully over and over. Top Gun, Cocktail, Color of Money, and Days of Thunder, are all essentially the same movie. And three out of four of them are great films.
He, or someone, developed a sort of framework during that period that was repeated successfully over and over. Top Gun, Cocktail, Color of Money, and Days of Thunder, are all essentially the same movie. And three out of four of them are great films.
#29
DVD Talk Godfather
Re: Which decade did Tom Cruise do his best work?
I voted 2000's only because the movies of his that I'd personally rewatch and enjoy the most are from that period. He's had better performances and movies in the 90's though.
#30
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Which decade did Tom Cruise do his best work?
Cruise knew how to play the characters too. The cocky pilot, the cocky bartender, the cocky pool player, the cocky race car driver...
#31
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Re: Which decade did Tom Cruise do his best work?
He's done a lot of good work over his career and has always had an impeccable ability to choose the right films with good directors.
Lately his choices seem to be so carefully calculated to a point where he's just another action hero for the international film market.
I guess that's par for course as the non-English speaking overseas market is where the financial growth lies for the film industry.
Lately his choices seem to be so carefully calculated to a point where he's just another action hero for the international film market.
I guess that's par for course as the non-English speaking overseas market is where the financial growth lies for the film industry.
Last edited by orangerunner; 11-23-17 at 07:22 PM.
#32
DVD Talk Gold Edition
Re: Which decade did Tom Cruise do his best work?
That's something else about him too is all of characters are striving to be the "the best" be it a wheel-chair veteran or a car driver. He rarely plays a loser or an outcast or if he does, the character is always redeemed at the end in a positive light.
#33
Re: Which decade did Tom Cruise do his best work?
I'm giving it to the 90s:
Days of Thunder
Far and Away
A Few Good Men
The Firm
Interview With the Vampire
Mission: Impossible
Jerry Maguire
Eyes Wide Shut
Magnolia
While they're not all great movies, that is an incredibly varied filmography that any actor would love. You've got two period movies requiring accents, an action movie, a sports movie, a comedy-drama that plays to all of his strengths, three thrillers (one of which is directed by frickin' Kubrick!), and a solid supporting role in an acclaimed auteur project. He gets to play the hero, the villain, and the loser. He got two Oscar nominations, and most of these movies made serious money. Aesthetically, he was at his peak too. He was a four quadrant superstar in the 90s.
Days of Thunder
Far and Away
A Few Good Men
The Firm
Interview With the Vampire
Mission: Impossible
Jerry Maguire
Eyes Wide Shut
Magnolia
While they're not all great movies, that is an incredibly varied filmography that any actor would love. You've got two period movies requiring accents, an action movie, a sports movie, a comedy-drama that plays to all of his strengths, three thrillers (one of which is directed by frickin' Kubrick!), and a solid supporting role in an acclaimed auteur project. He gets to play the hero, the villain, and the loser. He got two Oscar nominations, and most of these movies made serious money. Aesthetically, he was at his peak too. He was a four quadrant superstar in the 90s.
#34
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: Which decade did Tom Cruise do his best work?
Don't forget Taps and The Outsiders, even though Cruise had small parts.
But the 80s gets my vote for the masterpiece that is Losin' It.
But the 80s gets my vote for the masterpiece that is Losin' It.
#35
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Which decade did Tom Cruise do his best work?
"Vampire" was great, as was Cruise in it. I didn't like "Magnolia" as a whole, but felt Cruise was serviceable in it. "Eyes Wide Shut" is a classic.
#36
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Which decade did Tom Cruise do his best work?
For as goofy as I think he is on a personal level, I enjoy his body of work. Doesn't matter to me if he's really a closeted gay, but the whole Scientology thing is crazy to me. More than one actress has said he's nixed kissing scenes. WTF! Film it anyway Tom. I think he's pretty much an idiot mouthpiece for these Scientology whackos. He tends not to open his mouth about until he is asked questions in an interview.
I even enjoyed Mummy and Jack Reacher 2 so I give him a pass. As a 50 year old action hero he's one of the few that have gotten better with age instead of worse. We'll see how he holds up approaching 60.
I even enjoyed Mummy and Jack Reacher 2 so I give him a pass. As a 50 year old action hero he's one of the few that have gotten better with age instead of worse. We'll see how he holds up approaching 60.
#37
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: Which decade did Tom Cruise do his best work?
For as goofy as I think he is on a personal level, I enjoy his body of work. Doesn't matter to me if he's really a closeted gay, but the whole Scientology thing is crazy to me. More than one actress has said he's nixed kissing scenes. WTF! Film it anyway Tom. I think he's pretty much an idiot mouthpiece for these Scientology whackos. He tends not to open his mouth about until he is asked questions in an interview
#38
Re: Which decade did Tom Cruise do his best work?
#39
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Which decade did Tom Cruise do his best work?
Agreed. We poo-poo the fluff pieces where they gush over everyone they worked with as a family and the best experience ever. Then we trash them for being honest. I think in Tom's case though, his honesty is a little controversial. When you espouse one of the scientology doctrines like he did with Lauer you have to anticipate a little backlash.
#41
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Which decade did Tom Cruise do his best work?
Would he still have a career without the Mission Impossible franchise?
I liked War of the World and Born on the 4th of July was his best movie.
I liked War of the World and Born on the 4th of July was his best movie.
#44
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Re: Which decade did Tom Cruise do his best work?
I believe 2000's Cruise had the most broad ranging appeal. First you got Collateral which I think is his finest performance. I completely forget that I'm watching Tom Cruise in that role. It is so convincing and a fascinating character. Some of the best scenes are not the action, but the ones where he and Jamie Fox are just riding and talking in the cab.
Then you got War of the Worlds, Edge of Tomorrow, Oblivion, Jack Reacher, Minority Report, Mission Impossible sequels, The Last Samurai, Knight and Day, Valkyrie
Then you got War of the Worlds, Edge of Tomorrow, Oblivion, Jack Reacher, Minority Report, Mission Impossible sequels, The Last Samurai, Knight and Day, Valkyrie
#45
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Which decade did Tom Cruise do his best work?
As much as people put him down, looking at the poll numbers, his quality movies cover three decades. Not too shabby. Sure, his best stuff is behind him but that can be said for anybody.
#47
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: Which decade did Tom Cruise do his best work?
He was definitely the best part of Magnolia as Frank T.J. Mackie. He was great in Rain Man, Eyes Wide Shut, Valkyrie, Born on 7/4, and A Few Good Men. Generally, I will seriously consider seeing anything that he is in.
#48
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Which decade did Tom Cruise do his best work?
It doesn’t get much attention but I think The Firm is one of his best performances.