The actor Tom Cruise called a complete “craftsman” and the scene he dominated with a flicker of his eye
It’s easy to reduce Tom Cruise to his number-stacking movies. Mission: Impossible, the ‘Jack Reacher’ series and his big cinema-boasting blockbuster Top Gun: Maverick are some of the biggest films ever made, and Cruise’s presence certainly has a lot to do with that.
His charisma was confirmed in the 1980s, established in the ’90s and honed and crafted in the 21st century. But Cruise is actually a little cleverer than many people give him credit for.
Looking back at Cruise’s career, there are a number of roles that counter his action hero image. Sure, he is as happy to fly an F-50 fighter jet as he is to ride a motorbike off a cliff, but he has also delivered some very intense and intricate performances, such as Rain Man, Interview with the Vampire, Jerry Maguire, and Eyes Wide Shut. The truth is, Cruise simply loves cinema.
During a conversation on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Cruise explained just how much he adored watching and making pictures, claiming he watches at least one a day: ”I love it, I love movies, I’ll watch scenes of films the way some people will listen to like tracks of music. I’ll just go and I’ll pull up scenes to look at how they shot it.”
The star continued: “The opening monologue of ‘Patterns’ or the scene between Brando and [Al] Pacino [in ‘The Godfather’], any kind of movie, I just admire the structure of the scene, the performance. I watch most of the films that come out all over the world, and I go back and look [at others]”.
It means, if one man is neatly placed to pick out some of the best actors in the world, then it is Cruise. And, he was happy to give some accolades to one of his most adored co-stars, Jack Nicholson. Cruise found himself in the presence of greatness when he stood opposite Nicholson to deliver one of the most quoted scenes in movie history in 1992’s A Few Good Men and the legendary “you can’t handle the truth” line.
A classic patriotic movie about the importance of justice and liberty in the United States, Rob Reiner’s film follows a young, immature military lawyer, played by Cruise, who defends Marines accused of murder. A rousing courtroom drama featuring one of the best movie monologues of all time, Cruise gives a complex performance in this complicated war film that questions every morality of conflict, and it was during this legendary piece of dialogue that Cruise saw Nicholson flex his muscles.
“I’d been thinking about it for months,” revealed Cruise. “And it was like, ‘Here it is, man, I’m going to enjoy every moment of this.’”
He claimed, “People came from all around just to watch us play that scene. They were showing up along the edges. So many people. And when the scene ended the first time, there was applause…God, it was exciting. It was electric.”
The scene has become a history-making cultural touchpoint and relies heavily on Nicholson’s uniquely bullish delivery. Despite the scene featuring Nicholson blowing his top in such spectacular fashion, Cruise also felt he included little details that the camera could capture. He explained, “He understands the camera in such a manner that the power had to come from stillness. So he made his movements so minimal.”
He added, “When it comes to the key point, Jessup doesn’t even realise my character has beaten him, but you can see the flicker of Jack’s eyes, and it’s not calculated. He just understands the power of the frame. That’s what makes him a craftsman.”
An actor recognising the brilliance of another is nothing new, but this moment does show just how deeply connected Cruise is with moviemaking. He knew that it wasn’t all about the big moments but the small ones that made a spectacular scene and movie. It’s proof that he might be a blockbuster guarantee, but Cruise also loves the little things.
