Tom Cruise: maniac or creative maverick?
Tom Cruise is something of a Marmite figure in the film industry, often seen as a walking contradiction due to conflicting reports about his work ethic and unconventional lifestyle.
Some filmmakers have expressed unwavering admiration for Cruise, praising his dedication to the craft and his exceptional understanding of the film business—an awareness that many actors lack. Beyond his professional reputation, countless co-stars have gushed about the infamous ‘Cruise cake’, a gift he sends to his former colleagues annually. Actors like Kirsten Dunst have even described the excitement in their households when the treat arrives on their doorstep like clockwork each year.
However, alongside glowing praise from directors like Stanley Kubrick and Steven Spielberg are less flattering accounts from former crew members and romantic partners. Cruise’s connection to the controversial Church of Scientology has long been a point of contention, and his ex-wife Nicole Kidman was famously photographed jubilantly punching the air after finalising their divorce. Additionally, during the production of Top Gun: Maverick, recordings of Cruise yelling at crew members about adhering to Covid-19 safety protocols were leaked, making headlines and sparking further debate about his on-set behaviour.
Because of this, he remains a slightly puzzling and curious figure – is Cruise misunderstood? Or is he just a passionate maniac?
After Cruise was cast in Eyes Wide Shut, there was widespread speculation about Kubrick’s motivations for choosing him. Cruise was best known at the time for high-budget action thrillers and blockbusters like Mission: Impossible and Jerry Maguire, making him an unconventional choice for such a mysterious and cerebral project. Rumours swirled after the film’s release that Kubrick had deliberately used Cruise’s real-life reputation and public persona to subvert audience expectations, a technique the director was known for.
A similar approach had been attributed to Kubrick’s casting of Ryan O’Neal in Barry Lyndon. O’Neal, widely perceived as a so-called “himbo” and non-serious actor thanks to his roles in romantic comedies like Love Story and What’s Up Doc, was said to have been chosen precisely for this reputation, which Kubrick subtly wove into the character’s narrative.
It was said that Kubrick played on Cruise’s eagerness to be taken seriously as an actor by being cast in such a highbrow project, with the director also using subtle mind games to add to the film’s themes about sexuality and queerness. There is one scene in which Cruise’s character is walking down the street, and a group of extras shout homophobic slurs at him, visibly startling Cruise. However, it was rumoured that Kubrick encouraged the extras to say this without telling Cruise, wanting to spark a genuine reaction after many tabloid stories in real life that Cruise was closeted.
However, perhaps Cruise’s quest to be taken seriously and his later commitment to performing dangerous stunts without the use of special effects reveals his true intentions as an actor. While he can come across as intense and sometimes quite socially unaware, there are many creative geniuses who exist on a whole other plane of existence.
He can sound jarring and slightly aggressive in some of his interviews, but perhaps this is a result of his desire for people to take his work seriously, with people often dismissing the work of the actor entirely and asking questions that don’t reflect the effort required to perform. I’m sure many actors would snap after being asked another invasive question about their personal life when trying to promote a piece of art that they had poured their heart and soul into, and while sometimes coming across as rude, maybe Cruise is just more assertive about protecting his boundaries in the public eye.
The Scientology connection is undoubtedly odd, but as a performer, I find Tom Cruise endearing in his unwavering dedication to entertainment. His earnest attitude toward filmmaking underscores the importance of art, even if he’s not always taken seriously by the public. Cruise seems like the kind of artist who constantly feels the need to prove himself. While this contributes to his slightly intense and fervent persona, it also highlights his genuine love for making movies and his desire for audiences to connect deeply with his work. It’s clear that he strives to be seen as the artist he believes himself to be.
