‘American Made’ is the best Cruise movie in a long time
“A MOVIE star is not an artist,heisanart object,” said the famed film historian, Richard Schickel.
SO, over the weekend Iw ent to an art exhibit. That is, I took in the new Tom Cruise movie, “American Made.”
Cruise has always been one of my favorite actor/ movie stars. His charisma, right from the start, was so blinding as to obfuscate histale nt.
His talen t—likethatof many great stars — was dependent on an instantly identifiable look and sound and a battery of mannerisms sprung from the head of — in this case — Cruise. He has likely made more mo neyfor Hollywood than any other male actor — his films have grossed approximately $9 billion. He has been nominated for three Academy Awards (”Born on the Fourth of July,” “Magnolia” and “Jerry Maguire”), but so far, Hollywood has yet to put him at the podium with a little golden guy. He might have to wait until he looks decrepit and plays a beatup alcoholic or a victim of Alzheimer’s. (Cruise is 55, but most of the time, doesn’t look it.)
For far lesser performances than Cruise has given in at least six films, others have garnered the ultimate show biz honor, but for reasons known only to the industry, Cruise is kept at a distance. As I will never have to date or marry Cruise or loyalties. (In the film, we listen to anything he has aresup posed to believe to say about his spiritual he’s attached to his family, beliefs, I remain firmly in and is a kind of good guy his corner as a performer. doing ba d things for them. Iloved“FarandAway”! In real life he was, well —
The on ly“s candal” not Tom Cruise!)
Cruise has ever been The film, which moves involved in, is h iscomat warp speed, is a parmitment to the controverody, a cautionary tale, an sial tenants of Scientolexpose, a crime drama, ogy. Drunks, drug addicts, a comedy, an action film. the sexually promiscuous, Does it always make v ery, v ery mea n people sense? Ore ver? Nope. and near and actual imbeBut one thing “American ciles have won Oscars, but Made” does not aim to be not Cruise. is a documentary.
He’s likely not weepKudos to d irectorDoug ing bitter tears among his Liman, who guided Cruise many, many millions of through the sci-fi film dollars, nor do we feel as “Edge of Tomorrow.” This strongly about his excluone, “American Made,” sion, as we do about, say, feels lik e something we’ve the exclusion of Doris Day. seen before, in variations Still, his Oscar-less state of drama and comedy, but always gives me pause. the Liman/Cruise collabo
“American Made” will ration gives it a frenetic, if not get Tom an Oscar, or synthetic, freshness. even a nomination. (Wait. Liman is also known
I t ake that back. The perfor“Mr.andMr s. Smith” formance has more than the film that brought enough charm and energy Angie and Brad together, to rate a nomination.) and “The Bourne Iden
But it is the very best tity,” the first and by far Tom Cruise movie in some the best, Jason Bourne time, and it is so clasfilm. High marks as well to sic, such a throwback to Sarah Wright, who plays many of his earlier hits, Cruise’s wife, and (espewith an appealing e dgeof cially) Domhnall Gleematurity, that it is hard to son the CIA operative who resist. essentially gets the crazy
The movie is very going in this movie. (His loosely based, on the name is already being banskuzzy, real-life advendied about for Oscar contures of an unappealsideration.) ing character named But the movie belongs Barry Seal. He was a TWA to, is made for, and renpilot who beca meaCIA dered hugely entertaining informer and a drug smug- by Tom Cruise, movie star gler, a man with no disdeluxe, very good actor, cernible moral code or objet d’ art.