Hi Friends,
Tom Cruise is no doubt a legend in Hollywood. This medium built actor is a success story which is unique in its own right. Writing a review on such a multitalented $ 100 million star is indeed a difficult task. He has proved himself again and again in diverse roles, which makes it even difficult to criticize his acting acumen. In this review I will try my best to tell you something about this great star. Please read this as a mini biography rather a review.
Personal Biography
Birth name ? Thomas Cruise Mapother IV
Height ? 5' 7'' (1.70 m)
In 1976, if you had told 14 year old Franciscan seminary student Thomas Cruise Mapother IV that one day in the not too distant future he would be considered one of the top 100 movie stars of all time, he would have probably grinned and told you that his ambition was to become a priest. Nonetheless, this sensitive, deeply religious youngster who was born in 1962 in Syracuse, New York, was destined to become Tom Cruise, one of the highest paid and most sought after actors in screen history. The only son (among four children) of nomadic parents young Tom spent his boyhood eternally on the move and by the time he was 14 he had attended 15 different schools in the US and Canada. He finally settled in Glen Ridge, New Jersey, with his mother and her new husband. While in high school, he developed an interest in acting and abandoned his plans of becoming a priest, dropped out of school, and at age 18 headed for New York and a possible acting career. The next 15 years of his life are the stuff of legends. He made his film debut with a small part in Endless Love (1981) and from the outset exhibited an undeniable box office appeal to both male and female audiences.
Though below average height and not particularly handsome in the traditional sense, within 5 years Tom Cruise was starring in some of the top grossing films of the 1980s including Top Gun (1986); The Color of Money (1986), Rain Man (1988) and Born on the Fourth of July (1989). By the 1990s he was one of the highest paid actors in the world earning an average 15 million dollars a picture in such blockbuster hits as Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles (1994) , Mission: Impossible (1996) and Jerry Maguire (1996) for which he received an Academy Award Nomination for best actor.
In 1990 he renounced his devout Catholic beliefs and embraced The Church Of Scientology claiming that Scientology teachings had cured him of the dyslexia that had plagued him all of his life. A kind and thoughtful man well known for his compassion and generosity, Tom Cruise is one of the best liked members of the movie community. He was married to actress Nicole Kidman until 2001. Thomas Cruise Mapother IV has indeed come a long way from the lonely wanderings of his youth.
Some Professional Achievements
For 1988, he became the first actor to have the distinction of starring in both the year's Oscar winner for Best Picture, Rain Man (1988) and the year's Razzie ''winner'' for Worst Picture, Cocktail (1988).
First actor in history to star in five consecutive films that grossed $100 million in the USA: A Few Good Men (1992), The Firm (1993), Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles (1994), Mission: Impossible (1996), Jerry Maguire (1996).
He has appeared in films opposite four directors who have also directed his films. Sydney Pollack, who directed The Firm (1993), appeared in Eyes Wide Shut (1999). Paul Thomas Anderson, who directed Magnolia (1999), appeared as an extra in Minority Report (2002). Minority Report (2002) director Steven Spielberg appeared in Vanilla Sky (2001) and Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002). Cameron Crowe, who directed Jerry Maguire (1996) and Vanilla Sky (2001), appeared in Minority Report (2002).
He was named the #1 top money-making star at the box office in Quigley Publications annual poll of movie exhibitors a record six between 1986 and 2001. Bing Crosby and Burt Reynolds both were named #1 for five consecutive years, and Clint Eastwood and Tom Hanks also have been #1 five times, but non-consecutively.
While he was working with Paul Newman in the The Color of Money (1986), he engaged in much conversation with the politically active actor. The resulting conscious raising changed him from an actor who ignored the jingoistic tone of Top Gun (1986) to a performer who chose a film with a strong anti-war tone, Born on the Fourth of July (1989) to counter his contribution to the former film.
His character Lt. Daniel Kaffee in A Few Good Men (1992) was based on real life U.S. Navy JAG Corp Donald Marcari, who now works as an attorney with Marcari, Russotto, and Spencer P.C. in Cheaspeake, Virginia.
He celebrated his 43rd birthday atop the holiday box office with War of the Worlds (2005).
Some Personal Life Peeks!!
Spouse
Nicole Kidman (24 December 1990 - 8 August 2001) (divorced) 2 (adopted) children
Mimi Rogers (9 May 1987 - 4 February 1990) (divorced)
He and Nicole Kidman adopted two children, Isabella and Connor.
Tom is a very sensitive man. A number of things of his personal life can prove that. He once stopped to help a hit and run victim and paid her hospital bills. The victim was aspiring Brazilian actress Heloisa Vinhas. [1996]. He and his wife Nicole Kidman donated to Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign for a seat in the U.S. Senate representing New York. [2000]
Tom Cruise is quite a sport loving person. Though he is not ?strong? built by usual standards, still he enjoys skydiving, scuba diving, and piloting his Pitts Special S-2B stunt plane. He earned his pilot's license in Toronto in 1994. He is right handed when writing, but does most things left handed. He was chosen as People Magazine's Sexiest Man Alive [1990].
Very interestingly he was considered for the lead in The Matrix (1999), the role that was eventually offered to Keanu Reeves and made for a big blockbuster hit.
He didn't stay for the remainder of the 2002 Academy Awards after opening them because it was his turn to look after his and ex-wife Nicole Kidman's children. He reportedly left the Kodak Theatre by a back door after opening proceedings and dashed home to watch the rest of the event on TV with his adopted kids Conor and Isabella.
Finally
This little write up was what little I can say about this great actor. I will not comment on his acting and his personal life affairs. He is such a great actor (one of my personal favorites) that one can not comment on his acting. Initially when I watched some of his movies, it seemed to me that he is just one of those good looking guy-next-door actors. But A few Good men, Born on 4th of July, Jerry Maguire and Vanilla Sky changed my opinion.
In above write up, I have tried to give some little information that I have which was collected from certain sources. I have tried to give some of his personal life anecdotes to say that he is indeed a good, soft, sensitive man as people say he is. Except that, everyone knows that he is a multi million dollar successful actor and an idol for a lot of youngsters all round the world.
Please do comment on this review, because this is my first review on some personality. Before this and some other movie reviews, I was writing only book reviews. I am trying to try my hand in some other areas and any feedback from you is appreciated.
Enjoy his movies,
Khagesh Gautam
