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- Tom Cruise Is at His Best Playing Complex Characters
- Critics Were Impressed by Tom Cruise’s Work in ‘Magnolia’
As a film enthusiast and critic with over two decades of experience, I’ve seen my fair share of acting performances that left me awestruck. Among these, Tom Cruise’s role in Paul Thomas Anderson’s “Magnolia” stands out as one of the most memorable and impactful.
In the course of his professional journey, Tom Cruise has virtually accomplished everything there is to achieve. He stands among the few remaining cinematic icons whose presence in a film’s title often guarantees its success, and his daring stunts across numerous action movies underscore his unwavering commitment to captivating global audiences. Occasionally, people tend to overlook Tom Cruise, the actor, as they get caught up in his fame. However, it is important to remember that he is much more than just a marquee name and a thrill-seeking stuntman. In recent times, Cruise has chosen to play Ethan Hunt predominantly, which may lead some to underestimate his acting abilities.
As a movie critic, I can confidently say that Tom Cruise has truly outshone himself in Paul Thomas Anderson’s 1999 masterpiece, “Magnolia.” This role is a testament to the actor’s versatility, as he excels when portraying complex human beings or antagonists, as evident in “Interview With the Vampire” and “Collateral.” In “Magnolia,” Cruise takes on the intricate character of Frank T.J. Mackey, a dating guru grappling with generational trauma. His portrayal is deeply moving, revealing a man who uses misogyny in his profession as a coping mechanism for his own wounds. With striking accuracy, Cruise delves into these sensitive issues, making it one of the most impactful performances of his career. It’s a turn that deserves recognition, and I firmly believe it was long overdue for an Academy Award.
In the direction of Anderson, the movie Magnolia presents an intricate tale involving a multitude of characters, played by a talented ensemble cast. Set within the San Fernando Valley over the course of 24 hours, the intertwined characters grapple with finding purpose in their lives – whether that be genuine happiness or simple forgiveness. Tom Cruise portrays Frank T.J. Mackey, one such character, who advocates a questionable approach to romantic relationships as a self-proclaimed dating guru, encouraging men to dominate their partners. This behavior, often rooted in misogyny, doesn’t arise without cause, and as his narrative unfolds, it becomes evident why he espouses this philosophy and how he must confront the traumas that have shaped him.
Tom Cruise Is at His Best Playing Complex Characters
In the midst of my career, even with the successful launch of the first Mission: Impossible film and its sequel on the horizon, I was still drawn to portray characters brimming with intricacy. The year that Magnolia graced the screens, I found myself immersed in Eyes Wide Shut, a role where I showcased my movie star charisma alongside undercurrents of male vulnerability. My then-wife, Nicole Kidman, played a part in challenging me with truths I wasn’t yet prepared to face.
In “Magnolia,” I had the opportunity to delve into multiple facets of a character, some of which would resurface in my future roles. At first glance, Frank might appear as an over-the-top caricature, a commentary on the expectations society places on men. Yet, beneath the surface, there’s a richness that transcends satire – something I showcased brilliantly in my role as Lex Grossman in “Tropic Thunder.” However, it was the exceptional script and my ability to unearth the genuine truth within the character that allowed me to portray the profound pain hidden behind Frank’s exterior. This emotional depth is what I managed to convey compellingly throughout the film.
Exploring more about Frank, it appears he’s distanced himself from his father, Earl Partridge (Robards), a former creator of the quiz show “What Do Kids Know?” who is battling cancer. Earl employs his nurse, Phil Pharma (Hoffman), to locate Frank, whose controversial motivational speeches make him easy to find. As we discover, Frank was the one who took care of his ailing mother after Earl abandoned her, an experience that has deeply impacted and molded Frank’s character. In essence, Frank carries the weight of past wounds, nurturing both his grief over his dying mother and a profound animosity towards a father he rejected and for whom he chose a new identity.
It seems that Cruise’s emotional turmoil during what looks like a pivotal “Oscar moment” when he talks to his dying father might originate from their personal relationship. In the past, Cruise has openly called his father a “bully and a coward,” as mentioned in an interview with Parade Magazine back in 2006. Similar to his character Frank, the actor distanced himself from his father’s surname, Mapother, to carve out his own identity as Tom Cruise.
Beyond sharing likenesses, an interesting parallel can be drawn between their lives. Prior to filming Legend, Cruise’s father succumbed to cancer. This was a man who had a complex relationship with his son, and before he passed, Cruise made a heartfelt farewell visit. Despite the years apart and unresolved past issues, they didn’t discuss these matters. Instead, Cruise offered comfort in his father’s final moments. This poignant scene underscores how, even in difficult family relationships, forgiveness can surface when it matters most. Family bonds often prove to be enduring.
In that critical moment in the movie “Magnolia,” Frank, who has been portraying a character devoid of genuine emotions and hiding all his pain to show that vulnerability is a sign of weakness, lets it all out during an emotional breakdown. His sobs are deep and raw, a kind of heartrending cry that can only occur when one has suppressed decades of inner turmoil. Tom Cruise delivers a powerful performance in this scene, making it a stunning display of emotional authenticity. It’s a moment that resonates deeply, as if you’re expelling the demons alongside him. This scene is a profoundly affecting punch to the gut. It’s a shame it didn’t win him the Oscar, but many argue it was his most honest performance on film, revealing Tom Cruise, the actor, as Tom Cruise, the man, in all his raw vulnerability.
Critics Were Impressed by Tom Cruise’s Work in ‘Magnolia’
Post-Magnolia’s premiere, I found myself thoroughly captivated by Tom Cruise’s performance. The movie seemed to provide an ideal platform for him to break free from his conventional roles, with some critics noting this liberating aspect. The Los Angeles Times aptly put it: “Mackey cleverly lets Cruise unleash by delivering humorous takes on his magnetic celebrity persona. It’s a delightful, well-crafted display that adds an extra layer of enjoyment because the self-parody element is surprisingly refreshing.
Entertainment Weekly commented that “The filmmaker achieves their greatest success with Tom Cruise portraying Frank T.J. Mackey, a charismatic televangelist of masculinity. Cruise sheds the stiff and meticulous persona from Eyes Wide Shut, similar to John Travolta in Pulp Fiction, as he is freed by daring ventures.
Instead of suggesting that “Cruise should have earned all the trophies and accolades coming his way due to this liberation,” we could say “Cruise deserved all the recognition he was receiving because of his liberation.” In this context, “liberation” refers to his powerful performance in Eyes Wide Shut. Although Eyes Wide Shut was one of Cruise’s 1999 releases and received significant attention as Stanley Kubrick’s final film, the awards season recognition primarily focused on Cruise’s supporting role in Magnolia. The actor garnered numerous nominations from various Critics Associations, as well as being nominated for The Academy Award, Golden Globe Award, and Screen Actors Guild Award.
The actor did win the Best Supporting Actor prize at the Golden Globes, but he lost the others, with Michael Caine taking home the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for The Cider House Rules. Caine is a veteran actor and deserves high praise, but strong money could be put on the fact that very few remember what he did in that film, which was Oscar-worthy compared to Cruise’s masterful work in Magnolia. For Cruise, he was at his most naked here, and it still wasn’t enough to earn him the biggest honor of his peers.
It seems plausible that Tom Cruise started steering his career in a different direction following the release of “Magnolia”. This isn’t definitive, but it appears that a subtle and progressive change occurred post-“Magnolia”. He continued to tackle roles that tested him and viewers’ expectations, like those in “Vanilla Sky”, “The Last Samurai”, and “Collateral”, but starting from around 2004, he felt compelled to prioritize audience affection over peer approval. This shift has served him well, helping him maintain his status as a generation’s movie star. Let’s hope his forthcoming project with Alejandro G. Iñárritu brings him back, at least momentarily, to that zone of artistic daring where he shone the brightest in “Magnolia”. By the way, you can watch “Magnolia” featuring Tom Cruise on Pluto TV.
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2024-12-08 00:03