A Tom Cruise Confession November 13, 2007
Posted by brandy in confession of the day, famous people make for good gossip, i am slowly going crazy, oh dear, oh look! i have opinions., people i like, proof i attract crazy, wasting time, what the hell.trackback
I suffer from insomnia. Unless I’m in a vehicle and then I suffer from narcolepsy. It’s all just part of my charm. Since I’m not curled up in my car, falling asleep as the driver gets annoyed, I’m currently having a hard time hitting up some REM cycles. I blame it on a lot of factors- one of which is the rain that’s currently streaming down my window.
Yes, the rain is falling silently, but it’s coming down quickly and without breaks. Usually I’m charmed by rain, the way it forces us all inside, yearning for soft sweaters and big cups of tea. And although I do not own a cat, there is always one present in my rainy day reverie. And a fireplace. And George Clooney (you had to know I was going to say that didn’t you?) But the weather is cold now, this rain will freeze as it falls and tomorrow as I drive to a school in another town, I will curse it using words that would make a sailor blush. My car will skate down the road weaving in and out of lanes and I will be throwing up prayers with my hands clenched at 10 and 2. And knowing this has me worried and is making sleep hard to find. But that is tomorrow and this is today.
So I can’t sleep and so far this post has no point except to remind you all that I love George Clooney. Speaking of celebrities- I just watched Mission Impossible 3 again today. I love that movie. In fact, I love it so much I also watched it yesterday. Is that a lot of Tom Cruise in a short period? Absolutely, but I can handle it- I stretched beforehand and mentally prepared with some Sudoku. In fact, I handle it so well I also watched all the special features today too. Not just the lameo stuff on the first disc, I’m talking about the heavy duty stuff on the second disc (hello Moviefone Unscripted? I’m all over that). The stuff most people skip so they can get to the good part where you see if the cast mates actually like each other by what they say in their personal interviews. And you know what I have to say after many, many hours of listening and watching the Tom?
I like him.
Stay with me now. I have to admit, I was an early Tom lover. I’m pretty sure my first words as a child were ‘cruise’ and that I paused “Far and Away” as a teen and kissed the television (Oh Joseph Donnelly I’ll be your Shannon!). I loved “Rain Man”, “A Few Good Men”, “Cocktail”, “The Color of Money”, and later “The Last Samurai”, “Jerry Maguire” and of course, the Mission Impossible series. Then there was Katie. And the Oprah incident. And the Matt Lauer debacle and suddenly Tom seemed like a nut with a strange love for ruining couches with excessive jumping and saying you liked him was the equivalent of saying that you supported genocide or loved ABBA.
But you know what? I don’t care. I like him. At least he seems happy. Granted, many could argue that it would be impossible NOT to be happy given the life he leads- but I think credit has to be given to a person who continues to find ways to make his life one that he is proud of and he seems to have done that. Of course the interviews and clips I’ve seen of him only give me a limited view of his life, and one that he can often manipulate to show himself in the best possible light- but I don’t think a person can fake the kind of happiness, the driven purpose he seems to have found. I don’t think he handled himself well with Matt- no one sides with a guy who can’t listen to the other persons opinions but I know I’ve acted poorly and gotten impatient on topics that I think I’m right about. I suppose the only difference is that they weren’t broadcast on international television.
As for the Oprah incident- I know I’m not alone when I say that love does sort of make you crazy. Especially new love, when you the idea that you’ve found someone who you LOVE SO MUCH feels the same. The sort of hazy period when the sight of their toothbrush at your place makes you weepy, when you love doing their laundry, when you find yourself counting down the minutes you can see them again when less than a day has passed since they left. Where you find that your cheeks are sore from smiling and that suddenly cheesy love ballads JUST MAKE SENSE. I don’t jump on couches when it happens, but you know what? I can see why others would. I’m not sure there is a better feeling in the world than to love someone and be so excited about it. And I would always rather watch an interview with someone who seems genuinely excited about their life and celebrates those moments with random acts of crazy than watch someone who seems so coached and utterly void of any real feeling that you wonder if they might be part robot (Nicole Kidman, I’m speaking directly to you).
So this is what happens when I turn to writing when I can’t sleep. I’ve always wondered what sort of shameful tales would come from this keyboard when the night was late and sleep was a long way off. Apparently, they all relate to Tom Cruise. I could be mortified by this but I like to save up my mortification for big events, (like when my father walks into the living room to see his teenaged daughter thisclose to the Tom’s face on the television), so I’m not going to lose sleep over sharing my Tom Cruise love. I like him. I suppose it’s all just part of my charm.
* I’m working on responding to all the amazing and heartfelt emails, e-cards and facebook messages I received today, regarding my previous post. Thank you all so, so much. So much. I appreciate them all.
‘A Few Good Men’ is one of my favourite movies of all time and I thought he was awe-some in Collateral. But while you see happiness and a sense of purpose, I just see a man who is over arrogant and condescending.
But, I did see him in an interview on Letterman recently that made me warm up to him considerably.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6qH_-0fY_Y
Also, Nicole Kidman is definitely part robot. Definitely.
As Shakespeare once said, The sun itself sees not till heaven clears. Love invariably makes us do crazy things (like… post about Tom Cruise - I agree. At least he’s happy!)
oooh. You left _Legend_ off your list of early Tom Cruise movies. That was my first experience with him and, yeah, I was in love. But then again I was also in love with Tim Curry in that movie.
Well I suppose he’s not THAT bad. I appreciate his love of Katie, it just seems that he’s a bit controlling. Of course we can’t always believe everything we read in the tabloids.
I miss his charm in Top Gun. A homo-erotic movie, yes. But I loved him and his shirtless volleyball playing self and his sexy encounter with Kelly McGillis. Oh my.
I always try to be wary of judging celebrities. We don’t know what it’s like living in the public eye. I’m sure it can be great sometimes, but I would absolutely never leave the house without makeup on. And that’s just something I don’t think I want to give up for stardom
Thanks for reminding me that I liked him pre-Scientelogical-based ranting and incidents. I think I even remember thinking he was cute in the first Mission Impossible!
Hope- Arrogant and condescending- I get why you would see that. I think the reason I don’t mind it is because in some ways (in the arrogant and condescending ways) he’s a lot like my brother. Don’t get me wrong, my brother is fantastic, but low self esteem is never going to be a problem for him.
Rosanna- You tied Shakespeare to Tom Cruise. You win favourite comment of the day and it’s 7 am. Well done.
CG- Okay! So in one of the commentaries Tom Cruise talks about Legend. I’ve never heard of it but feel like I must watch it now.
Jennifer- Yeah, he does seem a bit controlling doesn’t he? But there’s something about Katie that makes me think that’s what she needs. I mean, not a guy telling her what soup to eat for lunch, but someone to sort of ‘lead the way’.
Valerie- Yep, I agree with you. Although in some cases (Britney.) I can’t imagine what I don’t know helping the persons cause. In fact, I’m glad I don’t know everything about her because I have a feeling it would just make me even more sad for her than I already am. And that’s a not a ‘ho, ho I’m being sarcastic when I say I feel sad’, it’s a sincere feeling of ‘ i almost weep for you and what you are doing to your life’.
Tiff- They showed a clip of the first movie in some of the special features in the third mission possible and I have to say, I agree! Tom Cruise with glasses? It’s a beautiful thing.
I know he only had a bit part in The Outsiders, but he was so young and adorable then… who knew he could rock the sleeveless jean jacket? Cut offs never seemed so sexy. Whenever I catch part of it on TV I wait a few minutes to see if Tom makes an appearance. Then I flip the channel.
I have always appreciated his acting- I think he’s had some great roles and done very well in them. And yeah, you’re right, I do hope to jump on a couch someday, too. Just not on TV.
Oh yeah, and my friends and I used to play the volleyball scene in Top Gun in slo-mo. It was fantastic.
I’m not even going to touch this. But to say he scares me like boogey men and vampires and strange things that I don’t understand scare me.
suffice to say we will NOT be fighting over this man
and here’s hoping there will not be any repeats of the “Fabio Incident” in regards to that other guy …
I don’t mind him. I think he’s pretty goony and out there with all his Scientology stuff, but I like that you posed some really good observations and got me to see him in a fifferent light.
ps- i haven’t forgotten to email you back! im on it soon.
pss- i actually thought lauren was kind of a bitch last night, and maybe? heidi wasn’t so bad. but i didn’t the whole thing, just the last 5 mins with heidi visiting. ill watch it and revisit this topic with you soon.
Weird- I just watched MI: 3 this weekend too.
I don’t know what I think of Tom, I may be kind of neutral.
I do love ABBA though.
Tom Cruise definitely has a certain something about him … a certain charm … he would certainly be someone who people would take notice too … even if he weren’t famous. As an actor I’ve always liked Cruise. I think he’s fabulous. As a person, well I don’t know him. He may seem like a bit of a loon but that is just part of his charm I guess. And he’s very charismatic so that makes up for it.
Oh and the Hills. If I may comment? Spencer and Heidi have to be the most boring fuckin couple I’ve ever seen in my life. Seriously what the hell does she see in him? I don’t know if you like him or not … but good Lord the man has a personality equivalent to a limp vegetable.
I’m not his biggest fan, but you do make a great point about his happiness. That’s a great quality of his. His acting skills, well that’s another story, but doesn’t relate to this post at all. Good for you for sticking up for him. I will still consider you a BFF.
I attempted to decorate the walls of my new bedroom last weekend, and so far I only have a torn out GQ magazine picture of George Clooney
and I feel about Paul Walker (shhh) the way you feel about Tommy boy
i just watched the oprah one again and i have some observations:
1- tom had good hair then! what happened?
2- oprah looked really nice in that interview
3- i got a little teary when katie came out. i didnt when i first saw it, but today i did. when she pulls him in for that hug right before they go out, that did it for me.
wow.
First, I’m sorry about Ben. Unexpected loss just fucking hurts.
But there’s just no excuse for the Tom Cruise thing. I prescribe a triple dose of George Clooney and Johnny Depp until you feel better.
NO!!! To preserve your image (not mine) you must not watch Legends…consider yourself warned…like not watching the video tape in The Ring! I did and have forever looked for unicorns in his movies!
It was very brave of you to admit this Tom thing. Isn’t acceptance the first of the 12 steps?
You are so cute… I think we all have an embarassing crush. I’m not quite willing to admit mine, but I’m working on it…
As a fellow insomniac, I’ve found that nothing puts me to sleep faster than reading my school notes in bed. Seriously. Even when I wasn’t IN school they managed to soothe me to sleep in ways that gentle music, warm milk and thoughts of Christian Bale ever could.
This past summer and spring, I did some of my best writing as an insomniac. I also invented Insomnia Man. He was a superhero…it sounded good at the time.
I was a Top Gun kid. Except my damn hair was to fine to allow me to flap top it. I spent the entire summer of 1985 (or was it 86) on the beach playing volleyball wearing aviator sunglasses (my best friend’s dad was a pilot) while the Top Gun soundtrack blared behind us. Yet, not a single girl stopped to admire our coolness and sexy goodness!!
Perhaps I’ll try it again next summer.
Another great post Bran!!!!!!
Ok, I meant my hair was too fine and I couldn’t flat top it. I think flap topping is more of a toupee in the wind thing. I promise I will begin proofreading when I post on your blog. I promise.
Can’t really comment on the whole Tom thing, but can I grab a book and a cup of tea and hang out by your fireplace some rainy day?
Tom is not in my list of favorites. He’s been filming a Nazi film in Berlin recently and all the time (as everyday on TV and in magazines and online) you’d see him with this terrible haircut and often wearing that uniform. Made me a little sick. However, I also enjoy rain and staying inside with candles lit and tea in hand. My bf’s mom gave me a cinnamon and vanilla candle. It’s perfect!
Kudos to you for admitting your Tom Cruise affection. While he is not on my list of favorites (long before the oprah incident) I do think he is a great actor and has made some equally great movies. As for Mr Clooney - I think you know where I stand on that one. Quite frankly, there is nothing better than a rainy day, clean house & candles burning. That may very well be my idea of what heaven should be.
While his rants make me rolls my eyes, I like him too. The man makes a good movie.
I love Far and Away - so cute! And let’s not forget Top Gun! I feel the neeeed, the neeeed for speeeed!
I’ve loved so many of his movies, but matt lauer is my #1 love and so I don’t forgive Tom Cruise’s crazy there.
I don’t know much about Tom except that I know that I thought his couch jumping was sweet. How many women would love to find a guy who was SO in love with her that he acted crazy and couldn’t contain himself and just had to share it. I think it is sad that he got made fun of for being so enthusiastic about his love.
I love rain. I love the smell of it, the sound of it and the way it feels.
Miriam- The Outsiders! I had completely forgotten about that! Oh man. I feel like, I just found a hidden gem in the Tom Cruise vault. (And no, that sentence really doesn’t make sense, but I’m keeping it)
justrun- The Top Gun volleyball scene. I think I’m going to have to revisit that movie this weekend. I loved Goose in that movie too.
Anne- I get how he could scare people. He doesn’t seem to blink a lot in interviews. That always weirds me out. But, my like for him continues…
Kathryn- Well, at least there is one guy we aren’t going to have to fight over!
brookem- I’m torn on the Heidi thing. Lauren was pretty icy, but if my friends boyfriend started rumors about a sex tape I made with my boyfriend, I don’t know how nice I could be. Also, I love that you called him ‘gooney’.
POTU- Ohh that is weird that we watched it this weekend. And I have a friend who likes ABBA too, so you are not alone.
Airam- Noooooo! There is no liking Spencer. He’s insane. (And if I may say so, it is his insanity that draws me to the show weekly. Similar to watching a train wreck). And they are a pretty boring couple. Um, Heidi’s birthday? Where he texted on his blackberry and she sipped champagne alone? Yawn.
egan- I actually think he’s a pretty good actor. (Can we still be bff?) He’s far more consistent than Brad Pitt I think, who I feel either is bloody brilliant (Fight Club) or so awful it’s painful to watch (Meet Joe Black).
Michelle- George Clooney is wonderful and I can understand why you would need him up in your room.
brookem- She did look nice didn’t she? I think pink is a nice color on Oprah. Also, Tom’s hair. I actually think he has a great head of hair, though his current do is pretty unappealing. I liked it in the first Mission impossible moive (nerdy short) and the second one (hot and long) and even in the third. Maybe I keep watching the mission impossible movies because I’m drawn to the hair? Something to consider.
SWF42- Thank you.
Evans- Now I’m scared. And torn. To watch, or not to watch??
Diane Mandy- Well, I’m working on being brave and if this is what it takes, I’m willing to go there.
joiedevivre5- And NOW I’m totally curious who yours is….
Carrie- Nice tip! I don’t have any school notes, but I may be asking you to send some my way. Or maybe I should try reading the phone book? Actually now, I do have serious reading I have to do. I haven’t checked my google reader in a few days and I’m scared. I’ve considered just pushing the ‘read all’ button, but I’m scared I will be missing life changing posts. Ahhh. I’m not even NaBloPoShoMeDo and it’s kicking my ass.
MC- If you re-enact a Tom Cruise volleyball scene next summer, you have to post pictures. Promise me.
geekhiker- Of course. But you must bring rootbeer. Preferably in a bottle.
Katrin- That hairdo is pretty horrific. It makes me realize how important a good head of hair is. I watched some clips from Mission Impossible 2 and I dig Tom with the long hair, but his current style is just not flattering. (And I can understand how Tom overload, especially in that costume could make a girl ill).
Semichrmd- I understand, and I’m with you on the rainy day + clean house might just equal heaven. Rootbeer needs to be in there too, and then it will be heaven complete.
pam- Exactly. I mean, I think my post came out like I loved him, but that’ s not it. And I do roll my eyes sometimes when he talks but his movies more than even out any personal flaws.
bastet3- Ohhhh I forgot about Top Gun! That movie was so classic!
Clearlykels- I understand. If someone went after George Clooney I’m sure I would want to curb stomp them.
Tori- I’m glad someone is with me on the couch jumping- crazy? Yes. But a complete nut? Maybe not. And I’m with you on the rain- I just hate driving after it’s frozen on the road!
I promise Bran.
I don’t give a damn of the mindless media drones (love that expression) who beleive everything they read in the press. Press, media, what a joke now.
They vilify Tom like I’ve never seen.
Even Gibson get away with it pretty well, and his meltdown was one year after Tom’s ‘accident’.
They trashed Valkyrie on Foxnews, because the trailer went out and Tom wear a eye patch (normal, it’s the character who wants that).
They are so happy Lions for Lambs didn’t make it through. It was predictable. It’s a talky political movie. Cruise isn’t God or Superman, he’s human and have flaws.
Media just talk about his flaws, and make them way bigger than they are, and invent some crazy stories about him.
Disgusting.
He’s really a nice man, i’ve met and interviewed him (ok, just one question, but that was awesome for me) for Collateral, he talked about his movies so well and with much love. Nobody asked him about scientology…so he didn’t talk about it.
You need agressive journalists to ask him and piss him off with that in press conferences.
BTW, did you notice there were NO press conference for LFL? at all???
He’s sick of the media, and no media outlet mentionned this to this day.
Sore losers.
Some think it’s “crazy” to jump on a couch??? well, I have seen crazy, and can attest you, that is not that.
You should take a look around you, at the corner of the street, you can see something really crazy someday. Just watch and think for yourself before the media tell you what is crazy or not.
Jumping on a couch… big deal, Christ! he didn’t even ‘jump’ on it, he ’stand’ on it actually.
Of course, he’s very handsome and a great actor. Jealousy much? hum?
Can’t do it. Very sorry.
It’s not the jumping on couches… that was relatively minor, in my books.
It’s the uninformed bashing of psychiatry that people actually listen to.
As a near-psychologist, I have enough bad to say about psychiatry and the pharmaceutical industry (probably because I get pissed that no one knows the difference between us). However, the notion that there is no such thing an imbalance in the brain… um, hi, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder? This is not to say we aren’t overprescribed as a society, but it is damn irresponsible to suggest that it is all “in their heads” and they just need vitamins and to get outside. I want Tom to try to struggle with schizophrenia for a little while and then just get over it without the help of medication. The scary thing is that there was documented cases of people just going off their meds, with disastrous results, after his rant.
Okay, so maybe you hit a touchy spot for me
And now I feel like a supreme douche with my rant, as I just read your post below.
I am so sorry.
Just remember that memories like those are one of the most important things in times like these.
Ha, yes we can still be BFFs. My beef is that he plays the same guy in every movie. Here’s the formula:
Attractive guy with lots of things going for him(Cocktail). He somehow experiences some sort of loss (Born on the Fourth of July) and has to prove to everyone (The Firm) he’s not just pretty, but also talented. In the process of regaining everyone’s trust (as a lawyer, race car driver, pilot, dad) he typically meets and falls in love with some hot (Nicole Kidman) vixen. Once they’ve made love he completes his goal and wins everyone (Jack Nicholson) over. Roll the credits.
I think my Cruise affinity ended with Vanilla Sky, which I HATED. And then Eyes Wide Shut really put the nail in the coffin. Magnolia didn’t help either. BUT I’m impressed by your loyalty and love….and by how darn pretty his wife and daughter are.
There’s something about his smile that’s so… manufactured. So plastic. Although I guess if you’ve been in the spotlight for that long, it must be hard to shut off. I have to be honest and say that I laugh at all the “Run, Katie!” jokes online. It’s so mean of me, but I try to make up for it by being kinder to everybody else. Hee. Can we still be friends? His daughter’s GORGEOUS though. Those eyes. Just beautiful.
Hey you - hope you are doing well. Been thinking of you!
I’m not a Cruise fan, but I am a fan of other celebs that most people dislike. So I understand your plight. Like Denis Leary…my friends can not understand why I like that guy. But I just do. Yeah, he’s crass, disgusting, sexist, racist, smokes, a tad on the psychotic side (have you seen some of his standup?), and maybe isn’t the best to look at at first site, but any movie or TV show (I heart Rescue Me) that he is in I will watch. I can’t help myself. And I feel totally OK confessing this to you right here because like you, I believe that no one will be reading this comment since I”m so late in commenting on here.
Ugh…I can’t believe I wrote “site”…I meant sight. He’s not a fucking website. Sheesh.
Yes, yes. Cruise is beautiful. And can I just add how adorable his daughter is? Oh and picturing you pausing the movie and kissing the screen as a teen… now I really think I know you! Too fun…
MC- Thanks!
Helen- I agree with some of your points, and think that it’s important that you pointed out (and like I said to PP) that his personal views are ones that he shares only when asked about them. However, I think that lumping ALL media like you have isn’t fair either. Many media outlets rave about Tom and give him great interviews, with questions that highlight all the good that he does. Also, I think not liking Tom Cruise doesn’t mean that you are necessarily jealous of him. He did go on television and bully a reporter who wasn’t out of line with his questioning, and his remarks about psychiatry were dangerous and I don’t think fully formed. Either way, I’m glad you liked him and found good in him. I’m with you on the idea that there is far more crazy individuals out there in the world!
PP- No worries about your rant friend, I still rant all the time. As for what you say, I can completely understand that. If Tom Cruise went ahead and said ‘teachers weren’t necessary’, or belittled the teaching profession, I would probably want his head on a stake. I think the only way I can counter what he does, is that he only speaks on it when asked in interviews. Not that it makes it better, but for me, it does make his views a little more tolerable.
egan- We talked briefly about this, and I think you raise a good point but I think in later years he’s branched out from that formula with movies like Collateral. Eyes Wide Shut, Magnolia, Eyes Wide Shut and Lions for Lambs. In all of those movies he didn’t really play a character you would fall in love with, that was likable. who earned everyones trust with a heroic feat or got the girl. But I get what you are saying. There is a formula in his earlier movies. I just think the problem is more to do with hollywood and less him. (All the movies that fit so nicely into your formula are also all movies that grossed a gazillion bajillion dollars)
Ally- Yeah, Vanilla Sky didn’t do it for me, but that had more to do with Cameron Diaz (who unless she’s playing the character she was in “In her shoes” I find her acting really… unpleasant).
Lisa- We can still be friends, I’ve giggled at the run katie jokes too!!
armalicious- hello my friend! I’ve never watched Rescue me but my goodness, Dennis Leary always looks fantastic in the ads I see in the magazines promoting it. I saw an interview he gave where he was skating in a celeb hockey game to raise money for 9/11 (he’s a good hockey skater, which made me like him) and he seemed pretty normal. And I know what you mean about feeling like you can say whatever you want when you comment late. I have over 300 posts in my google reader and think I might just read the really old ones and leave insane comments for no one but the author to ever read.
armalicious- Dude. I relate. Apparently my brain often forgets that ‘know’ is a word, not just ‘no’. Silent k’s screw me over.
a life uncommon= I know! She always looks so cute in the photos- I’m sure the pretty dresses they have her in cost more than my car but she always looks so darn pretty.
36. Princess Pointfull:
“I want Tom to try to struggle with schizophrenia for a little while and then just get over it without the help of medication.”
To this day, there is no cure for schizophrenia. It’s impossible.
But medications help of course.
Hi Brandy, Vanilla Sky was savaged by some critics just because it was a remake. I tell you I wasn’t the only one entertained, laughing in some scene, and crying at the last one in the theather.
Whatever, The best US critic love it and lve Tom’s performance too.Ebert + Roepert praise Tom in this movie, see and listen:
http://bventertainment.go.com/tv/buenavista/ebertandroeper/index2.html?sec=7&subsec=37
Another great talking about Tom, the critics are 35 men and a woman same age, they are journalists (audio)
http://blog.spout.com/2007/11/09/filmcouch-45/
[...] Maybe more crazy than I can handle? January 15, 2008 Posted by brandy in beauty can get ugly, famous people make for good gossip, i posted dated this mofo!, oh dear, something I won’t forget, what the hell, who needs a self help book?. trackback You know how I talked about Tom Cruise before? And I how I still liked him and attempted to justify his crazy? [...]