Tom Cruise led the cast of Mission: Impossible – Fallout in Paris yesterday for the world premiere, kicking off what will most likely be a whirlwind press tour before the movie opens in two weeks. That’s what Tom is known for: stunts. All kinds of stunts. Death-defying, injury-inducing movie stunts and also crazy travel promotional stunts. Ten countries in ten days! That kind of thing. And it’s not travel-stunting for the sake of travel-stunting. A Tom Cruise movie depends on the international box office. In fact, the overseas market is, arguably, his main draw now. More and more, he’s spending less and less time in America. I barely associate him with Los Angeles anymore.
Fallout is getting really good reviews. At post time, Rotten Tomatoes has it at 95% fresh, with some top critics saying it’s the best installment in the franchise and praise for Tom’s enduring appeal as Ethan Hunt. Apparently the stunts are amazing and well-coordinated with the cinematography. Sarah’s seeing it soon and her review will be up in the next week or so.
Last week I went with a friend to see Ant-Man and the Wasp. The Fallout trailer played during previews and when it was over, my friend leaned in to say, “He’s so good, why is he so weird though”. This cracked me up but… same. He is SUCH a Movie Star. Even after all these years, you cannot look away. I want to see him diving into a waterfall or swinging from helicopter propellers, or whatever crazy sh-t he’ll be doing this time. Tom Cruise’s stunts are starting to feel like animation – so bonkers that they can’t possibly be real, they must be illustrated but also so real because he shows you every moment of effort that’s involved. I can’t not appreciate that effort. Still. He is so f-cking weird! They’re just doing a much better job of hiding it now.
