Mission: Impossible II

No matter how you look at it, Mission: Impossible II is the weakest entry in the franchise by a mile. That's not to say there isn't material to enjoy, but the film has aged poorly. It came out in May of 2000, and the film made a point to aim itself at the MTV crowd, with a "hard rock" soundtrack and Metallica song to boot. It's a weird fucking movie to say the least. How then, was it the highest domestically grossing film of the series for 18 years? 

After his one-two punch of Mission: Impossible and Jerry Maguire in 1996, Tom disappeared from the screen for 3 years as he filmed Stanley Kubrick's Eyes Wide Shut and Paul Thomas Anderson's Magnolia, both of which came out in 1999. He took a hard left from Tom Cruise: Movie Star to Tom Cruise: Actor, so audiences were ready to see the movie star in a crowd pleaser. 

What's really interesting is that Tom seemed to sense that. He liked to push and challenge his audience, but he also wants to reward them and entertain them as well. So he knew this action sequel was the perfect opportunity for a hit. 

Spoilers for Mission: Impossible II to follow. 

As a producer on all the films, Tom decided he wanted each entry to have a unique feel, so he chose iconic action director John Woo (Face/Off, The Killer) to helm this installment. Honestly, as a John Woo movie, Mission: Impossible II is pretty fun. Woo is an over the top kind of guy, big on melodrama and doves and an action hero with a gun in both hands. Normally, that would be enough for me. Unfortunately, the movie takes way too long (and moves way too slow) setting things up that by the time the action gets going in the final act you're almost too bored to care. It's a frustrating watch, because if you just take this movie for what it is, you can enjoy a very silly action flick of its time, but even then it just does everything it can to bore you, like the goal of the film is to put you to sleep. 

But what really makes this a bizarre affair is just how game Cruise is for everything. It's not surprising really, the dude commits to whatever project he is in. It's just he's at peak Movie Star at this point in his career, so to see him in a full blown action film saying things like "We just rolled up a snowball and tossed it into Hell. Now let's see what chance it has." is a truly something else. 

But again, Cruise fully commits, and honestly, he fits Woo's style pretty well! He shoots fast, he rides motorcycles, and he wears sunglasses. "Perfect!" said audiences. The movie had an extended opening over Memorial Day weekend in 2000 and ended its first week with $91 million domestically, just over half of what the first made in its entire run. Critics hated it but audiences ate it up, ultimately grossing $215 million in North America and $546 million worldwide. It would stand as the highest grossing entry in North America for the next 18 years. A fact that's insane when you realize that the franchise skyrockets in quality from here. But the timing was perfect, it had been 4 years since the last installment came out, and the last two films Cruise had made were a little too intense for mainstream audiences, and they were ready to see him in something easy to swallow. 

It would be another 6 years before Mission: Impossible III came out. In between Cruise worked with Cameron Crowe (again), Michael Mann, Edward Zwick and Steven Spielberg twice. This guy was on a roll, and it was expected that M:I III would be Tom's next BIG movie. 

But that's for next time, ya goofs. 

Mission: Impossible

I started my recent Tom Cruise binge with Jerry Maguire, a movie that I deeply connected to on this particular rewatch. It was so refreshing to see Tom Cruise: Movie Star again, as opposed to Tom Cruise: Action Star as we know him today. Tom is a committed and talented actor, and watching that movie and a few that followed before he made the switch to mostly action was a refreshing reminder of why I'm such a fan. Tom was consistently making movies with top tier directors and filmmakers that challenged and entertained his audience. 

Mission: Impossible came out in 1996, the same year as Jerry Maguire,  so it's no surprise that this first entry in the Mission: Impossible franchise isn't so much action heavy as it is a spy thriller directed by auteur Brian DePalma (Blow Out, Dressed To Kill). Something about that year for Tom. He had just grown out of that boyish look (he's a BABY in Top Gun), and suddenly Tom becomes a little more confident, a little more captivating. He's really growing into Tom Cruise: Movie Star at this point and that's mostly what we get here too. 

Spoilers for Mission: Impossible to follow. 

After 6 entires, the Mission: Impossible franchise has become one of the most beloved action series out there. But again, this first installment is more than just action. Oscar winning screenwriter Robert Towne (Chinatown) and director DePalma were more interested in the intrigue of it all, the mystery. I never watched the show the film is based on, but I'm going to assume it was pretty close in tone . A slower, yet still entertaining thriller aimed at adults. 

Not to say the later entries betrayed any M:I trademarks, just that the series has become synonymous with action more than anything else nowadays. Not that that's a bad thing either, but I forget how small this movie is compared to the others. The stakes are high, but they aren't yet global. In fact, there isn't much globetrotting at all. Again, none of this is bad! The stakes are still clearly set, and they feel immediate and real. DePalma even kills damn near the entire team off as the first act twist (EMILIO!). It's pretty wild. 

Speaking of twists, it's so fun to watch this movie knowing how everything goes down, especially in the initial mission at the gala. You can't unsee the other IMF team now, but I love it. I also love that some of the masks worn in the movie are actual make up prosthetics, like when Tom is playing the Senator at said gala, it's just Tom Cruise in make up. It's a small detail, but one that I love none the less. 

Of course, the most memorable sequence is the NOC list heist, where Ethan and his team of disavowed agents break into CIA headquarters to get the list of all undercover agents over the world in an attempt to see who killed his team and why they framed him for it. Tom actually does a high wire act, entering the heavily guarded room from the ceiling and never touching the ground.  The entire sequence is a series highlight, setting the bar for set pieces to come. 

Aside from the green screen heavy finale (which is great, BTW), the action that is on display is largely practical and totally engrossing. Also, cool stunts! Not 'hanging off a cliff or building or plane cool, but still cool. 

This first entry proved to be a perfect blend of movie star, director, screenwriter, and premise that just works. No one could know that 5 more movies later, this would be considered one of the best action franchises ever. As such, this movie feel very singular now, yet it still feels part of the whole as well. Good shit, y'all.  

The film opened on May 22, 1996 and ended up grossing $180 million in North America and over $457 million worldwide, so of course Mission: Impossible II happens. And yes, part II is the only bad entry in the entire franchise, but I'm still looking forward to revisiting it and digging into why exactly it was the top grossing M:I film for 20 years. 

But that's for next time, my children. 

Top Gun

Hoo Boy! This movie was exactly what I needed. An iconic cheeseball of a flick that is seeped in 80's cliche and fucking knows it. Also, it's the movie that shot our boy Tom to Movie Star status in the first place, so it's no wonder the action film is massively entertaining in every campy and genuine way. 

Spoilers for Top Gun to follow. 

The movie immediately starts with that famous Top Gun score cue that I had completely forgotten about somehow, and instantly got the biggest and dumbest fucking smile on my face. I had forgotten how enjoyable this movie is. Honestly, I quickly came to realize I really didn't remember much from the movie at all, as it had been at least 15 to 20 years since I had actually watched it from beginning to end.  For some reason I never really felt the need to revisit it. The film itself was so popular and so referenced and made fun of that it felt like I had seen it 1000 times. I knew I liked it, I just never wanted to watch it. 

A feeling that stayed even after the announcement and subsequent trailers released for the long in development sequel. "Yea of course I'll see it, but no need to revisit the original", I thought. 

But then I started my Cruise Control journey and decided it was finally time to get reacquainted with one of Tom's most popular movies ever. 

And holy fucking shit. Top Gun is one of those perfect time capsules; a movie drenched in 1986 in every way possible and a supporting cast that includes Anthony Edwards, Val Kilmer, Tom Skerritt, Kelly McGillis, Meg Ryan and Michael Ironside(!). The score. The music. 30 seconds in and I began to remember exactly why this movie is so popular. It's easily one of the most entertaining blockbusters to come out of the 80s. It's got action, it's got romance, it's got bromance, it's got Tom Cruise playing volleyball on the beach in jeans. Director Tony Scott and DP Jeffrey L. Kimball (who also shot True Romance and and Beverly Hills Cop II for Tony) make it all look slick as shit. 

The action is pretty legit, as it features a large amount of actual aerial footage that is exhilarating, simply because it's real. They actually filmed fighter jets flying around and shit, and it's a real deal joy watching them do their thing instead of CGI nonsense. Tony and his filmmaking team were masters at action movie making of the time, and Top Gun helps prove it. 

I REALLY forgot about the love story though. And that's when I remembered that that's why this movie was so fucking huge. The Oscar winning song "Take My Breath Away" plays throughout the film, and it's every bit as ridiculous as you remember. The love scenes push the film's PG rating to the edge, with the most tongue display I think I've ever seen in a movie. It only adds to the ridiculousness that is Top Gun, but it also kind of works, cause Cruise and his co-star Kelly McGillis have real deal chemistry! You end up caring about them! I did at least, but I was completely enveloped with everything about this movie for this particular viewing. 

Like I said, Cruise and McGillis have great chemistry, but it's nowhere near as hot as Val and Tom. These two characters hate each other at first, and it just so happens that Val Kilmer is one of the great A+ Assholes cinema has ever bear witness to. There is one scene where Val is scolding Tom while keeping most of his attention to winding his watch, it's one of the most condescending moments ever captured on film and it is EVERYTHING.  

But then Goose dies. It was pure tragedy. Nothing Maverick could have done (he was even cleared of any malfeasance in the movie!), but of course he blames himself for his friends death and seemingly loses his edge and quits. When Val genuinely gives Tom his condolences, the moment hits hard because Tom and Val are both great actors, and even though the movie is absurd in the extreme, these two movie stars sell it. 

Speaking of Movie Star, time to talk about the star of show. Tom was in his early 20s when he filmed this and it's jarring how young he looks. Of course, Cruise was born charming, which he blends with a cocky attitude for the character of Maverick. It's an iconic Movie Star performance, full of swagger and equipped with that mega-watt smile. Tom Cruise became Tom Cruise with Top Gun. 

The movie grossed just under $180 million in the U.S. and $356 million worldwide, easily the highest grossing movie of 1986.  

I can't believe it took me this long to watch the movie again, but in a way I'm grateful. I had forgotten so much about the film that it made it feel fresh, enhanced with a heavy dose of nostalgia for what I did remember. It was a perfect storm of movie watching. Now go crack a beer, eat some chips and watch Top Gun. Trust me. 

I'm continuing Action Cruise by diving headfirst into the Mission: Impossible franchise next, so stay tuned. Until next time, ya goofs. 

Tom Cruise: Cruise Control

I'm a very, very big fan of Tom Cruise. I think he makes good movies with good filmmakers and I genuinely believe he loves doing it. 

Before I started this here blog, I had another thing where I had begun a Tom Cruise phase of going through the actor's catalogue before the  great Couch Debacle on Oprah.  I watched Jerry Maguire, Eyes Wide Shut, Magnolia, Vanilla Sky and Minority Report.

I figured since I  was starting this I should start fresh, which is why I first posted about Die Hard With a Vengeance, and was very ok with that. I was ok with The Insider too, cause I had been wanting an excuse to watch that movie for a long time anyway. But I ended up having a hard time writing about that movie. Not because of the quality mind you, just because my main focus was elsewhere. I just didn't know that yet.

 I struggled with what to write about next. I tried Assault on Precinct 13, an awesome fucking movie, but I just didn't feel the need to write about it. Again, not a slight on the movie at all. I just began to feel like I had left something undone. I watched Inception and tried to write about it but, like Assault, I ended up loving my viewing experience but couldn't find the words to talk about it. And then it hit me. 

I was stuck in Cruise Control. 

So, I've decided to jump back in full force. Since I already covered a good chunk of Movie Star Cruise, I think I'm gonna go full Action Star Cruise this time, starting with Top Gun and then nose diving into the Mission: Impossible Franchise. And MAYBE after that do Oddball Cruise on Interview With A Vampire. 

So much Cruise, so little time. 

My Favorite Movie: Die Hard With A Vengeance

I first saw Die Hard with a Vengeance when I was 9 years old. I hadn't seen Die Hard yet, but I had seen plenty of other R rated action movies up to that point. My parents were the fucking coolest and let me watch pretty much anything I wanted as long as I didn't repeat any bad words I heard (jokes on them though, I became an eloquent Bad Worder by third grade), and as long as my grades were good we got to go the video store every weekend and I could pick out a movie.  And one day that movie was Die Hard with a Vengeance. There was just something that seemed so cool about the VHS cover in my local Video Central. The one that has my boy Bruce sitting in front of a ball of fire looking like absolute hell. It also didn't hurt that the title was Die Hard with a Vengeance. "Yea, I want to get that" I told my mom.  

I remember being so invested in it, more so than any other movie I'd seen before. The film's hero was an absolute loser, hungover and suspended from his job, and he really didn't feel like catching a bad guy. I had never seen that before. A hero that seemed human. He wasn't super ripped, or even that great of a fighter. In fact, he seemed to be better at taking a beating rather than giving one. This is how I found out about the Everyman Hero. The guy anyone can relate to. And I was fucking hooked. 

Truth be told, this is the film that made me fall in love with movies. I was always drawn to the medium, there is one home video in particular of me as a toddler, sitting about 6 inches away from the TV, eating a bag of sour cream and onion flavored Lays (an act that I still perform to this day when I'm high and often when I'm not). 

But for whatever reason, Die Hard with a Vengeance just clicked with me in a way other movies hadn't before. I was delighted to find that this was a third installment of a franchise, and immediately sought out the other two. I loved them of course, but not as much as Vengeance.  As I got older, I was able to realize that Die Hard is in fact a better movie (it's perfect) and Die Harder is a 90s action must, but Vengeance was, is, and forever will be my favorite. 

Spoilers for Die Hard with a Vengeance to follow. 

Director John McTiernan (Predator, Die Hard) starts this shit off with a bang and shows us a department store in downtown New York blowing up first thing in the morning. The psycho who did it calls up the police and says if John McClane doesn't play his game, shit is gonna be fucked. 

This all happens within the first 90 seconds of the movie. It's incredible. McTiernan has masterfully laid out the stakes and characters and tons of exposition effortlessly, and the movie just goes from there. It's a wonderful set up. 

And then we get to John McClane. Well actually, we see his fellow officers looking down at John McClane, disappointment showing on all of their faces. John coughs and coughs. He looks very hungover, asks for too much Aspirin and lights up a cigarette while the Captain goes over his morning reports. John makes it very clear that he doesn't give a shit anymore. He is once again separated from his wife, Holly, and he's freshly suspended and seemingly on the verge of being let go. McClane is at rock bottom, yet all he cares about is getting back to his TV and beer. "Why me? What does this have to do with me?!" he asks his boss, who responds with "I have no idea he just said it had to be you!"

McClane sighs, "It's nice to be needed."

Bruce Willis is so totally present and perfect in this movie, still cracking wise in the face of danger, but this time with more annoyance in his voice. John McClane is tired. He fought life hard and at this point he's figured he lost hard too. He's ready to give up and become a "toilet bug" as his boss calls him. But if John doesn't do his job, then people will die, and no matter how down he is he's still gonna do his fucking job. Because that's just who John McClane is, and Willis conveys a lifetime of regret with a single glance and sigh. Bruce has always been my favorite actor, and this movie is a real testament to what a great actor and movie star he can be when he wants to at least. 

McClane is a straight up asshole and he knows it, hell he may even hate himself for it a little, but he's still gotta get the bad guy, even if he doesn't want to. Because who else is gonna do it? Time and again we see McClane trying to save people. He pushes people to safety when he thinks a nearby trash can is about to explode. He yells at people on a subway to get as far away as possible before a bomb actually goes off. He tells his friend to get down and cover his head during a car chase. Character through action. If McClane is talking, he's usually talking some kind of shit. That or he's actually using his detective skills to figure shit out. Those are his only two modes when it comes to words, but his actions speak loud and clear. That's what so great about this movie, even if you hadn't seen Die Hard before this (like me) you still know exactly the kind of hero that McClane is. It's directly connected to the first, yes, but in terms of character development this film could stand on its own. 

You can't talk about Die Hard with a Vengeance without talking about Samuel L. Jackson. I mean, duh, he's amazing in the movie, because he's Samuel L. Jackson, but him and Willis have genuine chemistry together. They hate each other, but  eventually they respect each other, which makes them like each other. Honestly, the pairing was so successful that every installment that followed Vengeance had McClane with a sidekick to banter back and forth with. But in this house, Die Hard is a trilogy so we don't have to worry about that. The point is, Jackson was a welcome addition to the franchise. 

As I said, this movie is not as good as the original Die Hard (McClane surfs on a dump truck for fucks sake), but I enjoy it in a way that the original simply cannot match. Die Hard with a Vengeance features my favorite actor in his best role, where he simply cannot stop, no matter the odds, the beatings or the resentment from those closest to him. John McClane is my favorite movie hero, and Die Hard with a Vengeance is McClane at his absolute best (and worst).