Friday, January 31, 2003

UP NEXT: PACINO'S THE SOMEWHAT CRAZY WORLD WAR II GENERAL, AND CRUISE IS THE AMBITIOUS COLONEL LOOKING FOR A FATHER FIGURE: My post referencing the Al Pacino canon prompted one regular reader to ask me about Tom Cruise's canonical performances, because he's been the prototypical Novice With A Lesson To Learn once or twice in his career. I am happy to oblige. To review this tremendous actor's range, Mr. Cruise has played on screen:

An obviously talented, yet arrogant and stubborn brother of an autistic with unresolved family issues who regains his humanity, finds love, and succeeds against all adversity.

An obviously talented, yet arrogant and stubborn fighter pilot with unresolved family issues who regains his humanity, finds love, and succeeds against all adversity.

An obviously talented, yet arrogant and stubborn sports agent with unresolved family issues who regains his humanity, finds love, and succeeds against all adversity.

An obviously talented, yet arrogant and stubborn Vietnam War veteran with unresolved family issues who regains his humanity, finds love, and succeeds against all adversity.

An obviously talented, yet arrogant and stubborn high school football player with unresolved family issues who regains his humanity, finds love, and succeeds against all adversity.

An obviously talented, yet arrogant and stubborn billiards player with unresolved family issues who regains his humanity, finds love, and succeeds against all adversity.

An obviously talented, yet arrogant and stubborn JAG corps attorney with unresolved family issues who regains his humanity and succeeds against all adversity. Shockingly, he and Demi Moore don't hook up, however.

An obviously talented, yet arrogant and stubborn futuristic DC cop with unresolved family issues who regains his humanity and succeeds against all adversity. And again showing his range, he doesn't hook up with the pre-cog.


See also: Memphis lawyer, Irish immigrant, stock car driver, bartender, teenage whorehouse operator and vampire -- all obviously talented, all arrogant and stubborn, most with unresolved family issues, but in each case, the character regains his humanity (except for the vampire, of course), finds or keeps love, and succeeds against all adversity.

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