Hollywood is teeming with tales of actors who do their own stunts, but few have ingrained themselves in the annals of action cinema as deeply as Tom Cruise. At sixty-two, Cruise continues to defy age and expectations, showcasing an extraordinary commitment to the craft of stuntwork, particularly in high-octane blockbusters like Top Gun: Maverick and the latest Mission: Impossible films. His relentless pursuit of authenticity brings an unrivaled intensity to his roles, a trait that has earned him accolades and admiration from both peers and pundits.
Cruise vs. Reeves: A Director’s Perspective
In the realm of cinematic shootouts, opinions often vary, but when Michael Mann, the esteemed director of the 2004 neo-noir thriller Collateral, weighs in, his words carry weight. Mann, who directed Cruise in a role that was a stark departure from the actor’s usual repertoire, praises Cruise’s gunmanship over that of Keanu Reeves, known for his role as the titular character in the John Wick series. According to Mann, while Reeves’s moves are meticulously choreographed, it’s Cruise’s commitment to mastering genuine close-quarter combat techniques that sets him apart.
“John Wick’s are not real techniques. What Tom did, those are real techniques and there was a lot of training with my friend Mick Gould, who was the head of close-quarter combat training for the British SAS,” Mann explained during a discussion about the authenticity of action scenes in Hollywood films. This revelation not only highlights Cruise’s dedication but also sheds light on the intense preparation that goes into making his action sequences resonate with such thrilling realism.
The Iconic Alley Scene in Collateral
One of the most talked-about scenes in Collateral occurs when Vincent (played by Cruise), ties the hapless cab driver Max (Jamie Foxx) to the steering wheel, only to have Max’s pleas for help lead to an unexpected robbery. Vincent’s calm, calculated retrieval of his possessions, culminating in a cold, precise dispatch of the thieves, showcases Cruise’s ability to blend physicality with a chilling portrayal of a sociopathic hitman.
This scene, uninterrupted by cuts, underscores Cruise’s ability to execute complex combat tactics seamlessly, a skill he honed over months of rigorous training. “The scene in the alley, there’s no cut in that scene… It came down to doing the work. There was nothing he was doing that wasn’t established close-quarter combat moves that came from months of training,” Mann adds, highlighting the authenticity and dedication Cruise brings to his roles.
Beyond the Screen: Cruise’s Commitment to Character
Mann’s comparison of Cruise to the iconic Hollywood “tough guy” Lee Marvin is telling of the high regard in which he holds the actor. For Mann, Cruise’s ability to delve into characters that are radically different from his own persona is not just an acting challenge but an adventure. This perspective is crucial, especially when considering roles like Vincent, where Cruise had to embody a character whose moral compass and psychological makeup were diametrically opposed to his own.
“In Tom, I saw Lee Marvin. When Tom zeroes into a certain kind of person, if they are far enough away from him so that it’s a turn-on for a man of adventure, to be on some kind of a frontier with a character he can get to know but is very different from him, I could tell that within him it becomes a real adventure,” Mann explained.
This ability to transform so convincingly is what continues to endear Tom Cruise to audiences and critics alike, ensuring his place as one of Hollywood’s most dedicated and thrilling action stars. As he continues to push the boundaries of what actors can do on film, his performances not only captivate audiences but also inspire a new generation of actors and filmmakers in the realm of action cinema.