Movie quiz #28: in your opinion what was?

Magnolia. He will never be as good in any movie as he was in Magnolia. It was a fact that kind of made me feel bad for him watching it, kind of like watching Paul Rudd in Wet Hot American Summer, knowing that the performance in that movie was so perfect that no matter how good he was in another movie he just could not be that good again (though I'll admit that his role in Tropic Thunder did make me think about it. The performance (or more so the character for him to play) still wasn't nearly as good). That Magnolia character/performance just had everything in it and he nailed it. A great, multi dimensional (and pretty deeply so) character. He was just so good in that movie. Actually, that movie in general is pretty unappreciated.

I think he peaked as a serious actor at Minority Report. I think that one challenged him physically and as an actor more than his other roles. He doesn't seem to have the same level of commitment or seriousness since. Jerry Maguire and A Few Good Men were also excellent Cruise films - full of his patented energy and intensity.

Born on the fourth of July

He had to play a soldier on wheelchair and the movie captured the essence of what soldiers went through when they came home like PTSD and adjusting to social life

Rain Man, as he bonds with his disabled brother. Both Tom and Dustin were outstanding in Rain Man

I think his best film would have to have been Interview with a vampire, he was so dark and wicked in that movie and played the part so flawlessly. No one could have done a better acting job then him.

I like Top Gun but the Jerry McGuire or the Rain Man were probably his best acting job.

Jerry Maguire - best acting job

Honorable mention goes to Taps

I can't believe that nobody has said "Collateral."

That was, by far, his best, though I also liked him (rubber nose and goofy teeth and all) in "The Outsiders." He was also good in "All the Right Moves." He showed some promise in that early role.

tom cruise is not my favorite actor

Tropic Thunder.

Partially because it was so recent, but primarily because it was so not anything like him.

His prosthetics and his demeanor were brilliant in that very funny movie.