This summer is set to be a significant one for actor Tom Cruise. His biggest Mission: Impossible movie to date will make its debut.
After a few delays due to the Hollywood strikes (and a malfunctioning submarine), as well as a slight name change since the project was initially announced, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning is in the can and just weeks away from hitting movie screens. This eighth instalment, which is believed to have cost a whopping $400 million, promises to be an epic slice of M:I action which brings back some old characters and concludes the two-part story which Cruise began in 2023’s Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning.
Can Cruise strike box-office gold with Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, considering the eye-watering cost of the film? Only time will tell; but as he is one of the most bankable stars in Hollywood, it’s not an entirely impossible mission.
Anyway, with Cruise in mind, this month’s edition of Movie Reviews Special is placing its focus on the actor himself. Not with his Mission: Impossible movies, but on four titles taken from his ever-expanding portfolio.
This Movie Reviews Special is spanning four decades to look at Tom Cruise films from the ‘80s, ‘90s, ‘00s, and ‘10s. Movies reviewed include Rain Man (1988), Interview with the Vampire (1994), Collateral(2004), and The Mummy (2017).
—
Now streaming…
Rain Man (1988)
First up is the 1988 Academy Award-winning road movie, Rain Man. Directed by Barry Levinson, the film stars Tom Cruise and Dustin Hoffman and tells the story of two brothers who meet for the first time after their father passes away.
In the film, Cruise takes on the role of brash salesman, Charlie Babbitt. His business is struggling, his finances are screwed, and his stress levels are high.
One day Charlie receives a call that his father has died and the funeral is taking place the next day. Charlie and his father were estranged, so the news doesn’t seem to impact him all that much, but he goes to the funeral regardless.
A short while later, Charlie attends the reading of his father’s will, where he learns about a mysterious benefactor who is set to receive $3 million from his father’s estate. Keen to know who this benefactor is, Charlie traces the money to a local institution where he meets his older, autistic savant brother, Raymond.
Charlie was unaware of Raymond’s existence and has no experience of how to speak to someone with autism. However, Charlie does believe Raymond could be the key to obtaining his father’s fortune, so removes him from the institute until he can find a way to get the money.
When Rain Man was released in 1988 the film was both a critical and commercial hit. The picture grossed over $354 million from a budget of $25 million, and went on to win four Academy Awards, including Best Actor for Hoffman, Best Screenplay for writers Barry Morrow and Ronald Bass, Best Director for Barry Levinson, and the much sought-after award for Best Picture.
Rightfully deserved? Most certainly.
Hoffman is superb as Raymond, giving a nuanced performance; the screenplay is both engaging and intriguing, with good dialogue; Levinson’s direction is both smart and sharp, and gives the lead actors plenty of room for character work; and the movie as a whole is beautiful to look at, with excellent cinematography from John Seale and a sublime score from Hans Zimmer.
Incidentally, both Seale and Zimmer were nominated for Academy Awards, but both missed out on winning. Rain Man was also nominated in the categories of Best Film Editing (Stu Linder) and Best Art Direction (Ida Random and Linda DeScenna).
Someone who wasn’t nominated for an Academy Award for Rain Man, but certainly deserved to be is Cruise. The actor is excellent as Charlie, bringing a hardness to the role, which makes the character standoffish but never completely unlikeable.
Cruise pitches the character perfectly, walking a fine line between uncaring arsehole and unthinking individual. His interaction and chemistry with Hoffman is a true highlight of the picture, in what is very much a character piece.
The beauty of Rain Man is in watching Cruise and Hoffman do their thing as Charlie and Raymond respectively. These are two acting talents, throwing themselves into their roles, and never stepping on each other’s toes or being overshadowed.
And this is particularly important when it comes to Cruise. Hoffman’s performance is so notable, and so larger than life, it could easily swallow up the whole film, yet Cruise is able to keep up and remain an intrinsic part of the story.
Rain Man is a marvellous picture, packed with heart, emotion, a light smattering of comedy, and those terrific central performances from Hoffman and Cruise. It’s not a flashy or showy film, but rather one which wants its audience to spend time in the company of two, seemingly mismatched characters, who may have a stronger connection than they realise.
In more recent times, some have criticised the film for creating a stereotype out of Raymond, suggesting Rain Man makes it appear as if all autistic people possess the same skills and attributes that Raymond possesses, but I don’t believe this is the case. If anything, Rain Man‘s central message is about understanding and tolerance, and creates a great starting point for audiences to learn more about autism, which can never be a bad thing.
Should you wish to check it out for yourself, Rain Man is currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video in the UK.
—
Now streaming…
Interview with the Vampire (1994)
Up next is the 1994 Gothic horror, Interview with the Vampire. Directed by Neil Jordan, and based on Anne Rice’s novel of the same name (Rice also wrote the screenplay), the movie stars Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, Antonio Banderas, Christian Slater, Kirsten Dunst, and Stephen Rea, and follows the story of a group of vampires across a time period spanning more than 200 years.
In the movie, it’s 1994 and reporter Daniel Molloy sits down to interview Louis de Pointe du Lac – a man who claims to be a vampire. According to Louis, he was turned into a creature of the night in 1791, at the age of 24, and has had a wild and somewhat unbelievable life ever since.
As Louis recounts his story, he provides details about his experiences as a vampire, including the various killings. He also discusses his relationship to fellow vamp, Lestat de Lioncourt, who was once his guide, his mentor, and his enemy.
Now, if there is a film in which Tom Cruise appears to be having an absolute ball, it is Interview with the Vampire. Taking on the role of the vampiric Lestat, Criuise chomps his way through the film, biting victims, gnawing on necks, and chewing the scenery at every opportunity, and it is so much fun to watch.
As Lestat, Cruise is playful, sexual, adventurous, and mesmerising. The actor sidesteps any notion of heroism which is usually associated with his characters, plunges himself into pure darkness, and appears to adore being a villain.
Sure, Interview with the Vampire is very much an ensemble piece, but Cruise steals scenes left, right, and centre. Only Kirsten Dunst can match him toe-to-toe, playing the part of young vamp, Claudia, but even then Cruise is outstanding.
Of course, Cruise and Dunst aren’t the only highlights of Interview with the Vampire, this is a ruddy great movie in general. From the costumes, lighting, and sets, to the makeup, the staging, and Elliot Goldenthal’s lavish score, this is a delicious film and a wonderful production.
The only slight dip is in Brad Pitt’s Louis, who isn’t bad, but simply isn’t as interesting as the majority of his on-screen peers. Pitt isn’t to blame, the character just doesn’t have the same bite as everyone else, only really coming into his own towards the end of the picture when he takes revenge against a troupe of vampires.
However, this is a minor quibble in an otherwise impressive film. Interview with a Vampire is marvellous horror-fantasy, with so much to like.
Should you wish to take a look, or simply re-familiarise yourself with this ‘90s picture, Interview with the Vampire is currently streaming on Netflix in the UK.
—
Now streaming…
Collateral (2004)
Heading into the ‘00s now with the stylish neo-noir thriller, Collateral. Directed by Michael Mann, and starring Tom Cruise and Jamie Foxx, the film follows the story of a taxi driver who crosses paths with a hitman.
In the movie, Max Durocher is a taxi driver operating a cab in Los Angeles. Max’s aim is to earn enough money to open a limousine business, but for now he takes people to their destination while the meter runs.
After dropping off a federal prosecutor, Max picks up his next passenger, a suited, silver-haired man named Vincent. Vincent is into real estate, has a number of deals to complete, so needs multiple drop offs.
Max agrees to take Vincent around the city, drives him to his first destination, then waits for Vincent to return. But within minutes of parking up, a body falls onto the hood of his car, and the truth about Vincent comes to light.
Vincent is a hitman, and whether Max likes it or not, he is now caught up in terrible situation. He is going to have to drive Vincent to wherever he wishes to go, all while trying to figure out a way to escape this nightmare.
Featuring superb performances from Foxx and Cruise (the former was nominated for an Academy Award, the latter should have been), Collateral is an excellent thriller. It’s tight, tense, and suspenseful, with a dangerous vibe throughout.
The film sets out a very simple story, puts Max in a seemingly impossible situation, and slowly cranks up the pressure. From here it is a case of watching and waiting, to see if Vincent will put a foot wrong, if Max can escape, and if the bodies will pile up.
As with Rain Man and Interview with the Vampire, Collateral doesn’t just have one thing going for it, there are multiple elements in play. The cinematography from Dion Beebe and Paul Cameron is stunning, while the direction from Michael Mann is electric, and the acting is fantastic.
As noted above, Foxx was nominated for an Oscar for his part in Collateral, in the category of Best Actor in a Supporting Role. Foxx didn’t win (he lost out to Morgan Freeman in Million Dollar Baby), but he wasn’t too fussed as the same year he was up for Best Actor for Ray, and took home that Oscar instead.
Cruise meanwhile wasn’t up for anything, yet this in no way diminishes his part in Collateral. Once again he drops the action hero image he often depicts on screen, this time to play a ruthless antagonist, and he nails the assignment.
Vincent has a cool demeanour and a troubling attitude, and is a million miles away from Charlie Babbitt and Lestat. What’s more interesting, is that Vincent is an out-and-out villain, which is not Cruise’s usual schtick.
In Rain Man, Cruise made Charlie abrasive, but never inherently bad. In Interview with the Vampire, Lestat was evil, but he was part of an ensemble of vampires, so every one was a little bit evil.
Taking on the part of Vincent takes Cruise out of his comfort zone, while giving him the opportunity to demonstrate his range. This is the mark of an actor who makes good choices when it comes to his projects, and for the most part it has served him well.
If you want to take a look at Collateral, the movie is currently available to stream on NOW/Sky in the UK. If you’ve never watched it, then pop it on your watchlist, and if you’ve not watched it for a while, now is a good time to reconnect.
Cruise has made some great movies. Collateral is one of them.
—
Now streaming…
The Mummy (2017)
And finally, in The Mummy, Cruise takes on the part of US Army officer, Sergeant Nick Morton. Nick is in Iraq when he accidentally unearths the tomb of the ancient Egyptian princess, Ahmanet.
From here, Ahmanet’s sarcophagus is transported to the UK, where she promptly escapes and attempts to regenerate her body. Meanwhile, a secret organisation overseen by Dr. Henry Jekyll is keeping tabs on Ahmanet, as well as other supernatural threats.
Directed by Alex Kurtzman, The Mummy is an action-adventure film starring Sofia Boutella, Annabelle Wallis, and Russell Crowe. The movie is a remake of Universal Pictures’ previous Mummy movies; it’s a big budget affair; and when it was conceived, it was set to be the first entry in Dark Universe – a sprawling cinematic universe featuring various classic monsters (think the MCU but with Dracula, Bride of Frankenstein, etc).
Universal had grand plans for its Dark Universe, even going so far to promote it with an initial cast photo. This photo included Cruise, Crowe, and Boutella from The Mummy, along with Johnny Depp from a proposed Invisible Man movie and Javier Bardem as Frankenstein’s Monster.
However, the cinematic Dark Universe never got off the ground and effectively came and went with The Mummy. It failed because The Mummy failed.
And The Mummy fails because it spends too much time trying to set up a cinematic universe, rather than doing its own thing. It’s also not as fun as the Brendan Fraser Mummy movies from the ‘90s & ‘00s.
But Cruise is good in The Mummy, and it is completely understandable why Universal would want him to help kickstart a cinematic universe. For this film he brings his action credentials, as well as his status as a leading man, and if The Mummy does one thing right, it is utilising him.
The film doesn’t work as intended, but it is in no way down to Cruise. He is top value, it is other aspects of the film which let him down.
The biggest issue with The Mummy, outside of the universe building, is that it is a bit dull. The film starts off fine, but it loses momentum and the pacing is up and down.
The Mummy is also too drab and too dour for its own good. Sure, its origins are in horror, but this film is aiming its sights more in the action-adventure/Marvel arena, so it needs to be a touch more entertaining.
Now, all that said, The Mummy is OK. It’s not amazing, but it’s not awful either, and it is surprising that Universal didn’t at least attempt some sort of continuation of the Dark Universe.
There are of course financial reasons for pulling the plug, but as the studio seemed confident enough to announce a cinematic universe before the first film had even been released, you’d think it would take another punt. But no, this film, and this universe is one and done.
Unlike the other movies in this Movie Reviews Special, The Mummy doesn’t get high praise. It has problems, they are difficult to overlook, and it’s not one of Cruise’s best films.
However, Cruise doesn’t falter in his performance and is the highlight of this picture. So, if you don’t think about the Dark Universe failings too much, there is some value in the movie.
Should you wish to watch The Mummy, the film is currently available to stream on Amazon Prime Video in the UK.
—
Star Movie
OK, so Cruise has some absolute bangers in his portfolio, and both Interview with the Vampire and Collateral are excellent movies worthy of anyone’s time. However, the prestigious title of Star Movie has to go to Rain Man.
The combination of Cruise and Hoffman is difficult to resist, and the direction is excellent. It’s a multi-Oscar winning film for a reason.
And if you’re a fan of Rain Man, you may wish to check out:
- Mission: Impossible (1996) – Cruise plays the role of Ethan Hunt in this action spy-thriller which launched a signature series for the actor.
- Tootsie (1982) – Dustin Hoffman adopts a female persona for this satirical romantic comedy.
- Good Morning, Vietnam (1987) – Rain Man director Barry Levinson calls action on this war comedy starring Robin Williams.
—
That’s it for this Special, but this doesn’t have to be the end of the road with Cruise. As noted above, he has a great collection of movies under his belt, so if you want to journey through his portfolio, be sure to keep an eye out for Jerry Maguire, Vanilla Sky, War of the Worlds, and Edge of Tomorrow, amongst others.
And speaking of journeys, this doesn’t have to be the end of your journey here either. If you’ve not already taken a look, cast your eye over this week’s edition of Movie Reviews 2025, where you will find reviews for all the latest releases on streaming, disc, and at the cinema.
Alex
__
__
Thank you for taking the time to read this Movie Reviews Special on It’s A Stampede!. For more reviews, check out the recommended reads below.
It's A Stampede! 
Leave a comment