>>>>>It seems to me it matters less when it comes to a comic book character. IAC, and I say this not knowing whether you have read any of the Reacher books, his size and physical prowess are essential to the character. Having some sawed off guy like Tom Cruise portray him is a laugh riot, as movie critics like to put it.
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>>>>>I think I just figured it out. My point remains true but I just plain don't like Tom Cruise. I used to. "The Firm" in particular is one of my favorite movies.
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>>>>He can be good... whenever he comes to work with a director who can force him to do some work instead playing always the same role (of himself). Like in "Minority report". For most of the rest, he's just annoying.
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>>>>> But as time went on it became an increasingly open secret that he is gay. I have no problem with homosexuals per se. I think they're born that way. What I don't like is him staying in the closet for career reasons.
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>>>>And being a scientologist.
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>>>He almost always plays the same role. Back when Compuserve was still going I hung out on two forums, FoxForum and Showbiz. The latter included many who were actually in the movie business. Not so much actors and actresses as screenwriters and crew. In one discussion one of the screenwriters said he plays the same character arc over and over -- flawed character who finds redemption in the third act.
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>>>IMO the one where he was really different, and really creepy, was "Magnolia."
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>>Now it makes sense. I wondered where you were getting your information as I've never read or heard anything of him being gay. Or the others someone else posted he heard as rumors as well. Doesn't matter anyway. I could care less. I'm with Tamar on this one though.
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>Rumors of Cruise ( and Travolta ) being gay often come out (you'll forgive the expression) in the context of Scientology as the "auditing" process is much like a confessional and the theory is Scientology excercises a hold over celebrities after they divulge their secrets. I personally would find it made more sense if gays threatened to expose celebrities as Scientologists <g> but there it is.
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>I would find no problem (or contradiction of my long-held assumption) with Cruise being gay, and even his being a Scientologist ( I would hate to be judged on all of the notions i have passionately espoused at one time or another in my life - albeit none involved fantastic characters like Xenu or L Ron ).
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>But I will never forgive him for the supercilious twit he played in "The Color of Money" as a young hustler (ironic ) opposite his antithesis in every respect both in real life and fictional character in Paul Newman's Eddie Felson.
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>Casting Cruise in a sequel to "The Hustler" - one of the truly great movies of all time - was like casting Snooki in Bergman's role in a remake of Casablanca.
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>( incidentally, homosexuality is anathema to Scientology )

Oddly enough, I was fine with Cruise in "The Color of Money." He was way over the top but I thought that was the character.

We may not agree about politics but we agree about Paul Newman. What a class act. He was on the Letterman show a number of times and was always a charming guest. Not full of himself at all for a living legend. After he died Dave took a few minutes at the beginning of the show to pay tribute to him. He had a great anecdote about Paul buting a souped-up sports car and asking Dave if he wanted one, too. Dave said yeah, sure. Paul said you want the master blaster on the engine, don't you? (He did not say master blaster but I don't remember the actual phrase). Dave said yeah, of course. It was always enjoyable watching them knock it around. It was rare for him to take a few minutes out of the show to pay tribute. People die all the time and he doesn't normally do that.