

Cruise has only appeared in a few R-Rated films across the last decade, but he has the unique ability to draw an audience to a dying genre ( Rock of Ages notwithstanding).
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It was particularly disappointing considering McQuarrie’s intentions for the series to go in a darker, R-Rated direction, as the first film already pushed the boundaries of PG-13.

Compared to the rather disturbing opening sequence of the first film, Never Go Back gives him sub- Mission: Impossible action. While McQuarrie is now Cruise’s favorite director and script doctor, he started out in the world of neo-noir with his Oscar-winning screenplay for The Usual Suspects and directorial debut The Way of the Gun. Jack Reacher also helped fill a void in mid-budget crime action films that have been sorely missing in Hollywood. Cruise didn’t need just another action franchise seeing him in a pulpy urban noir was a refreshing change of pace. The first Jack Reacher was interesting because it wasn’t a Mission: Impossible movie. The pulpy opening sequence would have been a fun intro if it previewed actual substance later on, but the film traps Cruise within a convoluted military conspiracy with little emphasis on any actual problem-solving. Never Go Back turned Reacher into just another action hero. Unfortunately, the 2016 sequel Jack Reacher: Never Go Back made all the classic sequel mistakes, killing what could have been an interesting move in Cruise’s career. Although it was certainly another excuse for Cruise to beat the ever-living crap out of people ( including five guys at once), Reacher was a distinct character from Hunt that could feasibly be developed in subsequent films adapting other books within Child’s series. Army police detective from Lee Child’s novels. In Christopher McQuarrie’s second feature directorial effort, Cruise embodied the U.S. However, Cruise did flirt with one potential exterior franchise with the Jack Reacher series. It’s not as if Cruise hasn’t been trying, but between the slow process on an Edge of Tomorrow sequel, continued delays on Top Gun: Maverick, and the absolute disaster of the “ Dark Universe,” Ethan Hunt has been his only consistently recurring character. An actor so committed to the theatrical experience (you’ll probably never see him in a Netflix film) who's rarely interested in awards contenders anymore (remember American Made?) may need to commit himself to a franchise at some point. The currently untitled Mission: Impossible 7is the first of a two-part follow-up (and perhaps finale?) to Ethan Hunt’s story, and Top Gun: Maverick will see Cruise finally return to the world of aviation and beach volleyball.Ĭruise doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon, but he may need to adjust. Not only will Cruise turn sixty years old (although that will hardly stop him from hanging off planes), but his two films slated for release see him returning to iconic roles. Cruise has always been his own brand, and next year marks an interesting turning point in his career. But of all Cruise's many career swerves and readjustments, there's one glaring example of a road unfortunately not taken, and that's all down to 2016's Jack Reacher: Never Go Back.įirst, some context. Since 1983’s Risky Business, Cruise has been a bankable star who has seamlessly drifted between popcorn fare, auteur awards contenders, and elevated genre films. Tom Cruise is one of the exceptions, and he’s been one of the exceptions for almost four decades now.
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In an era where any film with a sizable budget requires a connection to some form of previously existing intellectual property, the number of genuine movie stars that can sell a film based on their name alone is dwindling.
