Peter Bart: Star in Cruise Control After ‘Top Gun: Maverick’s Setbacks and Lags’

It was a friendly cocktail. Tom Cruise had a funny smile on his face, so I couldn’t resist trying. “The people who have just been released are very happy,” I told them. “Sumner Redstone thought he’d be pissed at the press release.”

“I’m not really a firefighter, not a word,” Cruz replied, his smile still intact. “Besides, offers from CEOs never piss me off.”

The media was briefly fed up with the studio’s press release, but it turned out that Redstone and Paramount were in retreat mode within a week. Paramount’s long-awaited deal with Cruz’s production company came a month ago, but the CEO forgot to check the facts before the announcement, so it seemed wise to ignore the Cruz Hollywood rhetoric (details below).

It happened 15 years ago, but I remember this week Cruz still won a few big battles for his latest and long overdue movie. Top Gun: Maverick On Memorial Day weekend, there will be a “proper”, guaranteed, greatly expanded pre-release theatrical performance. Also two more ᲛMission impossible Extensions have been deployed for luxury departures.

Art New York Times Dubbed “The Last Movie Star” by Cruz, Cruise’s four-day opening in North America could fetch $100 million at 4,732 locations and possibly $200 million internationally.

The 59-year-old Cruz still had that graceful smile on his face as he deftly used simultaneous bursts of work last week, one from the dutifully defensive Cannes Film Festival and the other from the British Royal Family. It was a historic PR coup: the startling display of eight warplanes flying red, white, and blue across the euro sky during the war seemed both provocative and disturbing.

Cruz’s publicity threats over the years have coincided with his physical tricks to identify his past films; Climbing his murderous mountains M: me – 2 Apparently, he was more interested in his education and insurance trains than his achievements. Top Gun: Maverick. All were well-planned Speed ​​Control adventures designed to nurture the continuity of their pre-designed tents.

It also reflects Cruz’s idiosyncratic role-choice, seeking danger in both leading and supporting roles: Tropical Storm, Magnolia, 4th of July, Rain Manetc. “His fellow directors understand that Cruz likes to play the fool more than the hero,” said the director, who worked with him but did not want his name to be mentioned. “No other star has the ability to satirize both studio executives and porn fans.”

Cruz isn’t afraid to see them after he signs, he adds.

Including rain ManEven as filmmakers like Steven Spielberg, Sidney Pollack, and Martin Brest gave up and then backed off, Cruz stuck to the difficult script. Finally, Barry Levinson made the award-winning film in which Cruz plays the younger brother of the severely autistic Dustin Hoffman, who is tied together on an emotional journey. Inside Jerry MaguireCruise played the role of a ruthless troublemaker who ruthlessly pursues big money, but Cruz turned him into a caring figure.

There were also unsuccessful attempts, eg. cocktail vanilla heaven ANYONE mummy.

Ten years ago, when Cruise and his longtime manager, Paula Wagner, took control of United Artists, they had to choose between taking the big route or turning a harder page. They chose the second route by staging a political thriller called lions for lambs. It was led by Cruise director Robert Redford and Meryl Streep. The unfortunate project failed in recession, a writers’ strike, and funding from UA’s parent company, MGM. After many disappointments, Cruz seemed grateful to be back. ᲛIsia franchise.

“Top Gun: Maverick” review: Tom Cruise comes and goes, how it could play a role in his career

What will your next scenario be? this Top Gun: Maverick The race demonstrated once again his ability to handle a young moviegoer. ᲛIsia The films alone have grossed $3.6 billion worldwide. But today’s challenges are real: an army of loving youth super weapon We’re now pushing 50 to conquer a hard demo.

Surveys show that more than half of 45+ people don’t go to a movie in a year, compared to 20% of 18-24 year old demos. That’s why Cruz’s fight to win a 45-day window in theaters will be so important: a wider audience awaits reviews and word of mouth.

But will Cruz really be “released”? There were conflicting reports about the cause of the Sumner Redstone eruption 15 years ago. One of his best assistants convinced me that his supervisor was angry about the tough first dollar deals. Why would select stars have a substantial salary before the studio pays them?

Finally, I asked Redstone directly two or three weeks after eating at Dan Tana’s restaurant. “Why did you point your curse at the cruiser?” .To ask. “According to his contract, he didn’t get the money up front. Not even a Libra?

“I understand all this,” the CEO said. “Next week I will sign a new contract with him. Same conditions. ”

“Well. So they bite the bullet, right?

Redstone has been returned. “It still takes a lot of money. And I can still set him free.”