Valkyrie opening

http://youtu.be/X6n3hRZmgxU

This is useful for my project as it shows the character played by Tom Cruise trying, and successfully, persuading the general retreat his troops; only to be bombed by an allied plane.

The opening weekend for War of the Worlds

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4647697.stm
This shows that along with Tom Cruise and the release of the film, this is a hugely successful film on the opening weekend, foreshadowing the events to come, with it eventually taking $591,745,550 in the box office. This may be because of the popularity of Tom Cruise, meaning they will attract a bigger audience because of his star-status.

Interview by the Los Angeles times to Tom Cruise regarding scientology

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/la-fi-scientology18dec18,0,4240686.story

This is useful as it shows that they are using his star-status as an icon which will appeal to many as Tom Cruise is involved. Before Tom Cruise joined up, the scientology movement was barely known but thanks too Tom Cruise and his status, they have become better known, thanks to him. This shows that if a relativley unknown group have a star joined, which will appeal to many, their group is bound to become more famous, purely because of the star which they have.

Tom Cruise appearing on the Oprah show

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This is pivotal for my project research as this is what Tom Cruise is famous for and is associated with. This is strange for a star to behave like this on a chat show, as they are usually reserved. This proves that Tom Cruise is a fun character, which may appeal too many, enhancing his star status

Review on Collateral by Joshua Tyler

http://www.cinemablend.com/reviews/Collateral-599.html

This is useful for my project as it shows how it was received by others and in particular, the film critics. A film critics decision on the film may be pivotal purely for the fact that many people take note on what they say, positive or not, and may go and see the film after the review it has just been given; meaning the decision made by the person to go and see the film is influenced by the critics review.

Interview with Tom Cruise about Top Gun by Cameron Crowe

http://www.theuncool.com/journalism/tom-cruise-interview-magazine/

This is useful as it gives us aareness about Tom Cruise and about his role in Top Gun but also about what inspires him, and the setting behind Top Gun. This is useful as it provides some star theory for Tom Cruise, enabling a better understanding of himself and the things he likes and dislikes.

Interview with Tom Cruise from the Valkyrie DVD special features

From 4:06 til 15:59

This is useful as it gives us an idea of how Tom Cruise performs throughout his films but also the impact he has on the people around him. For example, there is a part where the German authorites are unsure about filming in a specific place, and Tom Cruise talks to them and reassures them that the film is fully focused on the importance behind the resistance. This is pivotal for the German authorities as they hold the resistance as a national treasure. This helps with the research on Tom Cruise as it shows how much of an influence he has on people, purely because of his stardom.

Interview with Tom Cruise by Driven magazine

What does a World War II movie like Valkyrie have to say to movie-lovers of today?
“I read the script, and I just thought, ‘This is an incredible suspense thriller.’ And I put it down and said, ‘Is this really true? Did this really happen? Like, these were cool moments, but they actually happened? They’re in no way just movie conventions?’ And when you’re looking at a story like this, I think it’s timeless, really. In movies, we try to create the bad guys, and I just love those stories of little fish swimming upstream, against insurmountable odds. Also, for me, I grew up wanting to kill Hitler.”

Really? You really thought about killing Hitler when you were a kid?

“I did. You know, I hate these tyrants. As a little kid, when I was four years old, I remember I saw these war documentaries, like The World at War. And I remember thinking about Hitler, and wondering, ‘Why didn’t somebody just kill that guy?’ Being a guy who enjoys reading about history and knowing about it, I found this story to be engrossing. Also, it gave me some relief to know that it wasn’t everyone who was evil in Germany back then. I think we know, instinctually as human beings, that it couldn’t possibly have been everyone. And to know that yes, even in high command there is someone like my character, Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg, and a Resistance, who opposed it. So that did give me some relief. I found it to be really inspiring. You know, in movies we try to create these kinds of things — but this really happened.”

For you, what was the strangest part in making Valkyrie?

“When I put on the Nazi uniform, it was freaky. We had an authentic uniform, and all us, when we see that uniform, we go nuts. However, my character wasn’t actually a Nazi, he wasn’t in that party. He actually despised that ideology, and those people.”

What was it like wearing that eye-patch for the better part of the movie?

“For a few days, I was disoriented with that eye-patch. But you want to have a movie feel authentic, because then it emotionally invests the audience in it. And I think that (director) Bryan Singer had a really original and cool way to tell this story.”

Claus von Stauffenberg, your character, was unbelievably heroic. Do you think you could rise to an occasion like that in real life and be that courageous?

“I would like to think that I would. I think we all feel that way. These men were under incredible pressure, they couldn’t even tell their kids about their feelings. As a father, that’s something that struck me to the core, because I have an incredible relationship with my children. We’re able to discuss anything and everything. Particularly here in America, and the way that I was raised, we are encouraged to think for yourself, no matter what people are saying or what images are coming at you. I’ve always looked for, and been encouraged to think for myself, as an individual, and not just going with the crowd. But, that’s not how it was, that’s not how that society was. You wonder, ‘How did that happen, where people weren’t thinking for themselves? People weren’t standing up to this insanity and tyranny, and here’s this man who did.’ So to not be able to have those conversations with your children, and to say, ‘This is not okay,’ while they’re being educated and inculcated into this craziness. The day this man took the bomb to Hitler was the day his son was indoctrinated into the Hitler Youth. So he hated this, but he couldn’t tell his son, because his son might go to school and tell other children. That’s what children do. You know, he might tell them, ‘My father doesn’t like Hitler.’”

How do you feel about the gap between who you are and the way the media perhaps incorrectly perceives you, or misrepresents you?

“You try to bridge that gap. You can’t spend your day trying to bridge that gap, night and day. But I’ve always had to deal with that. Certainly, it’s been accelerated, because, just the way the media and the internet — we all know how it’s changed, right from the beginning, with Risky Business. I remember talking with Paul Newman, and he said to me, ‘Look, you’ve just got to live your life the best you can.’ I remember back in 1985, when I was working with him on The Color of Money, I thought, ‘Oh yeah, he’s had stuff like this happen to him.’ And you don’t think about that. But look, I’ve got to prioritize, because I have a family, and I have a life. So you have to just adjust. And the basics of what I do, making movies and my love of film, that hasn’t changed. It’s actually grown.”

How do you feel about the way the media reported on the problems you had filming Valkyrie in Germany? Was it all overblown?

“It’s a great headline, but like in the film, it wasn’t everyone. You know, we had an outpouring of warmth and excitement about doing the film there, and about me being there, and my family being there. We had a great experience in Berlin. The government partially financed the film. At the end of shooting, I received a wonderful award, called the Bambi, for courage in bringing this story to the screen. And how accurate and respectful we were to the spirit of the Resistance. So this is an important story, and it’s something we should all know: that it’s never everyone, it’s never every society that feels that way. I think it’s been misrepresented in that way, too. But we had a great time, and it wasn’t just on the movie set. This was a very sensitive subject that needed to be dealt with in a proper and respectful manner — and recognized for what it is. It’s a time I know we’ll never forget, making this film.”

Does Tom Cruise, the artist and actor, ever conflict with Tom, the businessman, now that you are running United Artists? Did you worry about the cost of the film and originally planning to shoot in Tunisia and ending up in California? At the end of the day, if Valkyrie ends up not recouping its costs, will it effect other films you want to make?

“I’ve produced a lot of films. Mission Impossible was the first film I produced, and then I went on and produced all the Mission films and The Last Samurai. I’ve just produced a lot of movies beforehand, so there’s always the balance of art and commerce and the challenges of that. I like to look at those as opportunities as opposed to restrictions. So that aspect of it has always been there. It’s not just having talent in making a film, but it’s also important to know that you surround yourself with great people. I own a piece of United Artists, and we’re starting it up, but we had the writer’s strike. And, we’ve got the pending actor’s strike.”

We’re also in the midst of a crisis in our world economy.

“Yeah, and you know what? It just comes down to having very good people that I work with. I always try to surround myself with people that I respect, that I enjoy working with. That’s what we have, we have great people that we work with. I’m very happy to have these guys on board with MGM and the gang that we have. At the studio, it’s actually a very exciting time. But I am an actor, first and foremost. Even though we’ve set it up, I’ve never had an exclusive deal as an actor with anyone — ever. Even in producing films, I’ve always been very careful to not say, ‘I’m just going to be with one.’ I’m an actor. That is my love, acting. So, that’s first and foremost with me.”

This is useful as it portrayed what it was like during filming for Valkyrie but also his other films which he has done. This is useful for my production as it gives us a insight into Tom Cruises mindset and how he thinks about everything, and in particular, the nazi regime.

Article on Tom Cruises law suite

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/2664159.stm


This is good for my project as it shows that he is not afraid to stand up for what he believes and even though he may be in the lime light, he is not scared to sue someone when they are publicising him and criticising him in the media.

Inside the actors studio interview with Tom Cruise

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This is useful as it gives us information on Tom Cruises life before filming and being a movie star.

Final dogfight at the end of Top Gun

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Collateral- Cab scene starring Tom Cruise and Jamie Foxx

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This is useful as it shown Vincent being on the backfoot after he has been on the front foot and one step ahead of everybody usually. This is strange as usually, the characters are stereotypically ahead of everybody

Valkyrie ending scene

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War of the Worlds, First Tripod attack

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This is useful as it is one of the first attacks by the tripods showing Tom Cruise running for his life to safety, with all the other around him getting killed. There are parts where he is nearly hit by the ray, only to avoid it narrowly. This is typical as the main character does not get hurt and when it looks like they will be killed, they narrowly escape.

Box office takings from Valkyrie, Collateral, Top Gun and War of the Worlds

War of the Worlds: Budget- $132 million   Takings- $591,745,550
Valkyrie: Budget- $90 million     Takings- $200,276,784

Top Gun: Budget- $15 million     Takings-$353,816,701

Collateral: Budget- $65 million   Takings-$217,764,291

This is useful as it gives us an understanding of how Tom Cruises films are portrayed and the reception that they have got from the public. Also, throughout his films, the budget has increased purely for the fact that he has become a star. War of the Worlds has made $591,745,550 in the worldwide box office; some money from this may have been from fans who went to see the film because of their liking of Tom Cruise.

A review from Rotten Green Tomatoes published on the 27th May 2011 for a top critic

"An unstoppable juggernaut of action and anxiety that will have you blundering from the cinema in a state of nervous exhaustion. Don't expect any soft drink promotional tie-ins with this summer blockbuster."

This is useful as it is promoting his new film, War of the Worlds, and giving everybody an insight into the film and his acting. Also, this may entice some people into watching this film, making Tom Cruise into more of a world-wide star

Tom Cruise scientology interview

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This is useful as it gives us an insight onto what Tom Cruise believes in and mainly what a star of his quality does to a cause like scientology. Also, but mainly, an insight into scientolgy and why he believes so much into it.

An Interview with both Steven Spielberg and Tom Cruise about their new film, War Of The Worlds

http://www.waroftheworlds.com/productionnotes/index.html

This is useful as it gives us a more in depth understanding of the new Film, War of the Worlds by both main actor and director, and the reasons why Tom felt the film was right for him and why Steven thought the film was right for Tom. Also, during this time, Tom Cruise had turned into a major film star and many people may have watched this film purely because of Tom Cruise and one of the best, if not the best, directors in the world.

An Interview with Tom Cruise about Valkyrie by Greg Russell

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This Interview with Tom Cruise is useful as it gives us an insight about why he chose to accept the role of Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg and why he thought the script was compelling to Tom Cruise. Also, it gives us an insight why the director, Bryan Singer, chose Tom Cruise to play the role eventhough he was a star which may compromise some audiences as they may not rate Tom Cruise and therefore not go to see the film. 

This is an extract from an interview with Tom Cruise by Empire Magazine published in October 2004

"Vincent is an anti-social character, no doubt about that" laughs Cruise later that day. "You look at people like that, and they bring chaos, not calm. There is this disconnection from life, a disconnection from responsiblity to your fellow man. It was razor's edge playing this character.

Vincent is a hitman, an assasaign with ice in his veins and hair prematurely lost to a deathly grey, in town for one night and five easy targets about to squeal in a drugs trial. Well, what should have been five easy targets…When his taxi driver, and daydreaming loner called Max (Jamie Foxx) becomes aware of his malign agenda, Vincent’s hardwired methods start to fray; he becomes dangerously attached to his unhappy driver, exposed to something that he doesn’t compute in the rigid schematics of his brain: humanity

"There is something about Max ," Cruise expalins "that over the physics and emotional turmoil of this picture , causes Vincent to crack."

If you haven’t got the idea yet, this is bad Tom, not nice Tom. The kind of guy who would take a mobile from an eager fan and tell some delighted mother on the end to go to Hell; who would spy a small child crushed by the crowd and simply to shake his amoral head. That’s just the way this fucked up universe of ours deal out the cards, kid. Vincemt is bad to the bone. So why one earth is he being Played by Top Gun Tom?

“I get offered lots of different things,” replies Cruise “and I found the character interesting and the story compelling, this dynamic between Vincent and Max. It wasn’t like ‘I now want to play a villain.’ It was just a visceral reaction.”

After all, he’s broken the spell of that grin before. Don’t you remember the preening Vampire Lestat from Interview With The Vampire, or Frank T.J. Mackey, the vile self-help guru from Magnolia? No, it wasn’t a decision about being good or bad, shaking up dreary perceptions about his career, it wasn’t much, much easier than that. The director who offered him the role was Michael Mann.

“I just wanted to work with Michael- he is a brilliant, brilliant filmmaker,” gushes his leading man. “When Mann sends you a script, it is not an intellectual decision. I knew how he would handle the material. It was going to be very unique.”

This is useful as it gives us an insight into his new film, Collateral, which he explains about his new role and Vincent’s character. Also, the interview with Tom Cruise reveals the side that is shown by Vincent which is not portrayed in many of his films. For example, in Top Gun, War Of The Worlds and Valkyrie he is portrayed as the good guy; however in Collateral, he is shown as the bad guy.  

Top Gun Trailer

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Valkyrie Trailer

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Collateral Trailer

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Interview with Tom Cruise about his new film, Collateral.

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This is useful as it is an interview with Tom Cruise which gives us information into why he thought this film would be good to him, and in general, he is promoting the film. This is a good piece of promotional skills by the producer as, knowing that Tom Cruise is a world wide star, he has used this to his ability making the film possibly more succesful as Tom Cruise fans may want to go and see this film, which the producer would have wanted. This has worked as it got $217,764,291 in the box office.

War Of The Worlds

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Star study on Tom Cruise

The focus film of this will be War of the Worlds (2005 directed by Steven Speilberg)
with Collateral (2004 directed by MichaeL Mann), Top Gun (1986 directed by Tony Scott) and Valkyrie (2008 directed by Bryan Singer).