I don't think it's so much that he CAN'T act (Born on the 4th of July, Rainman, etc.) but that he isn't interested in it any more. I'm not a fan, but i respect his insistence that the movie get a theatrical release even though it was in the can before Covid. That being said, he is batshit crazy.
Top Gun and the Alternate Universe of Military Propaganda
- Thread starter Mina
- Start date
I don't think it's so much that he CAN'T act (Born on the 4th of July, Rainman, etc.) but that he isn't interested in it any more. I'm not a fan, but i respect his insistence that the movie get a theatrical release even though it was in the can before Covid. That being said, he is batshit crazy.
NiftyNiblick
1960s Chick Magnet
I prefer dialogue-driven films anyway.
Maybe with just a little young female skin for seasoning.
Action-adventure is for other kids.
You're probably right about the military propaganda, although it could just be marketing also.
Maybe with just a little young female skin for seasoning.
Action-adventure is for other kids.
You're probably right about the military propaganda, although it could just be marketing also.
ExpressLane
Verified User
It's the MOVIES folks.!!
When have they ever been accurate its their job to entertain not educate.
When have they ever been accurate its their job to entertain not educate.
Never saw 4th and Hoffman was the actor in “Rainman”.
Nah. Feel free. But if you instead feel compelled to assign to me words I never used, that should tell you something.
Certainly in the past, that was true. Wilson was eager to send troops into harm's way, as were FDR, Truman, Kennedy and LBJ. But since then, the Democrats have been less eager to get troops killed than Republicans have. Carter got fewer troops killed than his Republican predecessor, as did Clinton, Obama, and Biden.
I disagree on your second point. Cruise had to play the 'straight man' in that movie, and I thought he was great. Magnolia is another one, and his appearance in Tropic Thunder was over the top awesome. So I don't think its a case of him being a bad actor. You don't get three Oscar nominations and win three Golden Globes without some acting chops. He ain't Ryan Reynolds.
Leftists always have too big of a burr up their collective asses to simply enjoy anything.
Asking questions is not assigning you anything, Mina. If I have, then that was not my intention. My intention is to clearly understand the implications should your political views prevail.
Although true about Democrats being quick to send troops to war*, their hate for the military began in the 1960s as resentment for the Vietnam War grew. Old School Democrats were pushed aside by a younger, more aggressive and more LW wave of Democrats. Because all politics is local, some of the older Democrats persisted for decades but most were replaced over time with the new breed of Democrats which came to fruition in 1992.
Reducing the military to body counts is to greatly disrespect their service to our nation, Mina. Have you ever buried a friend who died in service to our nation?
*You forgot Clinton the first Lying Draft-Dodging Adulterous Sexual Predator elected President.
Cruise's nuttiness caused him to flameout with his Oprah couch jumping fiasco. His willingness to let it all hang out on Tropic Thunder saved his career. He really was fucking awesome in that movie.
I like Ryan Reynolds.
Given a choice who to have dinner with, I'd pick Ryan over Tom any day. However, a Tom Cruise movie is usually more fun.I haven't reduced them to body counts. What I've done is simply point out that each of the last four Democratic presidents have sent fewer troops off to die than their Republican predecessors. That's a point that makes you uncomfortable, and so you'd like to put me on the defensive about it, but it hasn't worked. The fact remains, and your discomfort is wholly immaterial.
I didn't. I pointed out he sent fewer troops off to die than did GHW Bush. All the recent Dems have been great for the troops, in terms of being less likely to get them slaughtered in stupid foreign misadventures. But, they spend slightly less time verbally fellating the egos of military personnel and veterans, and many military people care more about that fluffing than they do about whether their comrades live or die. Salute crisply and say "thank you for your service" and they don't care how many bodies you throw into the meat grinder.
Cruise's nuttiness caused him to flameout with his Oprah couch jumping fiasco. His willingness to let it all hang out on Tropic Thunder saved his career. He really was fucking awesome in that movie.
I like Ryan Reynolds.
I agree with every single word. Reynolds has carved out a career by being likeable, even though he can't act. But he seems like the kind of guy you'd want to have a beer with. Cruise does not
Sorry but I haven't looked up the Body Count comparison between GW and Obama. Mostly because only political types reduce the military to body counts. If I'm uncomfortable then it's only because I'm curious.
Your second paragraph clearly delineates your views of the American military. Thanks but disagreed.
To each his own, I don’t consider him a good actor. Leonardo DiCaprio is a good actor, in my opinion.
Tom Cruise makes good popcorn movies. Note the difference between an actor and a movie star in the link below. Like Harrison Ford and Matthew McConaughey, De Caprio started out as a movie star and transformed himself into an actor. Cruise is simply a movie star but a very good one.
https://www.nj.com/entertainment/2013/04/movie_stars_vs_actors_how_to_t.html
Actors find the character inside themselves; stars find themselves in the character. Actors work within a genre; a star is their own genre.
I’d agree there are movie stars and there are actors skilled at their crafts. Duane Johnson and Tom are movie stars. Dustin Hoffman and Leo are actors.
A great and funny movie on the difference is Peter O'Toole's "My Favorite Year" where he actually says the line: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084370/?ref_=tttr_tr_tt
Alan Swann: I haven't performed in front of an audience in 28 years! Audience? I played a butler. I had one line! I forgot it.
Benjy Stone: Don't worry, this is gonna be easy.
Alan Swann: For you, maybe. Not for me. I'm not an actor, I'm a movie star!
PoliTalker
Diversity Makes Greatness
Hello Concart,
I like older movies because they lacked computer special effects, and they weren't all trying to outdo one another in shock factor. Give me a good old story about people and relationships any time over gore and special effects retelling a story we've already heard.
I was watching a flick the other day in which someone used a hand held VHF to call the Coast Guard hundreds of miles away. (not possible - they don't have the range for that) I had to remind myself to accept it, just go with it.
I like older movies because they lacked computer special effects, and they weren't all trying to outdo one another in shock factor. Give me a good old story about people and relationships any time over gore and special effects retelling a story we've already heard.
I was watching a flick the other day in which someone used a hand held VHF to call the Coast Guard hundreds of miles away. (not possible - they don't have the range for that) I had to remind myself to accept it, just go with it.
Well, then, I'll help, so you can discuss in an informed way. On Bush's watch, 4,852 American troops died in Iraq and Afghanistan. On Obama's, it was 2,060. And where Bush left two raging disasters (in 2008, 314 were killed in Iraq and 155 in Afghanistan), Obama left things relatively calm (in 2016, 20 were killed in Iraq and 13 in Afghanistan). Bush spent his days symbolically signaling a love of our troops while sending them off to die by the thousands in pointless wars. Obama actually cared about them enough to reduce the death toll for them dramatically. Unfortunately, too many in the military (and especially among retirees whose asses are no longer on the line) care more about signals of respect/deference than about lives.
^^^ QED on the Body Count ideology. Thank you for your condescending manner towards me, all military vets and retirees in general and the United States military as a whole. It confirms my previous statement about how modern Democrats view us.
That said, the world is actually becoming more peaceful. There's still hope for the Human Race. https://www.vox.com/2015/6/23/8832311/war-casualties-600-years
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You're welcome. I find that most ignorant people don't recognize the way that being condescended to is a favor, in that it can inspire them to educate themselves. But your thanks suggests you're the exception and can understand the good turn I've done you. My pleasure.
I'm not a Democrat. Democrats, and particularly Democratic politicians, are nearly as desperate to be seen fluffing the egos of military people as Republicans are. But I'm not that way. I tell it like it is. That's one of the luxuries of not being a politician.
Indeed. That's great news. However, unfortunately there are periods of backsliding, and I hope we can avoid those as much as possible.