Tom Cruise-The Actor

Tom Cruise's personal life, as many celebrity lives, will pop up on my LNEICCLA as it did earlier today. As an actor, however, I really do like him. Not for his action movies like "Mission Impossible," or "War of the Worlds".

If you have ever seen Cruise in the movie "Collateral," you'll see a rare, real, superstar performance on the screen. I can't think of any other actor who could play the "Vincent" character any better. Jamie Foxx was terrific as his foil.

The thing about all great actors is their willingness to take chances. Cruise didn't have to in Collateral because it was a natural fit. He did in "Eyes Wide Shut" and did a great job. A lot of actors wouldn't take that type of chance.

So he and other artists can jump on Oprah's couch, and subscribe to Reader's Digest or Scientology. It is meaningless and qualifies for the LNEICCLA. Artists throughout history have been eccentric.

The only thing that really counts is an actor's performance on the screen. Cruise has a screen presence that only Jack Nicholson can match these days.

I wouldn't write his career off too quickly.