Tom Cruise is kind of growing on me. I know he’s an unofficial leader and an apologist for Scientology, one of the world’s most dangerous cults, and for that reason I’ll never be a fan. At the same time the guy is very gracious with the public and he seems real about it. I was kind of impressed by him at the Golden Globes, especially the way he listened attentively to his old boss Steven Spielberg’s speech. Maybe he’s trying to convert us all with kindness because he knows he’s the only one who can help. Looking at the header photo, the crazy is still very much with him.
It’s hard to tell exactly what’s going on with Tom’s relationship with his “they said it wouldn’t last” third wife, Katie Holmes. Holmes is looking incredibly tired and worn down.
According to Star, which is probably making this up, Katie is disappointed in her husband for not helping her land a decent role though which she can prove she’s star material, and it’s putting a strain on their relationship. Whether that’s the strain that’s showing up on her face or not is up to interpretation:
When Tom Cruise started dating Katie Holmes in 2005, he vowed to make all of her dreams come true, especially the one to become a huge movie star. But now, almost four years later, Katie’s career is in the worst slump of her life – and sources tell Star that Tom is to blame!
“He basically told her he would manage her career and make her a big star,” says one insider. “He said that in five years, she’d be the No. 1 female box-office earner in the world. Tom really believed in Katie and that his connections would mold her into a superstar…
“Katie can’t understand how Tom could run a big movie studio like United Artists and not be able to steer her toward an Oscar-worthy film.”
[From Star Magazine, print edition, January 19, 2008]
This might be something that just occurred to someone at Star, but it’s a good observation. Cruise helms United Artists studio and can presumably use his influence to help “Kate” land a role or even create one for her. So far all she’s done since she married Tom was that awful comedy Mad Money, a cameo on the TV show “Eli Stone,” and a role on Broadway that was presumably her idea. IMDB doesn’t have her listed as attached to any projects in the future.
Cruise is rumored to be on shaky ground with United Artists, which is owned by Cruise and MGM. His partner, Paula Wagner, left UA in August of last year amid rumors that MGM wanted the studio to move in another direction. (They put out Lions for Lambs and Valkyrie, which wasn’t released at that point.) What’s more is that United received a $500 million funding pledge from Merrill Lynch, which was thought to have been in jeopardy after the financial crisis and takeover of Lynch by Bank of America in September. Supposedly the money is secure, but that hardly seems possible.
Now that Valkyrie was a success maybe Tom will have more pull with the bigwigs to help “Kate” get some work. That is, if he wants her to work. He kept calling her “strong willed” during press for Valkyrie and said that he wanted 10 children but mentioned that it was up to her. Maybe he’s setting up the right career-free scenario to change her malleable mind. It’s not like she’s earning roles with her fabulous talent anyway. Holmes’ role on stage wrapped on Sunday night and we’ll have to see if she remains in New York or returns to LA with her husband.
Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes are shown at a Golden Globes after party on 1/11/09. Credit: WENN.
I don’t like TC the person, but I usually really love his movies. Minority Report is one of my faves.
Also, Tom may be able to snag Katie an Oscar-worthy film, but she’ll have to be able to give an Oscar-worthy performance. Judging by some of her other movies, I don’t know how possible that is. She’s not that great of an actress.
Just when you think these two can’t look any weirder…….
As a clueless person who has absolutely no idea what’s going on in the private life of Tom and Katie, my humble opinion is she got in over her head. For a while there she acted the Stepford wife – that was obvious. Tom wants me to wear this? Done. New hairstyle? Done. Run a marathon and then step out in high heels? Done. Now with a child, a super busy life and the media hounding their every step, of course she’s tired. I’m tired just looking at the pictures of her being tired! The Broadway step looked to be hers alone. And it was a good move. Broadway is HARD. You’re really showing what you’ve got, being able to maintain their schedule. My respect for her is on the rise. Her feelings about Tom? Who knows. Things seem to get clearer after you pop out a child. No matter how much cash you have in the bank, life is a bit more work & responsibility.
Tom is growing on me a little bit, too. He was on a Canadian talk show (“The Hour”) the other evening and — I don’t know, maybe it was because he and the host had good chemistry, but the interview was actually enjoyable. Tom usually makes me cringe, but this time, he came across as a very sincere, hard-working guy, who hasn’t let all the fame go to his head. I still think he and Katie are a strange couple and will be surprised if they last… But that can be said about most Hollywood marriages, so who knows?
I can’t ever be on board with a Scientologist, but he does seem very gracious to his fans. I think Katie is underestimating the bad faith in Hollywood towards her husband. He’s no longer the A lister he once was (everything goes in cycles but he did himself no favors with the couch-jumping-you’re-being-glib Publicity Tour of Horrors) and he needs to either accept that or change his wacky behavior. I also suspect Katie is finally getting how controlling he is with respect to child rearing: who wants an unruly 3 year old running the house?
Yes, would definitely agree re Katie being a bit clueless as far as how much clout Tom actually had/has. And Katie – although kudos to her for her Broadway stint – is hardly leading actress material. I’m sure by now, Tom’s charm has worn very very thin.
He’s grown on me since I saw him dancing in Tropic Thunder. I think she just looks like shit b/c of the grueling B’way schedule, not b/c she’s had a lobotomy.
Maybe Katie understimated everything about this setup. Nicole Kidman’s career didn’t take off until she & TC split up, which should be a little hint. I’m sure he had as much, if not more, power to “help” Nicole’s career during their 10 year marriage as he has now to “help” Katie with hers.
may she isn’t a top earner cause she has the talent equal to a bowl of porridge.
regardless of the capt. insano TC, she needs to have some sort of acting chops to make it big given the current “leading ladies”.
yes, this last run on broadway was something, but i don’t think it’s enough to combat the crazy/stepford personality!
Maybe Tom has good business sense and knows that his wife can’t act or draw a box office crowd. Maybe he doesn’t want to mix business with his personal life. Or maybe he doesn’t want his wife to overshadow him in any way.
What I want to know is wtf happened to Katie Holmes over the past three years. She looks sick and drugged, and she’s aged remarkably since getting with Tom. And the Hollywood Scientology machine is totally ignoring it.
It’s a conspiracy, I tell you.
I like his movies but I’m not a big fan.
I do respect him though for his split with Nicole Kidmen. He wasn’t on Oprah or the cover of People talking about ‘his heartbreak’ or bashing her.
I never even really heard why they broke up, I don’t really care expect that they acted like ADULTS. I like that.
Mark my words: this will not end well for scientology. Eventually, Katie won’t be able to take it anymore. Marriage will end. Possibly with a huge custody fight. Possibly a tell-all book from Katie / talk-show circuit. I wouldn’t be surprised if she takes on the Scientology, and uses that to push her carrer. Clearly, she is in over her head. It just depends on how strong of a person she is to get out of it.
Then again, this could just be another case of a spouse being overshadowed by significant others’ superstardom. But I think everyone can agree that Tom has not had a good effect on her career (or his). Yes, he seems to be toning it down and trying to get things back on track. But I cant imagine what their life must be like.
You can almost see the strings coming from his hand to the top of her head…
If Tom wanted to make her a star, he would have let her stay in the Dark Knight. Seriously.
He was hilarious in Tropic Thunder. That is the first time I have liked him in anything since Jerry McGuire.
Nope, still can’t stand him. Although he was brilliant in Tropic Thunder.
Anyway, there is no way in hell that Kat(i)e will ever be the No. 1 female box-office earner in the world. She is an awful actress!
I agree with CB and photojojo – I can’t stomach the Scientology stuff but everyone who interviews stars for a living puts him at the top of the list of the nicest and most charming. No-one can fake it THAT consistently.
Well, he may be growing on you, but I think 98% of the rest of the universe has finally worked its way up to truly hating him. My guess is Katie’s in that percentage as well.
‘Anyway, there is no way in hell that Kat(i)e will ever be the No. 1 female box-office earner in the world. She is an awful actress!’
Like they’re haven’t been bad actresses who equal big box office before? Acting has so little to do with who becomes a star.
When you’re getting paid to “fake it”, when you make a living off of being another person…then yea, I kinda think that you CAN fake it THAT consistently.
can someone please get katie a damn hair clip already?
whew, she looks like a hot mess in those pics.
i was wondering why she wasnt in The Dark Knight? i thought i remembered her being in Batman Begins, and it was a pretty good (i guess) role for her. did top stop her from continuing?
glad maggie gyllenhall took her place though, i kinda like her!
I believe there were scheduling conflicts?
I loved her in Batman Begins and I think she would’ve been amazing.
It was weird to me to see Maggie “dressed” to look like Kate. Because Rachel Daws is a reallyreally important part to that story, so they couldn’t just drop her. But it was weird seeing katie as the first rachel and then Maggie, because I feel like those two are as different as night and day.
You have to be kidding, Katie Holmes SUCKED as Rachel Dawes. She had about as much charisma in that role as a piece of wood.
She was good in Thank You For Smoking, I don’t think she sucks at acting altogether but for her to reprise her role as Rachel would have done nothing for her but made her more money. To have her crappy interpretation of Dawes compared to Leger and Bale’s transformative performances, would have been career suicide. She’s not suited to play that character and it was best that she withdrew. If Tom made the decision well good for him, maybe he IS looking out for her career.
LOL dr.grrl! Have any of you ever seen her in an interview? *PAINFUL* Just dreadful. and she can’t act her way out of a paper bag either. poor thing. in over her head, is right…
Im ashamed to say that my ‘like factor’ of Tom seems to go up and down with his craziness factor. Now that the scientology talk has been reduced he does strangely seem more attractive!
There is still somthing a little manic about him however…like I noticed that at the Golden Globes sometimes he couldnt seem to hold in his giggles and mile wide smile. Its like he is barely holding back the Xenu inside.
He’s an actor – that’s why he can “pretend” to be a nice guy – this guy is dangerous and he is sucking the life out of Katie – hope it wa$ worth it…some childhood fantasies should remain in childhood.
I agree with CB and photo jojo – I the Scientology stuff repels me, but everyone who interviews stars for a living always names him as amongst the nicest and most charming.
Lynda: You said it. Sad, sad situation. She might as well be on hard drugs, with the level of “out of it” she presents now.
Carrie: He’s an ACTOR. Of course he can seem charming – it’s his bread and butter.
Tom Cruise’s first obligation (aside from hiding his homosexuality and being the Christ figure of the CO$) is to Tom Cruise- there’s a shock.
She doesn’t get parts because her husband is an interfering nutjob. That was demonstrated when she was filming the Batman picture. In addition to his murdering the promotion for the film (and War of the Worlds too) with his various freak-outs, Cruise would show up on the Batman set and offer his unsolicited and unwelcome ‘professional’ opinion and hand out Scientology pamphlets. I recall reading this in Radar Online I believe.
@ sassyspank……
i think my favorite role for KH was in the “ice storm”. she was hopped up on goof-balls and passed out at one point.
seeing her now, that wasn’t a far stretch and not acting!
Well, he certainly kissed enough ass at the Golden Globe Awards. Surely he can get someone to give Katie a decent role. Hell, why do you think she married him in the first place?
She was very good in “Pieces of April”. A subtle main role in a subtle movie & she did it very well. She was also good in “The Wonder Boys”.
Marrying Tom Cruise is now, I think, recognized as the thing to do if you want to stall your promising career.
If she ditches him she could develop as interestingly as Nicole Kidman. (Just lay off the Botox!)
Katie is a pathetic gold and fame digger.
She thought that Tom will make her into a Nicole Kidman, but the truth is that Nicole is Nicole DESPITE Tom.
Here’s a woman who was already a millionaire and married to advance her career by clinging to a bigger star. Just like Jennifer Garner.
Unfortunately, Tom can’t teach her how to act and can’t make her as beautiful as Nicole Kidman.
Granger, I saw that interview too! I was really surprised how good it was. George just has that way with guests, he’s quite cute too. *wink wink*
But yeah, I chortled when I had the idea Katie would actually think and expect Tom to get her those kind of roles that would get her an Oscar. Please, she is not of that calibre. I saw her in Batman, pffft, and Mad Money, holy what an embarrassment. She needs to sign up for the Actors’ Studio or something like that and really learn the craft of acting, then she can try and get supporting roles, etc. But yeah, what a good laugh that was. 😛
I believe Katie DOES have the acting chops to be a movie star. I thought her performance in, Thanks For Smoking, was very strong. (Mad Money didn’t make any of those actresses look good). However, Hollywood is political, and Katie is all wrapped up with hot/cold Tom. I’d like to see her do indie films and reclaim her own identity.
I’m in no way denying that, Neelyo. I completely agree.
But Kat(i)e doesn’t now & never has had the chops to be the No. 1 female box-office earner in the world. She has, at most, two expressions. And neither are more convincing than her painful attempts on Dawson’s.
And yes, I have seen Go & Pieces of April. And they both would be a 100 times better if Kat(i)e hadn’t eve heard of the projects.
Someone, please feed that girl. She looks terrible.
Actually I thought she had potential when I saw her on Eli Stone. And has anyone seen any reviews of her Broadway stint? I haven’t, I’m just asking out of curiousity. She’s not a great actress, but she can (and has) pulled off things I didn’t think she was capable of, so I’ll give her some credit.
Agree Granger… I always sort of liked the guy until his distasteful behavior made it painful to look at him. Now he’s growing on me again.
@Flour…SHAME on you! (smile – I kid). How could you NOT know the details of Tom and Kate’s private life? That’s what CB is for! (smile)
@RAN – reviews were quite good from what I can recall, for her as well as for the other cast members and the production itself. And getting up on a Broadway stage must be quite traumatising and a risk so yes, credit for that.
Thanks G, good to know. That might explain the worn out look then – maybe she threw herself into the role and just couldn’t maintain outside appearances in the same manner.
I can’t understand comments saying they loved him in Tropic Thunder? – all he did was put on a sleazy looking costume say a lot of cuss words and then do a stupid dance to the end credits. Any frat boy could pull that off. He is hardly in the movie and adds absolutely nothing to the story. I have never seen a more obviously bought awards nomination than his for the Golden Globes.
Well, quite frankly, turning down the opportunity to reprise Rachel Dawes was the most idiotic thing I’ve ever heard. Being as relatively B-List as she is…she was on CRACK to back out of that role. You can’t get better exposure than that would’ve gotten for her.
If she’s going to make a habit of turning down fantastic roles…then she needs to refrain from complaining about her career.
If Katie Holmes was a good actor she wouldn’t need Tom Cruise to make her a superstar. She’s pathetic in that she “whores” her daughter just to keep in the public eye. I like my daughter to dress well but I certainly would not dress her in shamefully expensive designer clothes. As a “helpful” Scientologist you would think that she could at least send half of that money to starving children around the world. Shame! Shame! Shame!
Kat(i)e was truly horrendous as Rachel Dawes. I think it proved 100% her lack of talent. She ruined seriously crucial scenes.
Maggie is a zillion times better an actress.
I think he’s gay and has made a deal with each one of his “wives/beards”to stay and generate publicity for x amount of time. In return for helping them become STARS…Tom stay in the closet I really dont want you on my team.
Tom is a crazy ass, he may be gracious to his fans, which is nice, but that & all his millions is all he has left…I was expecting him to be hysterical in Tropic Thunder from all the hype & I was left feeling, “This is it??” I was sooooo not impressed at ALL. Katie is a terrible actress & that has everything to do with her lack of projects. I am positive her being Mrs. Cruise had something to do with her winning the role on Broadway opposite true thespians.
she could have reprised her character rachel in dark knight
And just how was Valkyrie by your standing? From where I’m sitting, it is not only a box office failure but a critical one as well.
(for example) In the movie industry when producers put up money, (for example) 1 mil. they expect a return of 1.5 mil. which means this film had to make 150 mil in it’s first six weeks to be a success.
But that’s only beginning. Advertising is not factored into what we read in the trades, but the studio is very aware of it. If the advertising for this move was 50 mil (a normal amount for a big movie) we are looking at 200 mil just to break even. The film has been slipping down the charts since it arrived (never having reached the coveted number one spot, I might add) with only 77mil in its coffers. 2 mil over the alleged amount it cost to produce, and it has been out for 4 weeks. As of 1/18 it is out of the top ten at number 14.
Hollywood is not in the business to ‘break even’ on their projects. It cannot survive that way.
So, please, don’t call it a success. Call it what it is, a miscast, vanity production with great supporting actors that attracted very little interest because it is a story where everyone knows the outcome and only came into being because a spoiled Hollywood star wanted to reach for Oscar gold.
And that ain’t happening.