While 20th Century Fox is the studio sweating it out hoping Knight and Day overcomes lackluster tracking to turn in respectable 5-day opening numbers, Paramount brass is paying close attention. That’s because the studio just received the screenplay for the new Mission: Impossible 4 penned by Josh Applebaum and Andre Nemec. I've learned that Brad Grey and Rob Moore are reading the script over the next few days and figuring out the preliminary budget next week on the Brad Bird-directed fourquel. Cruise reprises his Ethan Hunt role and produces with MI3 director JJ Abrams. But what effect if any will Knight and Day’s box office have on the new pic? Paramount insiders tell me no decisions have been made yet. But Hollywood has been buzzing that the studio might kill MI4 if Knight doesn't connect with audiences despite Cruise's action hero character.

What are Paramount's choices? The studio could choose not to accept the mission, but that seems next to impossible after all the development that's already gone into this still viable franchise. Especially after Paramount repaired its fractured relationship with Tom around this film and just committed to a film with his Les Grossman character. Plus, Cruise made what I hear is a reasonable deal to get the film off the ground, and there is a risk-sharing partner in exec producer David Ellison and his Skydance banner.

http://www.deadline.com/hollywood/

:clap :clap :clap :clap :clap

(That is one creepy-looking pic, by the way!)

Yeah.

I've liked Cruise in a few things like "Born on the Fourth of July" and "Interview with the Vampire" but in general I find his on screen persona just as off putting as his off screen one; both seem to be egotistical, presumptuous, and incredibly narcissistic. He almost always seems to play the same character; the type of person I would have loathed in high school.

So...yeah, I'm not too busted up about this either. :rolleyes:

He was also good in Rain Man - but Dustin Hoffman was the real star of that one. I think Tom is really best as part of an ensemble - a project where his ego doesn't completely take over. In my eyes, any shred of credibility he had vanished once he jumped up and down on Oprah's couch!!! :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

There should have never been any Mission Impossible movies. They are all inferior to the TV show (the original one from the 60's that is).

He was also good in Rain Man - but Dustin Hoffman was the real star of that one. I think Tom is really best as part of an ensemble - a project where his ego doesn't completely take over. In my eyes, any shred of credibility he had vanished once he jumped up and down on Oprah's couch!!! :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

Yeah, he was good in Rain Man, though it was his standard "cocky successful ladies' man who's insensitive/borderline cruel but somehow finds his heart or at least a piece of it" role.

Did you see him in the movie "Magnolia"? I almost forgot about that one. If you can tolerate the character's horrendous profanity and almost complete misogyny, Cruise's performance is worth a look, as is the whole movie.

Never saw Magnolia, but I do recall he got an Oscar nomination for his role in that movie.

He was also good in Rain Man - but Dustin Hoffman was the real star of that one. I think Tom is really best as part of an ensemble - a project where his ego doesn't completely take over. In my eyes, any shred of credibility he had vanished once he jumped up and down on Oprah's couch!!! :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

I remember going to see that and thinking that Dustin Hoffman walked all over him. I agree that Cruise did a good job -- but Hoffman is one of those actors who becomes the character.

Cruise is part of a group of actors who pretty much play themselves in every movie, albeit with different "character names."

Never saw Magnolia, but I do recall he got an Oscar nomination for his role in that movie.

Yep. He lost that year to Michael Caine in The Cider House Rules.

He won The Golden Globe though.

Yep. He lost that year to Michael Caine in The Cider House Rules.

He won The Golden Globe though.
That's right! Jude Law (Talented Mr. Ripley), Haley Joel Osment (Sixth Sense) and Michael Clarke Duncan (Green Mile) were the other Supporting Actor Oscar nominees that year.

why don't they just change the title sequences and re-release MI2 as MI4 - no one will notice.

why don't they just change the title sequences and re-release MI2 as MI4 - no one will notice.
I certainly wouldn't!! :crazy: :lol:

But he isnt so bad, women are so much inspired?

Tom Cruise has definitely been in 3 or so bombs lately (Lions for lambs as one example) - but. even that one made $63 mio USD. That is not bad at all for his worst bomb ever.
Lets face it - whether we like him or not on or offscreen then who elsein his age group has the charisma, intensity and dynamism to carry a movie? Ok, we got Johnny Depp but "public enemies" and "Alice in Wonderland" was pure utter garbage - as well as Pirates 2, 3 and probably 4 as well.
So, who else are better an Tom Cruise? Orlando Bloom who has no charm at all? Jake Gyllenhaal - he just bombed his latest movie. Shia Laboeuf is promising but needs another 15 years to become really good.