# Poor Tom Cruise! Fired by Paramount! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 23, 2006, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poor-tom-cruise-fired-by-paramount/369881 "2006-08-23T13:38:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Gozu\_Tashoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7993a0/32.png) [@Gozu\_Tashoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gozu_Tashoya)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2006, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poor-tom-cruise-fired-by-paramount/369881/61 "2006-08-25T00:40:45Z")
[QUOTE=Kalhoun] Wow. I consider this to be a really good movie. I loved it. Ben Kingsley, right? Is that the one I’m thinking of? [/QUOTE] Yup. Personally, I liked the trailer and the concept better than the movie/execution. (But then, I had to work on subtitling the movie – and there were aspects of the film that made it a relative PITA to subtitle – so I wasn’t exactly in a prime position to enjoy it.) ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2006, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poor-tom-cruise-fired-by-paramount/369881/62 "2006-08-25T00:44:16Z")
[QUOTE=PunditLisa] I doubt I’ll ever see another Tom Cruise film because I don’t want to support his egocentric, eccentric behavior. [/QUOTE] If you don’t want to support egocentric weirdos, might I suggest you never see another movie again as long as you live. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2006, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poor-tom-cruise-fired-by-paramount/369881/63 "2006-08-25T01:06:12Z")
[QUOTE=Larry Borgia] Are you thinking about [Sexy Beast](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0203119/), **Kalhoun**? And here’s a [Washington Post](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/23/AR2006082300354.html) article about this. [/QUOTE] Sexy Beast is one of my all-time favorite movies, but no…I really liked Suspect Zero. Maybe I was drunk. I’ll have to watch it again. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2006, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poor-tom-cruise-fired-by-paramount/369881/64 "2006-08-25T01:59:05Z")
[QUOTE=AveDementia] There have been rumors for years that he’s not quite hetero, but he’s sued the pants off of everyone who hinted at such a thing.. [/QUOTE] In fairness to Cruise, he sued when malicious lies were told, including a European magazine that published an interview a gay porn actor who claimed he and Cruise had an ongoing sexual relationship (the porn actor later admitted he made it up), a publisher who claimed to have a gay sex tape of Tom Cruise (he later admitted he didn’t), and another publication after it claimed Tom and Nicole had to hire a sex therapist to make their love scenes look real in _Eyes Wide Shut_ (the tabloid later retracted that). ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2006, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poor-tom-cruise-fired-by-paramount/369881/65 "2006-08-25T02:13:13Z")
Big deal. Liberace did the same thing, and look how he turned out. ---
**Author:** ![zagloba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/977dab/32.png) [@zagloba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zagloba)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2006, 10:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poor-tom-cruise-fired-by-paramount/369881/66 "2006-08-25T10:12:01Z")
[QUOTE=gigi] They are trying to blame the failure of M:I:III on his jumping up and down on Oprah’s couch, confronting Matt Lauer about psychotropic drugs, spouting Scientology, etc., rather than on the fact that it wasn’t really very good. [/QUOTE] Maybe, but even if it was merely a bad film, it doesn’t let Cruise/Wagner off the hook. Cruise was the star and Cruise/Wagner were the producers, so the quality of the film is their responsibility. ---
**Author:** ![mr.jp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/48db29/32.png) [@mr.jp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mr.jp)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2006, 10:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poor-tom-cruise-fired-by-paramount/369881/67 "2006-08-25T10:16:33Z")
I don’t really get all this stuff about celebrities possible being gay. I mean, they are celebrities, so they must get a lot of sex. And so there must be alot of men / women who has had sex with that person, and some who would tell about it. So how could the public not know? ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2006, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poor-tom-cruise-fired-by-paramount/369881/68 "2006-08-25T11:22:40Z")
[QUOTE=gonzomax] It shows only one thing. His movies are not making the money that his salary commands. The studio would put up with anything if thr gross was right. [/QUOTE] Sure, but why are his movies not pulling in the money? His behavior is a huge factor. Saying that his “recent conduct has not been acceptable” only implies that the studio has a moral or ethical objection. The statement does not contradict the idea that their objection to his behavior is primarily financial. In other words, if they believe that his off-screen activities are hitting them in the pocketbook, they can honestly say that they fired him because of those activities. And I think that anyone who tries to claim that his recent behavior hasn’t affected his box office sales is being deliberately obtuse. One of the linked articles had someone saying that he still had a “loyal fan base.” Maybe so. But the loyal fan base isn’t what drives ticket sales past the 200 million mark. It’s all the additional people who see the movie, too. When enough of those additional people start to dislike an actor–for any reason–it’s bye-bye box-office. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2006, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poor-tom-cruise-fired-by-paramount/369881/69 "2006-08-25T11:43:02Z")
Has there been a statement from Mr. Cruise or did he clam up? ---
**Author:** ![Siege](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@Siege](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siege)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2006, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poor-tom-cruise-fired-by-paramount/369881/70 "2006-08-25T11:52:54Z")
Throws popcorn at **Tapioca Dextrin** ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2006, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poor-tom-cruise-fired-by-paramount/369881/71 "2006-08-25T16:53:57Z")
[Apparently, Cruise isn’t going to take this lying down.](http://imdb.com/news/sb/2006-08-24/) > [@](#): > > The head of Hollywood’s leading talent agency has condemned Viacom chief Sumner Redstone’s castigating comments about Tom Cruise and has suggested that the agency may now refuse to do business with Viacom’s Paramount studios. In an interview with today’s (Thursday) Wall Street Journal, Richard Lovett, president of Creative Artists Agency, which represents Cruise, said, “Paramount has no credibility right now. … It is not clear who is running the studio and who is making the decisions.” Cruise’s partner, Paula Wagner, is a onetime CAA agent and is married to Cruise’s current representative at CAA, Rick Nicita. It’ll be interesting to see how well this works out when Paramount approaches one of CAA’s clients with a big picture deal for a role that the actor feels he/she was “born to play.” ---
**Author:** ![Jodi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7feea3/32.png) [@Jodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jodi)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2006, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poor-tom-cruise-fired-by-paramount/369881/72 "2006-08-25T17:14:39Z")
GREAN BEAN – > [@](#): > > And I think that anyone who tries to claim that his recent behavior hasn’t affected his box office sales is being deliberately obtuse. :: \* waves hand \* :: Before Tom leapt on the Crazy Train, I could take him or leave him. But I found his behavior so off-putting (arrogant with Matt Lauer, nuts with Oprah) that I went from not caring about TC to not liking him, and therefore – as a direct result – I didn’t want to see a movie constructed around him. Granted, this is coming from a place where my “before” POV was " . . . eh." If I really liked him before, would his antics have changed my mind? Probably not. But I basically didn’t have an opinion one way or the other before, and now I do – and it’s not a good one. It’s not like I’m boycotting him films or anything. I just don’t particularly want to see them. ‘Cause I think he’s a big ol’ wierdo. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2006, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poor-tom-cruise-fired-by-paramount/369881/73 "2006-08-25T20:05:23Z")
[QUOTE=Tuckerfan] [Apparently, Cruise isn’t going to take this lying down.](http://imdb.com/news/sb/2006-08-24/)It’ll be interesting to see how well this works out when Paramount approaches one of CAA’s clients with a big picture deal for a role that the actor feels he/she was “born to play.” [/QUOTE] You begin to wonder how stupid these people are. If I’m one of CCA’s clients, I want CCA to present me and negotiate with all studios - particularly big ones like Paramount/Viacom. I don’t want them to side with some other actor at the expense of my career. I don’t give a damn if Paramount thinks Cruise is nuts - not my fight, not one I’d want my career involved in. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2006, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poor-tom-cruise-fired-by-paramount/369881/74 "2006-08-25T20:30:24Z")
I do find it intersting how Cruise can act a little weird but really not urt anyone, and he’s some sort of a demon to the fiolks on this board. On the other hand, any number of other actors have driven drunk and committed assaults and you don’t see them get raked over the coals. Why does Russell Crowe get a free pass? The hatred for Cruise is weird. ---
**Author:** ![mr.jp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/48db29/32.png) [@mr.jp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mr.jp)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2006, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poor-tom-cruise-fired-by-paramount/369881/75 "2006-08-25T21:00:12Z")
[QUOTE=RickJay] I do find it intersting how Cruise can act a little weird but really not urt anyone, and he’s some sort of a demon to the fiolks on this board. On the other hand, any number of other actors have driven drunk and committed assaults and you don’t see them get raked over the coals. Why does Russell Crowe get a free pass? The hatred for Cruise is weird. [/QUOTE] Yeah I agree. Can someone explain me what he did and why it is so bad? ---
**Author:** ![Eve](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Eve](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eve)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2006, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poor-tom-cruise-fired-by-paramount/369881/76 "2006-08-25T22:31:35Z")
I don’t hate him at all; I find him mildly amusing. I _love_ train-wreck celebrities. ---
**Author:** ![Jodi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7feea3/32.png) [@Jodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jodi)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2006, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poor-tom-cruise-fired-by-paramount/369881/77 "2006-08-25T22:32:44Z")
Well, speaking only for myself, I don’t hate him and I don’t think I demonize him. As to the comparison to Russell Crowe for example – Yeah, he loses his temper on occasion and can get drunk and act like an ass, but he doesn’t seem (a) crazy; (b) holier-than-thou; or © wound _juuuuust_ a little too tight. Even at his worst he’s still attractive, in the broadest non-physical sense. Tom, on the other hand, is a way different story. His sanctimonious attack on Brooke Shields? Not nice. His interview with Matt Lauer? Hostile. (“You know what’s the matter with you, Matt? You’re glib.”) His jumping on Oprah’s couch and generally acting like he invented Love in his basement? Bizarre., tiresome, and kind of mean-spirited. (“I’ve never been in love before” – Take that, Mimi, Nicole, and Penelope!) His religion? Strange as hell, but fine until he starts shoving it in people’s faces. His assertion that he, personally, has saved people from drugs by introducing them to Scientology? Arrogant, and possibly dangerous. His complete infatuation with a woman half his age? Over-the-top, and a little creepy. And the list goes on and on. Plus he’s got this look . . . I don’t know, like “Here’s my megawatt smile 'cause I’m everyone’s friend, but if you look at me sideways I’ll totally lose my shit.” Like he’s half a Valium away from going postal. _:: Shrug ::_ I don’t like him. He seems mighty strange to me. That doesn’t mean I think he’s a demon from Hell, though. Just a guy who likes very much to be in control all the time, and doesn’t deal well with it when he’s not. A guy who needs better handlers. ---
**Author:** ![mr.jp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/48db29/32.png) [@mr.jp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mr.jp)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2006, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poor-tom-cruise-fired-by-paramount/369881/78 "2006-08-25T23:53:15Z")
What happened with brooke shields? Is he really worse in the religion aspect than christian actors? I mean, almost every oscar winner mentions their god… ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2006, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poor-tom-cruise-fired-by-paramount/369881/79 "2006-08-26T00:19:04Z")
[QUOTE=Jodi] Well, speaking only for myself, I don’t hate him and I don’t think I demonize him. As to the comparison to Russell Crowe for example – Yeah, he loses his temper on occasion and can get drunk and act like an ass, but he doesn’t seem (a) crazy; (b) holier-than-thou; or (c) wound _juuuuust_ a little too tight. [/QUOTE] No, Russell Crowe seems wound a lot too tight. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2006, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poor-tom-cruise-fired-by-paramount/369881/80 "2006-08-26T00:25:11Z")
[QUOTE=Clockwork And Candy] Wait-- what’s the difference between the two? [/QUOTE] Ooooooh, softball. William H. Macy is an actor. Ru Paul is a star. 😃 Tim Roth is an actor. Joey Buttafucco is a star. :eek: Olympia Dukakis is an actress. George Dukakis is… well, heck. You get the picture. Actually, **Eve** , considering the bizarre arc of Tom’s career, he could awaken to find himself working as an extra at DesiLu, before Paramount bought it out. 😉 ( Worse yet, he could find himself over at Gower Champion’s place, making silents for sixty-five cents a day plus an apple for his horse. ) Cartooniverse [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poor-tom-cruise-fired-by-paramount/369881.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poor-tom-cruise-fired-by-paramount/369881.md?page=5)