Travolta can “hide” his persona better if you get me. When u see cruise on film it’s always tom cruise no matter the part he plays but it doesn’t matter, he lends a certain gravitas or credibility despite being perpetual tom cruise. Travolta can really nail a role, and he probably leaves a stronger acting impression than cruise but if I’m making a summer blockbuster I’m giving the Star role to cruise.
I'm not a huge fan of either one, but from an acting standpoint, watching Tom Cruise is like watching a flatline on an EKG. I don't think there's a heartbeat or a soul in there, just an action star. I'd pick Travolta. I would never mention either one in the same breath as the gold standard - at least in my opinion - for my generation: Robin Williams.
I feel he could be more versatile if he wanted to but he doesn’t do that often. He’s also great at those comedic action roles. Also liked him in Rock of Ages.
I'm not a huge movie buff anymore, but he was far from an action star in:
Rain Man
Jerry Maguire
Top Gun (even if somewhat of an action movie, it really wasn't)
Even going back to Risky Business, Far and Away, Losin It, Color of Money, A Few Good Men, etc.
Cruise wins this IMO, but both are entertaining actors even if people don't view them in Daniel Day Lewis/Jack Nicholson class and both have been nominated multiple times for best actor oscars (if you care about that).
I feel he could be more versatile if he wanted to but he doesn’t do that often. He’s also great at those comedic action roles. Also liked him in Rock of Ages.
I thought he was hilarious in Tropic Thunder. Also loved Rock of Ages.
Look at Rain Man, Hoffman won the Oscar but Cruise really stole the show. Risky Business? Born on the 4th of July? He is not just an action star. A few good men?
Tom Cruise is a really fine actor. I think he is way under-rated. and it hurts me to say it because he is a scientologist and all around nut.
His whole deal is staying a bankable movie star for as long as he can, and for him, that just means taking action roles that don't demand as much of his acting chops. But when he stretches himself, it's a sight to see.
What do we think is Travolta's best acting performance?
His whole deal is staying a bankable movie star for as long as he can, and for him, that just means taking action roles that don't demand as much of his acting chops. But when he stretches himself, it's a sight to see.
What do we think is Travolta's best acting performance?
Pulp Fiction or Grease. Maybe Boy in the Plastic Bubble - forget if that was a TV only movie. Can't forget Vinnie Barbarino.
I'm actually surprised this is even a real discussion, while I find Travolta entertaining Cruise's resume is a billion times better.
more versatile and has had quality movies spanning over 4 decades. Travta has some great roles but just being good in Pulp Fuction isn’t enoufh. I can count on 1 hand how many good Travolta movies he’s started in.
His whole deal is staying a bankable movie star for as long as he can, and for him, that just means taking action roles that don't demand as much of his acting chops. But when he stretches himself, it's a sight to see.
What do we think is Travolta's best acting performance?
I don’t see that as a negative. He does virtually all his own stunts including becoming a helicopter pilot and filming his own action scenes in the upcoming MI. Being a good actor isn’t all there is to a movie, IMO. He should be praised for actually doing a lot of the hard work that most other action stars get stunt doubles to do.
He’s got some underrated gems like Collateral. While he’s not my favorite actor I can’t says he’s really done many “terrible” movies. Travolta has been in some seriously awful movies.
Name one bad Tom Cruise performance where he's mailed it in. Guy may be a whackjob, but he's been really good in a lot of good movies since Taps.
Collateral is as good as Travolta's Pulp Fiction performance, maybe better. Then you've got Rain Man, Few Good Men, The Firm, Maguire and Magnolia. 10 years after Magnolia he's great in Edge of Tomorrow (FTW a great popcorn movie).
Are we kidding?
Cruise gets pegged as just an action star because of the recent Â
slew of Mission Impossible movies and also the Jack Reacher movies. The more I think about it and read all of the quality posts here, it’s really not close. Cruise’s early catalog of movies were quite versatile, as has been mentioned already. And he’s been a steady top actor for decades.
Travolta, a quality actor in his own right, had a great run in the late 70’s with a few top movies and then disappeared until the cult hit Pulp Fiction in 1994. That put him back on the map but he then went on to make a bunch of “meh” movies. And I like Travolta.
Cruise is as bankable of a movie star as you can get. Plus, he was in Legend.
all the awful movies Travolta was in, even in the Action genre. Broken Arrow was terrible and Face/Off was as bad or worse. He then capped off the hilarity with Battlefield Earth.
This isn’t a debate for me at all but it’s fun to think about. I can’t remember the last Cruise movie that was even bad, let alone terrible like most of Travolta.
Not sure if it was listed yet but Edge of Tomorrow was awesome. I also second the Collateral comments, Cruise was great as a hit man.
Lastly, Cruise should have won everyone over with Tropic Thunder.
He may be nuts, but Born on the Fourth of July ends the discussion for me. If Daniel Day Lewis didn’t put on such an amazing peformance in My Left Foot, Cruise would be an Oscar winner.
But as others have said, it's hard to think of the really bad movies that Tom Cruise has been a part of.
Worst movie ever. And it ain’t close. That alien race defeated the US military in less then 2 minutes. Yet years later a slave race of humans uses archaic military equipment to get their revenge. Terrible film.
But as others have said, it's hard to think of the really bad movies that Tom Cruise has been a part of.
Worst movie ever. And it ain’t close. That alien race defeated the US military in less then 2 minutes. Yet years later a slave race of humans uses archaic military equipment to get their revenge. Terrible film.
He made that film to honor Hubbard. Both are bat shit crazy Scientolgists.
Face-off, Pulp Fiction, Pelham 1 2 3, even Saturday Night Fever and Kotter. Cruise is the same guy in each film, and I only like his later stuff. Not even a fan of him in Top Gun or Cocktail. Jerry McGuire was his best in my opinion, followed by Collateral Damage
Urban Cowboy, Saturday Night Fever, Pulp Fiction. He's played good guys, bad guys, comedic roles. Cruise has no range. Travolta has been in some bad films, and Cruise is the bigger name and has made more money with more summer blockbusters, but he's not a great actor. In fact, Travolta is only a pretty good actor, but he doesn't hold a candle to Tom Hanks or Ed Norton or Daniel Day-Lewis.
I have to disagree with you, Cruise is a great actor. It's easy to get swayed by the disturbing lunacy of Cruise the person and it's probably why he doesn't get the recognition he deserves as an actor, but he's put together quite a list of great performances in big and small roles. from Tropic Thunder - ( New Window )
Urban Cowboy, Saturday Night Fever, Pulp Fiction. He's played good guys, bad guys, comedic roles. Cruise has no range. Travolta has been in some bad films, and Cruise is the bigger name and has made more money with more summer blockbusters, but he's not a great actor. In fact, Travolta is only a pretty good actor, but he doesn't hold a candle to Tom Hanks or Ed Norton or Daniel Day-Lewis.
Think about Travolta in Saturday Night Fever to Urban Cowboy to Look Who's Talking to General's Daughter to Pulp Fiction to Michael and Be Cool and Get Shorty.
Now imagine Tom Cruise as Travolta's character in those movies. He would be good in General's Daughter, but can you see him pull off a believable performance in Urban Cowboy or Saturday Night Fever? What about the assassin in Pulp Fiction? I think it is a resounding no. And that should really end the discussion.
Urban Cowboy, Saturday Night Fever, Pulp Fiction. He's played good guys, bad guys, comedic roles. Cruise has no range. Travolta has been in some bad films, and Cruise is the bigger name and has made more money with more summer blockbusters, but he's not a great actor. In fact, Travolta is only a pretty good actor, but he doesn't hold a candle to Tom Hanks or Ed Norton or Daniel Day-Lewis.
Urban Cowboy, Saturday Night Fever, Pulp Fiction. He's played good guys, bad guys, comedic roles. Cruise has no range. Travolta has been in some bad films, and Cruise is the bigger name and has made more money with more summer blockbusters, but he's not a great actor. In fact, Travolta is only a pretty good actor, but he doesn't hold a candle to Tom Hanks or Ed Norton or Daniel Day-Lewis.
No range? You must not have seen Collateral or Tropic Thunder. You must also not have seen Magnolia. Cruise has plenty of range and enjoys making the movies he makes at this point in his career.
ok, probably some duplicate counting but i have it as Â
Urban Cowboy, Saturday Night Fever, Pulp Fiction. He's played good guys, bad guys, comedic roles. Cruise has no range. Travolta has been in some bad films, and Cruise is the bigger name and has made more money with more summer blockbusters, but he's not a great actor. In fact, Travolta is only a pretty good actor, but he doesn't hold a candle to Tom Hanks or Ed Norton or Daniel Day-Lewis.
No range? You must not have seen Collateral or Tropic Thunder. You must also not have seen Magnolia. Cruise has plenty of range and enjoys making the movies he makes at this point in his career.
Stop. You are using the movie Tropic Thunder as an example of great acting. Think about that for a moment. Funny movie, sure. But he played a caricature, by it's very nature it's not very believable. I saw Collateral. Good movie. He was good in that movie. He is good at what he does, and he doesn't stray too far away from that. That's the point. He was good in Collateral.
But again, if you think Tom Cruise can put on a Cowboy hat and play Bud, an aspiring rodeo star, or play Tony in Saturday Night Fever, or play a mob assassin believably in Pulp Fiction, you are crazy. That shows a far greater range of roles than Cruise has ever had to perform.
Like, for 15 years. That doesn’t happen with great actors. Pulp Fiction resurrected his career (part Travolta/Jackson, part Tarantino) and then he went on to make some more bad movies. Travolta’s range consists of playing a wacky, crazy guy with some other roles sprinkled in.
How many bad movies has Cruise been in? How many flops? I really can’t think of any. That doesn’t happen with “not great” actors with no range. Magnolia - Vanilla Sky - Rock of Ages - Mission Impossible - American Made. That’s some pretty great range and doesn’t even count his earlier work.
Travolta is a fine actor. He also surrounds himself with other A-listers in movies which helps raise his stock. And his box office numbers still can’t touch those of Cruise.
One Travolta movie I really like that hasn't been brought up was Â
Urban Cowboy, Saturday Night Fever, Pulp Fiction. He's played good guys, bad guys, comedic roles. Cruise has no range. Travolta has been in some bad films, and Cruise is the bigger name and has made more money with more summer blockbusters, but he's not a great actor. In fact, Travolta is only a pretty good actor, but he doesn't hold a candle to Tom Hanks or Ed Norton or Daniel Day-Lewis.
No range? You must not have seen Collateral or Tropic Thunder. You must also not have seen Magnolia. Cruise has plenty of range and enjoys making the movies he makes at this point in his career.
Stop. You are using the movie Tropic Thunder as an example of great acting. Think about that for a moment. Funny movie, sure. But he played a caricature, by it's very nature it's not very believable. I saw Collateral. Good movie. He was good in that movie. He is good at what he does, and he doesn't stray too far away from that. That's the point. He was good in Collateral.
But again, if you think Tom Cruise can put on a Cowboy hat and play Bud, an aspiring rodeo star, or play Tony in Saturday Night Fever, or play a mob assassin believably in Pulp Fiction, you are crazy. That shows a far greater range of roles than Cruise has ever had to perform.
I’m not stopping anything. You said he had no range and i disagree with you completely. He’s had plenty of roles outside of the box you are putting him in. Travolta is fine, has had some memorable roles and a few great ones. But the guy hasn’t had one of those moments in over 2 decades.
As for the rest of your post, whatever you say man. I’m not comparing the guy to Daniel Day Lewis, I’m comparing him to John Travolta.
Cruise's personality has a bit to be desired, but his acting ability is probably tops in the game. He can do hysteria (Jerry MaGwire, A Few Good Men, or Cocktails), crazy ass action including hanging from a plane(endless movies), crying, laughing, serious, etc. He has all the tools. My favorites are "American Made" and "Knight and Day"
Travolta is very good, but not the same level. My favorite movie of Travolta is "Phenomenon". A movie everyone should have on their favorite's list. Especially great to watch with a woman by your side.
RE: This is funny debate - both nuts - but I have to go with Cruise Â
but to fully judge Cruise, you have to see Vanilla Sky which, IMO, is his best movie from an acting standpoint. Vanilla Sky is a remake of a Spanish movie (Open Your Eyes).
this isn't a debate I'd get worked up about, but Cruise's resume is among the best of any current actor (and they're hardly the same role)
Taps
Outsiders
Losin It
Risky Business
All the Right Moves
Legend
Top Gun
Color of Money
Cocktail
Rain Man
Born of the 4th of July
Days of Thunder
A Few Good Men
The Firm
Interview with a Vampire
Mission: Impossible
Jerry Maguire
Eyes Wide Shut
Magnolia
Vanilla Sky
Minority Report
Collateral
War of the Worlds
Jack Reacher
And all the sequels.
the guy's films have grossed over 4 billion dollars and he's almost always the main draw in his films.
I think he's got more than "a couple good roles" even if you don't like all these movies (or the ones I skipped) and I think he's shown some range even if he doesn't sing and dance.
By the way, based upon interviews on "Inside the Actors Studio," both of them are surprisingly knowledgeable and studious about their craft. It's really easy to forget how much that matters, especially among actors who don't do live theater.
Urban Cowboy, Saturday Night Fever, Pulp Fiction. He's played good guys, bad guys, comedic roles. Cruise has no range. Travolta has been in some bad films, and Cruise is the bigger name and has made more money with more summer blockbusters, but he's not a great actor. In fact, Travolta is only a pretty good actor, but he doesn't hold a candle to Tom Hanks or Ed Norton or Daniel Day-Lewis.
Every example of role type you list has Cruise winning the battle. No comedic role of Travolta's beats Cruise's in Tropic Thunder. No bad guy he played was as ruthless and charismatically menacing as Cruise's in Collateral.
And clearly people don't remember Eyes Wide Shut very well.
Urban Cowboy, Saturday Night Fever, Pulp Fiction. He's played good guys, bad guys, comedic roles. Cruise has no range. Travolta has been in some bad films, and Cruise is the bigger name and has made more money with more summer blockbusters, but he's not a great actor. In fact, Travolta is only a pretty good actor, but he doesn't hold a candle to Tom Hanks or Ed Norton or Daniel Day-Lewis.
Think about Travolta in Saturday Night Fever to Urban Cowboy to Look Who's Talking to General's Daughter to Pulp Fiction to Michael and Be Cool and Get Shorty.
Now imagine Tom Cruise as Travolta's character in those movies. He would be good in General's Daughter, but can you see him pull off a believable performance in Urban Cowboy or Saturday Night Fever? What about the assassin in Pulp Fiction? I think it is a resounding no. And that should really end the discussion.
That's not good logic. Just because I can't imagine Denzel Washington playing Happy Gilmore does not mean he takes a back seat to Adam Sandler.
anyone who thinks John Travolta is a better actor than Tom Cruise is fucked in the head. Now that we have that settled, I guess next up is Paul Thomas Anderson vs Michael Bay.
That's not fair to Travolta, it's more like Paul Thomas Anderson vs Ivan Reitman.
The real question is Antonio Banderas or Benico Del Toro Â
it is odd that some equate box office success with good acting
as many have pointed out much of Cruise success is action movies where he plays the same character over and over again ..
that is being a movie star and not really acting
it is impressive how he has been able to stay on top for so long which once again is reflected in picking action roles that show off his limited range .
Travolta has shown a bit of more range in his acting.
his career except for two periods has been a dumpster fire .
completely different ways for each Mission Impossible movie. So aside from the Mission Impossible movies (a small portion of his entire career), how exactly does he play the same role for each movie? Seriously, if you can look at Cruise’s entire catalog of movies and not see range, then you are just being obtuse. And a bit hypocritical.
If people are going to typecast Cruise as the same role, action star then I’m going to typecast Travolta as the wacky, crazy villain role that he plays so much.
Travolta’s career was MIA from he late seventies until Pulp Fiction (small bump for Look Who’s Talking lol). And Pulp Fiction was great more because of the sum of the parts more than just Travolta himself. You can poo poo the “box office numbers” argument all you want. But if Travolta is the better actor, why do most of his movies flounder while most of Cruise’s movies rake in the money? And it’s not close.
RE: RE: RE: The real question is Antonio Banderas or Benico Del Toro Â
Cruise seems to have to characters in him ... the one he played in "Born on the 4th of July" .... and every other role he played.
Now, he does that "every other role he played" very well. Sorta like a modern day Cary Grant. Cary Grant was a great movie star - legendary, - one of the best. But, was he really a great actor? IDK?
Cruise seems to have to characters in him ... the one he played in "Born on the 4th of July" .... and every other role he played.
Now, he does that "every other role he played" very well. Sorta like a modern day Cary Grant. Cary Grant was a great movie star - legendary, - one of the best. But, was he really a great actor? IDK?
close. Cruise in a landslide. Travolta really is never in anything memorable outside of Pulp Fiction and Saturday Night Fever. Yeah he was in Grease and some other nonsense, but Cruise has been good in some good movies. I really dislike Cruise as well, I think nowadays I tend to go out of my way not to watch his stuff. However, I just don’t see how it’s close. Cruise has been in a ton of great roles. A Few Good Men, Rain Man, Eyes Wise Shut, etc.. I think other actors could potentially have done a better job in some of his roles, but really like it or not Cruise was a ridiculous superstar for a long time.
and it is not remotely close. Anyone who says Travolta says it because they hate Cruise. Which is fine, but it’s not reality.
This is it exactly. The irony, I think, is that most people who hate Cruise feel that way because of his Scientology beliefs and Travolta and Preston are right there with him. The difference is Travolta isn't really vocal and public with his involvement.
more, is anyone a bigger draw than him nowadays? I don’t mean better actor or anything like that, just is he still “the biggest”? I read something a few years back that he was insanely popular in Japan and other Asian countries. A few years back could potentially be like 15 years ago I don’t really remember. Is he the highest paid, biggest draw out there? I can’t hink of someone right this minute who would be bigger. I can name plenty of better actors but besides maybe Leonardo DiCaprio who else is there with that fame? I gotta be missing someone
Stallone. His breakdown scene in Rambo, First Blood still sends chills down my spine.
I can't think of a movie where Travolta sent chills down my spine - maybe his death scene in Phenomenon, but that's the only scene I can remember of his that emotionally moved me Stalonne showing how to act - ( New Window )
more, is anyone a bigger draw than him nowadays? I don�t mean better actor or anything like that, just is he still �the biggest�? I read something a few years back that he was insanely popular in Japan and other Asian countries. A few years back could potentially be like 15 years ago I don�t really remember. Is he the highest paid, biggest draw out there? I can�t hink of someone right this minute who would be bigger. I can name plenty of better actors but besides maybe Leonardo DiCaprio who else is there with that fame? I gotta be missing someone
not sure, the Mummy was supposed to launch a universal monster universe, which if done properly would have been great, but:
The film received generally negative reviews from critics. Despite grossing $409 million worldwide, it was labeled a box office bomb given its high production and marketing costs, with projected losses of up to $95 million.[3]
more, is anyone a bigger draw than him nowadays? I don�t mean better actor or anything like that, just is he still �the biggest�? I read something a few years back that he was insanely popular in Japan and other Asian countries. A few years back could potentially be like 15 years ago I don�t really remember. Is he the highest paid, biggest draw out there? I can�t hink of someone right this minute who would be bigger. I can name plenty of better actors but besides maybe Leonardo DiCaprio who else is there with that fame? I gotta be missing someone
not sure, the Mummy was supposed to launch a universal monster universe, which if done properly would have been great, but:
The film received generally negative reviews from critics. Despite grossing $409 million worldwide, it was labeled a box office bomb given its high production and marketing costs, with projected losses of up to $95 million.[3]
That movie grossed $409 million and they LOST $95 million on the movie? Yeah, I call BS on that one.
more, is anyone a bigger draw than him nowadays? I don’t mean better actor or anything like that, just is he still “the biggest”? I read something a few years back that he was insanely popular in Japan and other Asian countries. A few years back could potentially be like 15 years ago I don’t really remember. Is he the highest paid, biggest draw out there? I can’t hink of someone right this minute who would be bigger. I can name plenty of better actors but besides maybe Leonardo DiCaprio who else is there with that fame? I gotta be missing someone
more, is anyone a bigger draw than him nowadays? I don’t mean better actor or anything like that, just is he still “the biggest”? I read something a few years back that he was insanely popular in Japan and other Asian countries. A few years back could potentially be like 15 years ago I don’t really remember. Is he the highest paid, biggest draw out there? I can’t hink of someone right this minute who would be bigger. I can name plenty of better actors but besides maybe Leonardo DiCaprio who else is there with that fame? I gotta be missing someone
Also, if you go global you need to think about Robert Downey Jr and sadly, the entire Furious franchise.
For all of his faults, Cruise is a pretty good actor. Travolta can be effective with a good script that highlights his strengths, but he doesn't have the range Cruise has.
I've heard this said about Cruise, and it's true - not every movie he's in is good, he certainly isn't right for every role he gets, but the guy doesn't leave anything on the field, so to speak. You hire Tom Cruise for your movie and you're going to get 100% of Tom Cruise. Travolta on the other hand has clearly sleepwalked through some role.
Neither is my favorite actor, but Cruise definitely has more range.
Still shouldn't have been in Valkyrie, though, dammit.
He's decent, though he generally just kind of plays "Tom Cruise" in whatever movie he's in. That's why Collateral was fun. It was one of the few movies in which he departs from his usual style.
He's decent, though he generally just kind of plays "Tom Cruise" in whatever movie he's in. That's why Collateral was fun. It was one of the few movies in which he departs from his usual style.
If you just play "Tom Cruise", how is that acting?
Was your bet that more people on BBI would think ______ was a better actor than _______?
I'm a little suspicious of this "bet" claim. You just want to know whose poster to hang above your bed, don't you?
no, it was a real bet. and i lost. my wife and i just watched American Crime Stories (or something like that) about the OJ case. I commented on how good Travolta was as Shapiro. that led to the debate, which I still don't concede.
fun fact: My wife and I worked with Gordon Clark during the trial. Nobody I know remembers animosity between him and Marcia as portrayed in the movie. He was a Mr. Rogers type character.
Love me some Kelly Preston...but Katie Holmes all day IMO
Rain Man
Jerry Maguire
Top Gun (even if somewhat of an action movie, it really wasn't)
Even going back to Risky Business, Far and Away, Losin It, Color of Money, A Few Good Men, etc.
Cruise wins this IMO, but both are entertaining actors even if people don't view them in Daniel Day Lewis/Jack Nicholson class and both have been nominated multiple times for best actor oscars (if you care about that).
I thought he was hilarious in Tropic Thunder. Also loved Rock of Ages.
Look at Rain Man, Hoffman won the Oscar but Cruise really stole the show. Risky Business? Born on the 4th of July? He is not just an action star. A few good men?
Tom Cruise is a really fine actor. I think he is way under-rated. and it hurts me to say it because he is a scientologist and all around nut.
Love me some Kelly Preston...but Katie Holmes all day IMO
Wrong. Correct answer is Kelly Preston. Remember he in Jerry Maguire?
Quote:
who’s had the better beard?
Love me some Kelly Preston...but Katie Holmes all day IMO
Wrong. Correct answer is Kelly Preston. Remember he in Jerry Maguire?
"her"
Quote:
who’s had the better beard?
Love me some Kelly Preston...but Katie Holmes all day IMO
Wrong. Correct answer is Kelly Preston. Remember he in Jerry Maguire?
Oh I sure do. You’re right, maybe a lot closer than I said. Still think I go Katie Holmes though
Also, Cruise in Magnolia and Collateral was better than any Travolta performance I can think of.
What do we think is Travolta's best acting performance?
What do we think is Travolta's best acting performance?
Pulp Fiction or Grease. Maybe Boy in the Plastic Bubble - forget if that was a TV only movie. Can't forget Vinnie Barbarino.
I'm actually surprised this is even a real discussion, while I find Travolta entertaining Cruise's resume is a billion times better.
Fuck both of these Scientologists.
Cruise -
Interview with a Vampire
The Firm
A Few Good Men
Minority Report
The Last Samurai
Travolta - Pulp Fiction and .....
"I mean those are rose bushes!" - ( New Window )
And I thought he was really good early in his career in All the Right Moves, Outsiders and Taps.
I’ve enjoyed all the Missions, too.
Count me in the camp - it’s not even close. Cruise. Easily.
What do we think is Travolta's best acting performance?
I don’t see that as a negative. He does virtually all his own stunts including becoming a helicopter pilot and filming his own action scenes in the upcoming MI. Being a good actor isn’t all there is to a movie, IMO. He should be praised for actually doing a lot of the hard work that most other action stars get stunt doubles to do.
Collateral is as good as Travolta's Pulp Fiction performance, maybe better. Then you've got Rain Man, Few Good Men, The Firm, Maguire and Magnolia. 10 years after Magnolia he's great in Edge of Tomorrow (FTW a great popcorn movie).
Are we kidding?
Travolta, a quality actor in his own right, had a great run in the late 70’s with a few top movies and then disappeared until the cult hit Pulp Fiction in 1994. That put him back on the map but he then went on to make a bunch of “meh” movies. And I like Travolta.
Cruise is as bankable of a movie star as you can get. Plus, he was in Legend.
This isn’t a debate for me at all but it’s fun to think about. I can’t remember the last Cruise movie that was even bad, let alone terrible like most of Travolta.
Not sure if it was listed yet but Edge of Tomorrow was awesome. I also second the Collateral comments, Cruise was great as a hit man.
Lastly, Cruise should have won everyone over with Tropic Thunder.
I don’t think it is close either.
Ah, just saw American Made. Really enjoyed it and an out-of-the-box role for TC.
Also, Cruise in Magnolia and Collateral was better than any Travolta performance I can think of.
This.
It's Tom Cruise.
Travolta is more stable and consistent and usually plays his part well, but Peak Tom Cruise is just flat out epic.
He's very very gifted when he's into it and in the right role
Travolta - Pulp Fiction and .....
Saturday Night Fever
and a number of other crap titles he's headlined.
Pulp Fiction was good. I enjoyed Get Shorty.
But as others have said, it's hard to think of the really bad movies that Tom Cruise has been a part of.
and a number of other crap titles he's headlined.
Pulp Fiction was good. I enjoyed Get Shorty.
But as others have said, it's hard to think of the really bad movies that Tom Cruise has been a part of.
Worst movie ever. And it ain’t close. That alien race defeated the US military in less then 2 minutes. Yet years later a slave race of humans uses archaic military equipment to get their revenge. Terrible film.
I try to avoid any Travolta movies. Cruise is not a great actor, but he's much better than Travolta IMHO.
Quote:
and a number of other crap titles he's headlined.
Pulp Fiction was good. I enjoyed Get Shorty.
But as others have said, it's hard to think of the really bad movies that Tom Cruise has been a part of.
Worst movie ever. And it ain’t close. That alien race defeated the US military in less then 2 minutes. Yet years later a slave race of humans uses archaic military equipment to get their revenge. Terrible film.
He made that film to honor Hubbard. Both are bat shit crazy Scientolgists.
Stand back and give yourself a breather before you gut reaction rank them. Personally i am torn between hanks and di Caprio.
Stand back and give yourself a breather before you gut reaction rank them. Personally i am torn between hanks and di Caprio.
surprised anybody picked Travolta.
Hanks is the best of the bunch. DiCaprio yells and drools okay, but often hard to suspend disbelief 6/10.
NOT!
NOT!
Now which one is the better pilot? Travolta was rated as a 747 pilot and I think was actually a Qantas co-pilot once.
Cruise has a P-51. Now that is cool.
from Tropic Thunder - ( New Window )
Think about Travolta in Saturday Night Fever to Urban Cowboy to Look Who's Talking to General's Daughter to Pulp Fiction to Michael and Be Cool and Get Shorty.
Now imagine Tom Cruise as Travolta's character in those movies. He would be good in General's Daughter, but can you see him pull off a believable performance in Urban Cowboy or Saturday Night Fever? What about the assassin in Pulp Fiction? I think it is a resounding no. And that should really end the discussion.
Cruise is more on Leonardo DiCaprio leavel
Travolta is more on Christian Slater leavel
Only thing in common is thay are both Crazy Scientologists..
Not many can compare with Daniel Day-Lewis...
No range? You must not have seen Collateral or Tropic Thunder. You must also not have seen Magnolia. Cruise has plenty of range and enjoys making the movies he makes at this point in his career.
Preston over Holmes 2 to 1. A better comp might have been Nicole Kidman.
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Urban Cowboy, Saturday Night Fever, Pulp Fiction. He's played good guys, bad guys, comedic roles. Cruise has no range. Travolta has been in some bad films, and Cruise is the bigger name and has made more money with more summer blockbusters, but he's not a great actor. In fact, Travolta is only a pretty good actor, but he doesn't hold a candle to Tom Hanks or Ed Norton or Daniel Day-Lewis.
No range? You must not have seen Collateral or Tropic Thunder. You must also not have seen Magnolia. Cruise has plenty of range and enjoys making the movies he makes at this point in his career.
Stop. You are using the movie Tropic Thunder as an example of great acting. Think about that for a moment. Funny movie, sure. But he played a caricature, by it's very nature it's not very believable. I saw Collateral. Good movie. He was good in that movie. He is good at what he does, and he doesn't stray too far away from that. That's the point. He was good in Collateral.
But again, if you think Tom Cruise can put on a Cowboy hat and play Bud, an aspiring rodeo star, or play Tony in Saturday Night Fever, or play a mob assassin believably in Pulp Fiction, you are crazy. That shows a far greater range of roles than Cruise has ever had to perform.
both Scientologists but Travolta doesn't flaunt it the way Cruise does. Rumors of gayness for both.
Kind of interesting.
How many bad movies has Cruise been in? How many flops? I really can’t think of any. That doesn’t happen with “not great” actors with no range. Magnolia - Vanilla Sky - Rock of Ages - Mission Impossible - American Made. That’s some pretty great range and doesn’t even count his earlier work.
Travolta is a fine actor. He also surrounds himself with other A-listers in movies which helps raise his stock. And his box office numbers still can’t touch those of Cruise.
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In comment 13998020 allstarjim said:
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Urban Cowboy, Saturday Night Fever, Pulp Fiction. He's played good guys, bad guys, comedic roles. Cruise has no range. Travolta has been in some bad films, and Cruise is the bigger name and has made more money with more summer blockbusters, but he's not a great actor. In fact, Travolta is only a pretty good actor, but he doesn't hold a candle to Tom Hanks or Ed Norton or Daniel Day-Lewis.
No range? You must not have seen Collateral or Tropic Thunder. You must also not have seen Magnolia. Cruise has plenty of range and enjoys making the movies he makes at this point in his career.
Stop. You are using the movie Tropic Thunder as an example of great acting. Think about that for a moment. Funny movie, sure. But he played a caricature, by it's very nature it's not very believable. I saw Collateral. Good movie. He was good in that movie. He is good at what he does, and he doesn't stray too far away from that. That's the point. He was good in Collateral.
But again, if you think Tom Cruise can put on a Cowboy hat and play Bud, an aspiring rodeo star, or play Tony in Saturday Night Fever, or play a mob assassin believably in Pulp Fiction, you are crazy. That shows a far greater range of roles than Cruise has ever had to perform.
I’m not stopping anything. You said he had no range and i disagree with you completely. He’s had plenty of roles outside of the box you are putting him in. Travolta is fine, has had some memorable roles and a few great ones. But the guy hasn’t had one of those moments in over 2 decades.
As for the rest of your post, whatever you say man. I’m not comparing the guy to Daniel Day Lewis, I’m comparing him to John Travolta.
Travolta is very good, but not the same level. My favorite movie of Travolta is "Phenomenon". A movie everyone should have on their favorite's list. Especially great to watch with a woman by your side.
Cruise -
Interview with a Vampire
The Firm
A Few Good Men
Minority Report
The Last Samurai
Travolta - Pulp Fiction and .....
Gotti (lol) https://www.thewrap.com/john-travoltas-gotti-scores-zero-percent-rotten-tomatoes/
I would say Travolta is better actor
in that he has a little better range especially earlier in his career
Saturday Night Fever
Urban Cowboy
Blow out
Grease
Tom Cruise has had a handful of decent movies but he essentially plays the same character
Taps
Outsiders
Losin It
Risky Business
All the Right Moves
Legend
Top Gun
Color of Money
Cocktail
Rain Man
Born of the 4th of July
Days of Thunder
A Few Good Men
The Firm
Interview with a Vampire
Mission: Impossible
Jerry Maguire
Eyes Wide Shut
Magnolia
Vanilla Sky
Minority Report
Collateral
War of the Worlds
Jack Reacher
And all the sequels.
the guy's films have grossed over 4 billion dollars and he's almost always the main draw in his films.
I think he's got more than "a couple good roles" even if you don't like all these movies (or the ones I skipped) and I think he's shown some range even if he doesn't sing and dance.
Cage in a landslide
By the way, based upon interviews on "Inside the Actors Studio," both of them are surprisingly knowledgeable and studious about their craft. It's really easy to forget how much that matters, especially among actors who don't do live theater.
Every example of role type you list has Cruise winning the battle. No comedic role of Travolta's beats Cruise's in Tropic Thunder. No bad guy he played was as ruthless and charismatically menacing as Cruise's in Collateral.
And clearly people don't remember Eyes Wide Shut very well.
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Urban Cowboy, Saturday Night Fever, Pulp Fiction. He's played good guys, bad guys, comedic roles. Cruise has no range. Travolta has been in some bad films, and Cruise is the bigger name and has made more money with more summer blockbusters, but he's not a great actor. In fact, Travolta is only a pretty good actor, but he doesn't hold a candle to Tom Hanks or Ed Norton or Daniel Day-Lewis.
Think about Travolta in Saturday Night Fever to Urban Cowboy to Look Who's Talking to General's Daughter to Pulp Fiction to Michael and Be Cool and Get Shorty.
Now imagine Tom Cruise as Travolta's character in those movies. He would be good in General's Daughter, but can you see him pull off a believable performance in Urban Cowboy or Saturday Night Fever? What about the assassin in Pulp Fiction? I think it is a resounding no. And that should really end the discussion.
That's not good logic. Just because I can't imagine Denzel Washington playing Happy Gilmore does not mean he takes a back seat to Adam Sandler.
Was the first movie I truly left the theater pissed off I wasted money on.
Recently he's had a rebound also.
Travolta was awesome in many movies including his side role as DEA Agent in "Savages" which btw is a very very very Fun movie !
Now that we have that settled, I guess next up is Paul Thomas Anderson vs Michael Bay.
50 cent vs Eminem I'll take 50 cent
50 cent vs Eminem I'll take 50 cent
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I got Del Toro all day long
50 cent vs Eminem I'll take 50 cent
Eminem and it's not even close.
lol I meant acting
I should have clarified
as many have pointed out much of Cruise success is action movies where he plays the same character over and over again ..
that is being a movie star and not really acting
it is impressive how he has been able to stay on top for so long which once again is reflected in picking action roles that show off his limited range .
Travolta has shown a bit of more range in his acting.
his career except for two periods has been a dumpster fire .
If people are going to typecast Cruise as the same role, action star then I’m going to typecast Travolta as the wacky, crazy villain role that he plays so much.
Travolta’s career was MIA from he late seventies until Pulp Fiction (small bump for Look Who’s Talking lol). And Pulp Fiction was great more because of the sum of the parts more than just Travolta himself. You can poo poo the “box office numbers” argument all you want. But if Travolta is the better actor, why do most of his movies flounder while most of Cruise’s movies rake in the money? And it’s not close.
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In comment 13998397 DennyInDenville said:
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I got Del Toro all day long
50 cent vs Eminem I'll take 50 cent
Eminem and it's not even close.
lol I meant acting
I should have clarified
both Scientologists but Travolta doesn't flaunt it the way Cruise does. Rumors of gayness for both.
Kind of interesting.
Travolta higher on the Kinsey scale. 5 to 4.
Now, he does that "every other role he played" very well. Sorta like a modern day Cary Grant. Cary Grant was a great movie star - legendary, - one of the best. But, was he really a great actor? IDK?
Now, he does that "every other role he played" very well. Sorta like a modern day Cary Grant. Cary Grant was a great movie star - legendary, - one of the best. But, was he really a great actor? IDK?
Dammit ...to = two.
Cruise and emotion - ( New Window )
I can't think of a movie where Travolta sent chills down my spine - maybe his death scene in Phenomenon, but that's the only scene I can remember of his that emotionally moved me
Stalonne showing how to act - ( New Window )
not sure, the Mummy was supposed to launch a universal monster universe, which if done properly would have been great, but:
The film received generally negative reviews from critics. Despite grossing $409 million worldwide, it was labeled a box office bomb given its high production and marketing costs, with projected losses of up to $95 million.[3]
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more, is anyone a bigger draw than him nowadays? I don�t mean better actor or anything like that, just is he still �the biggest�? I read something a few years back that he was insanely popular in Japan and other Asian countries. A few years back could potentially be like 15 years ago I don�t really remember. Is he the highest paid, biggest draw out there? I can�t hink of someone right this minute who would be bigger. I can name plenty of better actors but besides maybe Leonardo DiCaprio who else is there with that fame? I gotta be missing someone
not sure, the Mummy was supposed to launch a universal monster universe, which if done properly would have been great, but:
The film received generally negative reviews from critics. Despite grossing $409 million worldwide, it was labeled a box office bomb given its high production and marketing costs, with projected losses of up to $95 million.[3]
That movie grossed $409 million and they LOST $95 million on the movie? Yeah, I call BS on that one.
Cruise wins this one, hands down.
Brad Pitt is close but your point is solid
Also, if you go global you need to think about Robert Downey Jr and sadly, the entire Furious franchise.
Neither is my favorite actor, but Cruise definitely has more range.
Still shouldn't have been in Valkyrie, though, dammit.
I see you are unfamiliar with Hollywood accounting. This is an old article but still a good one.
Link - ( New Window )
Don't worry, judging from this thread you are not alone...
If you just play "Tom Cruise", how is that acting?
I'm a little suspicious of this "bet" claim. You just want to know whose poster to hang above your bed, don't you?
I'm a little suspicious of this "bet" claim. You just want to know whose poster to hang above your bed, don't you?
no, it was a real bet. and i lost. my wife and i just watched American Crime Stories (or something like that) about the OJ case. I commented on how good Travolta was as Shapiro. that led to the debate, which I still don't concede.
fun fact: My wife and I worked with Gordon Clark during the trial. Nobody I know remembers animosity between him and Marcia as portrayed in the movie. He was a Mr. Rogers type character.
I lost.