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.
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.