When I say the name Tom Cruise, the first thing that probably pops into your head might be his high-speed motorcycle chase, a jaw-dropping scene from Mission: Impossible, or his smirk in Top Gun. For decades, he’s been the face of blockbuster entertainment and a global superstar who commands the screen.
But I feel like his million-dollar smile and daredevil stunts often make people overlook how great of an actor he is. So when Kenneth Branagh, one of the finest artists, praised Cruise, I had to revisit one scene that convinced me of his acting talent.
Kenneth Branagh on Tom Cruise’s acting
Kenneth Branagh recently dropped a truth bomb about Tom Cruise that I can’t ignore. He acted alongside Cruise in Valkyrie, so we can take his word for it. Moreover, the British Film Institute has awarded him with a BFI Fellowship, their highest honor, so it’s clear that the UK movie elites agreed when Branagh said (via Deadline) :
If he ever tires of wowing the world with action, he’s going to surprise those who view him as only a movie star. What he’s done with Mission and Top Gun is unique — cinematic entertainment with a serious intent to give you a wonderful time at the movies. But he’s an underestimated actor — for whom a golden age of performance beckons.
In the movie Jerry Maguire, Cruise proves why Branagh is right, as there’s one scene that hits every time I watch it. In the movie, the action star plays the titular character, and his meltdown after being fired is so awkward, human, and tragic.
Jerry tries to maintain his composure as he fumbles through a public breakdown, clutching on goldfish, having moments of outbursts. What makes the scene brilliant is how relatable Jerry is, as you watch him fall apart, in real time. The scene proves that Cruise doesn’t just play heroes, he plays people.