Tag Archives: Tom Cruise

Drama, Fantasy, Horror, No Spoiler Reviews

INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE (1994): The Things I Liked…

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For the longest time, my favourite Brad Pitt movie has been Fight Club (1999). Watching just a few clips of the trailer on IMDB almost had me postponing writing this review, so I could rewatch it right away. That is, until I remembered I’m supposed to be working hard on my discipline this month, and so I’m back here happily typing. After all, Interview with the Vampire, the Neil Jordan-directed drama/fantasy/horror film, based on Anne Rice’s novel of the same name, is the main focus of this post.

Interview With The Vampire (1994), Tom Cruise, Warner Bros Pictures
Interview With The Vampire (1994), Tom Cruise, Warner Bros Pictures

Starring Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, Christian Slater, Kirsten Dunst, and Antonio Banderas, Jordan’s film is about Louis (Pitt), a vampire, telling his epic life story. A life of love, loneliness, hunger, and betrayal.

I’ll get right to it, Jordan’s film is one of my all-time favourite movie experiences. I enjoyed almost everything about it. Whether it be the story, dialogue, performances, production design, cinematography, or costumes, I simply saw beauty everywhere I looked as this film played. Except, of course, each time the camera was focused on rodents. I watched through my fingers during those scenes.

Interview With The Vampire (1994), Kirsten Dunst, Warner Bros Pictures
Interview With The Vampire (1994), Kirsten Dunst, Warner Bros Pictures

There are no bad performances in Interview with the Vampire. For me and many others, it’s a young Kirsten Dunst who stands out most. Because she brought an emotional depth to her character, Claudia, in a way that many would deem impossible for an eleven-year-old performer to do.

If you haven’t already, watch Interview with the Vampire, for all the reasons above. And whether or not becoming a vampire is of interest to you, don’t be surprised if, within an hour of screen time with Louis, Lestat, and or Armand, you find yourself agreeing that the only way to watch this movie is with the side of your neck exposed.

What is the title of your favourite Brad Pitt movie?

Happy Film Loving,

G

Action, Adventure, No Spoiler Reviews, Thriller

MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE (1996): The Things I Liked…

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Mission: Impossible (1996), Tom Cruise, Paramount Pictures
Mission: Impossible (1996), Tom Cruise, Paramount Pictures

Mission: Impossible (1996) is one of those films I thought I’d watched long ago. However, when I sat down to see it at the weekend, I realised I may have thought I’d seen it, when all I’d experienced many times over the years was the image of Tom Cruise at the end of a wire in the film’s most iconic scene.

It’s no wonder the Mission: Impossible Franchise has 7 more films after the first 1996 instalment starring Cruise, Ving Rhames, Jon Voight and Emmanuelle Béart. It is an impressive action/thriller after all. One that follows Ethan Hunt (Cruise), an American agent falsely suspected of disloyalty. Naturally, Hunt immediately gets to work to expose the real traitorous entity.

In addition to that X factor that Cruise, especially, and his talented castmates bring to the film – Vanessa Redgrave being a particular highlight, the stunts and action in director Brian De Palma’s Mission: Impossible are the most memorable events of the movie. the kind of feats that have no doubt inspired many action/thriller filmmakers to raise their game. 

Truth be told, I took a break from the Mission: Impossible franchise after Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2015), because I didn’t fully love that instalment.

Now, however, I’m ready to get back into it again. I’m picking it up from Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One (2023). I hear that part 2 (Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (2025) is worth it, and I’d hate to miss out.

How big of an M:I fan are you? I hear that spinoffs and sequels may come without Cruise in the lead role. Whoever gets the part will surely have plenty to live up to.

Happy Film Loving, 

G

Comedy, Drama, Romance

COCKTAIL (1988): The Things I Liked…

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Cocktail (1988), Tom Cruise, Buena Vista Pictures
Cocktail (1988), Tom Cruise, Buena Vista Pictures

Cocktail, that classic 1988 Tom Cruise movie about a gifted NYC bartender, isn’t what I expected. I enjoyed the Roger Donaldson-directed comedy/drama/romance well enough and have no complaints about the pacing and story. 

I deliberately avoided reading the synopsis before hitting the play button. The fact that the film can be categorised as easy-viewing and it’s enjoyed by many are my reasons for watching. Funny how the film being panned by critics seems to have done nothing to stop it from reaching icon status.

Cruise’s classic youthful energy as young Brian Flanagan, coupled with a relatable story of aspirations and rude awakenings as one grows up in NYC and beyond, proved engaging. 

I say, watch Cocktail if you’re curious enough. At this point, nearly forty years after the original release, it feels like an entertaining period piece, as long as you don’t expect too much. 

Happy Film Loving,

G

Action, Adventure, Thriller

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE – THE FINAL RECKONING (2025): New Trailer Starring Tom Cruise, Angela Bassett, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Hayley Atwell…

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Another good trailer recently landed for Mission Impossible – The Final Reckoning, and it’s as good as one might hope.

Directed by Christopher McQuarrie; Tom Cruise is joined by Hannah Waddingham and the usuals, including Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg and more.

This is a good trailer. However, I’m not ready to see another franchise hero ‘fully ended.’ As such, I’m not quite thrilled that the themes in this trailer are reminiscent of No Time to Die (2021).

Should this be the last we’ll see of Cruise as Ethan Hunt, even though I’ve liked most, and not all the Misson Impossible movies, Cruise and all he’s brought to the franchise feels as irreplaceable as it gets.

I’m curious to see how they wrap it all up.

Janet McTeer, Indira Varma, Pom Klementieff, Nick Offerman, Angela Bassett, Shea Whigham, Esai Morales, Vanessa Kirby, Holt McCallany, Katy O’Brian, Henry Czerny and Tramell Tillman also star.

Mission Impossible – The Final Reckoning Release Dates: May 21st, 2025 (US); May 23rd, 2025 (US)…

Happy Film Loving,

G

Action, Adventure, Thriller

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE – THE FINAL RECKONING (2025): New Trailer From Tom Cruise, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Angela Bassett…

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It’s that time gain. Time for the impossible to be made possible because Mission Impossible – The Final Reckoning is coming.

Directed by Christopher McQuarrie; Tom Cruise, Hannah Waddingham, Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg, Ving Rhames and more are among the key cast.

Based on the title alone, you’d be forgiven for thinking this is the last Mission Impossible movie starring Tom Cruise. Then again, how many times has Daniel Day-Lewis retired from acting only to come back? How many Clint Eastwood movies have been mistakenly labelled as his last?

Either way, it looks as though it’s time for my MI movie hiatus to end. Time to watch the last two films I’m yet to see.

What are your feelings about Mission Impossible 8?

Vanessa Kirby, Holt McCallany, Katy O’Brian, Janet McTeer, Indira Varma, Pom Klementieff, Nick Offerman, Angela Bassett, Shea Whigham, Esai Morales, Henry Czerny and Tramell Tillman also star.

Mission Impossible – The Final Reckoning Release Dates: May 21st, 2025 (US); May 23rd, 2025 (US)…

Happy Film Loving,

G