CRUISE-ing into the MINORITY REPORT - Part Four

By: Jennifer H. Tomooka
Date: Sunday, June 30, 2002

In the first three parts of our interview with Tom Cruise, the veteran actor related some of his experiences from the set of his new genre thriller, MINORITY REPORT, and the joys of working with Hollywood power-list director Steven Spielberg. Today we conclude our chat with the Hollywood superstar.



An example of Cruise and Spielberg's ability to be spontaneous in the midst of filming came long before cameras started to roll on MINORITY REPORT. If audience members look close enough, they will be able to see part of Cameron Diaz on the train.

"Steven came by the set for VANILLA SKY," says Cruise. "He came by when we were shooting a party scene to hang out. [VANILLA SKY co-star] Cameron [Diaz] said, 'Come on.' When we were just shooting the scene, he just showed up. That wasn't planned. So, Steven said, 'Look, I've got this character for you, Cameron. Now you're going to have to come and be in my movie.' So, Cameron came by. And then Cameron Diaz was hanging out and you just see her eye."

In Cruise's last four films, he has donned a mask for one reason or another. And although he maintains that it is just a coincidence, could it be that he is trying to subconsciously relay commentary on what it is like to be an actor in today's world?


"Yes, it's just coincidence," laughs Cruise. "You know, someone pointed out to me that in EYES WIDE SHUT, I wear a mask, in MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE 2, I wear a mask, in VANILLA SKY, I wear a mask and now, in this, I wear a mask. I think that it's just coincidence and it was just part of the story. I think that that's a much more interesting way to put it [LAUGHS]. I haven't thought about it that way. You kind of read that you have to do that in a movie or you come up with that and it's kind of fun."



With all of the successes that have graced Cruise's life, one would think that it would and could oftentimes be difficult to be Tom Cruise, Hollywood Icon. But Cruise isn't the one who thinks that way at all.

"What you have to understand is that I don't see myself that way," explains Cruise. "I live with me. I know me. I don't think of myself like that. I think of myself as who I am, just someone who's trying to get through and who is very fortunate to be able to do what I do. I'm just trying to live my life the best way that I can. I don't live my life iconicly [LAUGHS], whatever that is."

"I realized very quickly that I can't worry about what other people think, what they're going to [say], because it is what it is and you just can't fight it. I'm fortunate to be able to make the movie and have the opportunity to make the movie and my goal is to not lose the studio money when I do it and still be able to make the film that I want to make and have that experience, and then you release it and you don't know what's going to happen after that."



Cruise's future seems to be quite busy for the time being. He's constantly on the go, has two children to raise and is quietly trying to foster a relationship that the press seems dead set on predicting for him.

"I'm always looking for the next great thing, something interesting," says Cruise. "You've got to really enjoy the process. I don't have an overall plan. I look at something, my interest in it. There are films in the future. WAR OF THE WORLDS, I'm going to produce. M:I3 with David Fincher. I'm just working. I'd love to find a comedy. I would love to work with Paul Newman again. [And] I really hope [I can work with Steven again]."

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