reeltime

Almost anyone else in the cast of Valkyrie could have given a deeper performance as Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg than did Cruise.
It’s not hard to believe that Kenneth Branagh, Thomas Kretschmann or Eddie Izzard would have found something more arresting than Cruise’s dial tone performance. Cruise did a remarkable job in “Magnolia,” but he’s not known as a “Hollywood leading mannequin” for nothing. His cardboard cutout performances are as legendary as Madonna’s lack of vocal talent. Valkyrie is a reasonably good drama inspite of Cruise, but his performance drags the film into the doldrums of mediocrity.

So why is it that non-actors, such as Scientology wing-nut Cruise, are the ones who can green-light a picture, while true actors can’t get arrested in this town. Audiences, including yours truly, who paid good money to see “Valkyrie,” are dumb — how else do you explain it?

Here’s an idea: Let’s all agree to stop seeing bad and mediocre movies, even if it means staying home and watching reruns. When you pay to see bad movies it only encourages the hacks to churn out more of the same. So, let’s stop. OK?

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