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Tom Cruise has delivered some of the best dramatic acting throughout his extensive Hollywood career. The action movie star made a name for himself with films likeRain Man,Magnolia,Eyes Wide Shut,Jerry Maguire, andVanilla Skybefore becoming nearly synonymous with action, stunt work, and theMission: Impossiblefranchise. But of all his films,Born on the Fourth of Julystands out as a rare gem.
Despite his penchant for delivering constant box office hits, Cruise invited controversy with some of his more prominent films likeValkyrieandInterview With the Vampire. In the case ofBorn on the Fourth of July, however, it was not the film’s stance on the subject of war itself but Cruise’s acting that captivated the audience and caused sensationalism.
Tom Cruise Does Right ByBorn on the Fourth of July
While nations were caught up in their own political uproars and war veterans were subjected to trauma, loss, and tragedy, Hollywood was busy taking note of biographies, published journals, historical accounts, and research notes to adapt to the big screen and bring the sensitive topic to the mass audience.
Ron Kovic’s autobiographyBorn on the Fourth of Julyinspired Oliver Stone to make a movie about the Vietnam War veteran, his experience of the war, and his turn to activism. The novel was not only one of the most exceptional pieces of war literature but also highlighted the life of an exceptional man.
As such, it was only natural that a star as great as the esteemedAl Pacinowas booked for the leading role. But creative differences ledThe Godfatherstar to drop out andTom Cruisewas nominated by the director. Unfortunately, he was one of the least favored candidates for the role, facing opposition from the studio execs as well as Kovic himself.
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However, Cruise’s work spoke for itself to the naysayers and the haters.Born on the Fourth of Julystands out due to Cruise’s incredible skill to realistically portray the misguided aspirations of youth, the disillusionment from war, the grief that lingers behind trauma, and the outbursts resulting from frustrations.
Tom Cruise’s Anti-War Movie Shocks the Audience
Despite Oliver Stone’s faith in him, the bulk of the responsibility fell on Tom Cruise to bring one of the most emotionally layered and complex character stories to life. The war and its futility itself were not enough to shock the audience as enough movies had done the same before Cruise’s 1989 film. Rather, the audience was captivated by Cruise’s acting inone specific scene.
The scene in question was explosive on several accounts. The moment was the culmination of every misstep that Cruise’s character took throughout his life accumulating into one tortured minute of momentary insanity. The climactic fight with his mother that followed in the scene expressed the agony that he suffered as a result of buying into the dream and glory of war in his youth.
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The scene reaches a breaking point when Cruise’s character, Kovic, screams at the realization that he will never be able to form a romantic relationship with a woman because of his disability. Cruise laterexplainedthat Kovic was finally reckoning with the fact that he would“never feel the inside of a woman”again.
The scene stands out as one of the most poignant and tragic moments in the film and is perfectly articulated by a Reddit fan:
Born on the Fourth of Julywas lauded as one of the best movies of 1989 and was received favorably by fans and critics alike. With a box office earning of $161 million (viaBox Office Mojo) and 84% onRotten Tomatoes, the film delivers one of Tom Cruise’s most unforgettable performances and quickly catapulted him to A-list status.
Born on the Fourth of Julyis streaming on Paramount+.
Diya Majumdar
Senior Writer
Articles Published :2408
Diya Majumdar is a Senior Content Writer at FandomWire with over 2000 published articles on the website. Since 2022, she has been working as an entertainment journalist with a special focus on films and pop culture.Among the countless genres and themes of Hollywood, the ones that particularly favor Diya’s tastes include Game of Thrones, DC, and well-aged thrillers and classics.
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Al PacinoBorn on the Fourth of JulyTom Cruise
