One of Tom Cruise’s most iconic roles is the hitman antagonist Vincent in Collateral. While Cruise is widely celebrated for his franchise-leading efforts in Mission: Impossible and Top Gun, his latest deal with Warner Bros. could see him branch out once again to more traditional dramatic roles. Cruise himself has said he wishes to return to more dramatic roles with experienced filmmakers, which he did throughout his early career in films such as Magnolia, The Color of Money, and Eyes Wide Shut.
Cruise has played such an integral part in making Mission: Impossible and Top Gun two of the most monumental action franchises of all time, but his work as a dramatic actor has certainly taken a backseat in recent years due to his devotion to these franchises. The highly ambitious SpaceX-sponsored Cruise movie with Doug Liman, which plans to make Cruise the first human civilian to ever do a spacewalk outside the I.S.S., undoubtedly sounds exciting. However, Cruise might want to pump the brakes in order to secure one accolade he’s yet to achieve: an Oscar.
Collateral’s Vincent Is One Of Tom Cruise’s Best Performances To Date
Cruise hasn’t played a true villain since the 2004 neo-noir thriller
Because of how charismatic he is in most of his leading man roles, Cruise is able to deliver an extremely convincing and deceptive villain.
Cruise’s role as Vincent in Collateral isn’t just one of his greatest villain roles but also one of the best overall performances of his career. Vincent is naturally intriguing, mysterious, and enigmatic, and Cruise delivers his natural charm in a brilliant way that emphasizes the character’s mastery of manipulation. Because of how charismatic Cruise is in most of his leading man roles, ranging from 1996’s Jerry Maguire to his larger-than-life persona as the selfless hero Ethan Hunt, Cruise is able to deliver an extremely convincing and deceptive villain.
I’m surprised Cruise hasn’t done more villain roles after Collateral’s success, which grossed $220 million at the worldwide box office and earned a Rotten Tomatoes score of 86%. While neither of these metrics even comes close to Cruise’s all-time best box-office ($1.496 billion for Top Gun: Maverick) or Rotten Tomatoes critic score (Mission: Impossible – Fallout’s 97%), it’s enough to expect at least one other villain role since Collateral’s 2004 release. His hilarious performance as the antagonist Les Grossman in 2008’s Tropic Thunder doesn’t really count as a true villain like Vincent.
Collateral Is A Reminder That Tom Cruise Should Really Play More Villains
Cruise’s natural charisma & commitment to his roles makes him an ideal villain
Consider Robert Downey Jr.’s journey, going from playing the biggest superhero on the planet to snagging his first Oscar for playing the villain in Oppenheimer.
Especially at this point in his career, I’ll show up to the theater on opening night to any new Cruise installment, regardless of genre. Yes, we all want Top Gun 3 and Mission: Impossible 8, but Cruise in another dramatic villain role similar to Collateral’s Vincent may finally win the celebrated actor his very first Oscar. Consider Robert Downey Jr.’s journey, going from playing the biggest superhero on the planet to snagging his first Oscar for playing the villain in Oppenheimer. The same can be true for Cruise if his willpower and schedule allow for it.