Posted on 05/10/2006 9:16:38 PM PDT by Aussie Dasher
POWERFUL Hollywood friends of Tom Cruise rallied to his defence as a poll suggested the actor's odd behaviour in recent months might have cost him millions of dollars at the box office.
Days after his latest movie, Mission: Impossible III, opened to lower-than-expected domestic ticket sales, a USA Today/Gallup poll showed Cruise's star power has dimmed considerably during the past year in the eyes of the public.
In the poll of 1013 adults conducted over the weekend the film opened in theatres, 35 per cent had a favourable opinion of Cruise, while 51 per cent had an unfavourable opinion.
That is a big turnaround from last year when Cruise's previous film, War of the Worlds, opened and his poll ratings were 58 per cent favourable and 31 per cent unfavourable.
USA Today reported that Cruise's popularity decline with women was especially sharp, slipping from a 56 per cent favourable rating in 2005 to 35 per cent now.
The poll prompted a concerted defence by Cruise's supporters, who insisted the actor's popularity and standing as one of Hollywood's most bankable stars was undiminished.
"Tom Cruise is one of the most important stars ever in the motion picture business," Universal Studios President Ron Meyer, a close friend and former agent, told Reuters.
"I don't know anybody who has had the consistent success rate that Tom has. And nobody should be counting him out."
Mission: Impossible III grossed $US47.7 million ($61.8 million) in its first three days at the North American box office, well short of the $US60 million to $US70 million expected by industry watchers despite generally warm reviews and an extra-wide opening in more than 4000 theatres.
Supporters challenged the notion that the film's initial commercial showing was a disappointment, citing the $US70 million in overseas receipts it generated in its first weekend.
"It's the biggest non-holiday opening for a Tom Cruise movie ever, and the third-biggest in the history of his movies," long-time producing partner Paula Wagner said.
"His career has spanned over 20 years of powerful, culture-reflecting and culture-changing films."
The action film, which was distributed by Paramount Pictures , cost just under $US150 million to make.
Some experts have said the movie suffered from overexposure of Cruise, 43, in the media during three weeks of publicity, premieres and stories about him, his fiancee, actress Katie Holmes, and their newborn daughter, Suri.
"The media overexposes him, and then turns around and asks the question: 'Is he overexposed?', which is kind of ironic," Cruise spokesman Arnold Robinson told Reuters.
USA Today said that many of its survey's respondents cited Cruise's behaviour during the past year, including his blunt criticism of psychiatry and actress Brooke Shield's treatment for postpartum depression, for their waning impression of him.
Cruise also became the butt of countless jokes for his manic, couch-hopping appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show last May to declare his love for Holmes.
But one associate who spoke on condition of anonymity said any star "has to be careful" about the persona projected off screen, and Cruise might have become too freewheeling while promoting his last film in the midst of his high-profile courtship of Holmes last year.
"Tom? Tom come on out of the closet now. It's okay: we all know and think it's fine."
South Park
"lot of hubbub 'bout nothing...." - Shakespeare... ;-)
Let's not forget his whine-fest about the Scientology episode. South Park viewers everywhere hated him because of that.
Somehow, I don't think the word "culture" really wants to be in that sentence.
that one last year with the toothy black guy was good....probably the only Cruise flick since RB when I was fairly young that was really good.
he owned that hitman.
...
"And finally, I would say that, you know, we are a little bit out of touch in Hollywood every once in a while. I think it's probably a good thing."
Fifty cents says you only know that quote because of the South Park episode.
Naah, I heard about it the day after the Oscars (didn't watch 'em). I'm pretty sure I read the speech here. I recognized the quote when I saw Smug.
It is entertaining to watch him: the placenta, the couch, the fight with Brooke Shields. (This is free.) Who needs the movies?
Wow... usually you have to depose a Ba'athist dictator to have this many people disapprove of you.
This is what happens if you F with South Park fans.
Maybe so, maybe not. It all depends on what "culture" is--- Strep, Staph or flesh-eating...
Nothing a little Penicillin can't take care of.
MI3 opened too early. It should have been released closer to Memorial Day. The marketing strategy failed the film.
"Wow... usually you have to depose a Ba'athist dictator to have this many people disapprove of you."
You now qualify for the best ping of the day award! ;D!
Powerful Hollywood friends of Tom Cruise rallied to his defence as a poll suggested the actor's odd behaviour in recent months might have cost him millions of dollars at the box office.Of course, none of his friends are going to be able to get the stench of Tom Cruise off themselves now.
USA Today reported that Cruise's popularity decline with women was especially sharp, slipping from a 56 per cent favourable rating in 2005 to 35 per cent now... USA Today said that many of its survey's respondents cited Cruise's behaviour during the past year, including his blunt criticism of psychiatry and actress Brooke Shield's treatment for postpartum depression, for their waning impression of him.That leaves the market for his films as gay men, scientologists, and pedophiles.
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