Alec Baldwin or Tom Cruise?

[undeterred]

Poll question: Alec Baldwin or Tom Cruise?

[Shrubhater]

1. Who's Tom Cruise?

:shrug:

[tjdee]

2. Did Alec Baldwin make *any* successful movies besides Red October?

Or whatever that was?
I don't remember one hit he's ever made.

I do find him pretty cute...but I'd vote for Tom, even if he has gone insane.

[Lannes]

3. "ABC Always be closing"

"Coffee is for closers"

:)

[Lannes]

8. Damn noone saw Glengarry Glen Ross?

[jobycom]

9. I did, he was brilliant, as was every damn person in that film. nt.

[Lannes]

10. You get the new leads for that

:)

[kedrys]

5. Beetlejuice

The Shadow, if you're into cult movies...I thought it was pretty cool.

[Midnight Rambler]

7. Glengarry Glen Ross?

[Hatalles]

15. I saw the beginning of the film and had read the actual play...

... but man oh man... I want to see this film BAD. I only managed to watch up to Alec Baldwin's speech near the beginning.

[jobycom]

12. He was cool in The Edge

With Anthony Hopkins and Harold Perrineau, Jr. (Until Harold got eaten by a bear--hey it happens to the best characters).

[peekaloo]

17. Alec plays a better bad ass.........'Miami Blues' & 'The Cooler'.

[halobeam]

4. Gotta be Tom....

IMO, he's got a neck, I'd just love to... ugh well, but then he's maybe insincere, ya think? The mood I'm in lately, I really don't care. Just do me Tom, make me forget.:evilgrin:

[OldLeftieLawyer]

6. Tom Cruise

has to be the most uninteresting creature on the planet.

He's the perfect example of artificial intelligence.

[jobycom]

11. I find him completely fascinating. He's one of the few men--famous or

otherwise--who could tempt my heterosexuality, and it isn't just his looks.

I like Baldwin, too, but I don't see as much substance to him. Cruise is smarter, more balanced--or was until the sudden breakup of his marriage, which unbalances many people--more focused, and has a center that Baldwin doesn't seem to have. No knock on Baldwin, but he makes a lot of goofy statements and then fails to follow through on them. Cruise has a stronger conviction.

I don't see Baldwin as in the same class as Cruise. I think Cruise is closer to a Johnny Depp. Early on, Cruise teamed up with Paul Newman, and has learned his acting style, whereas Depp teamed up with Marlon Brando, and learned his method acting style. Depp's first role was an artsie role, so he got that reputation, and took those roles, whereas Cruise's first role was popular, and he went that route. Both have crossed over--Cruise taking art films like Magnolia and Vampire, and Born on the Fourth of July, and Depp taking popular films such as Pirates.

Anyway, I like Cruise. I like Baldwin, but don't think he's as good. As for uninteresting, I don't get it. This is a man who has surprised critics at every turn--I don't see that as uninteresting. Private, yes. It's something else he and Depp share.

[undeterred]

13. Interesting. I like them both.

Cruise has improved greatly over the years. Born on the 4th of July. The Firm. Despite all the criticism of his beliefs, I've heard over and over again that he is a terrific person that other actors love working with. Not an egomaniac.

Baldwin is versatile- he can be incredibly funny, sexy, or play dark brooding characters. His performance in Malice was awesome. He's smart and has great politics, but I bet he's got a temper and is very dominating toward whatever woman he's with.

[OldLeftieLawyer]

14. Depp private?

Lord, his life is written in neon out there, bless his heart. I think Depp's great, but to compare Tom Cruise's acting to Depp's (or Newman's) is to insult two really great actors.

You write as if you knew both Baldwin and Cruise, which I find interesting. I only know what they've done in movies, and I've watched Alec Baldwin go all over the place in terms of roles. Far more expansive than Cruise, who's specialized in over-the-top utterly commercial special effect boring movies.

You think "Vampire" was an "art film"? Boy, do we disagree. "Magnolia" wasn't what I think of as an art film, either. But, check out "The Cooler," and there you have an excellent example of an art film.

Cruise has surprised critics, yes. They've watched him make crappier and crappier movies. At least Baldwin's got the balls to get out there politically and put his views and beliefs on the line. Cruise is just all about Cruise, and his strange marriages to two women who still don't seem to know what happened to them.

He's a matinee guy, not an actor. But, I am gonna love watching Johnny Depp grow older. Not so Cruise.

[jobycom]

19. I don't think you know much about either Cruise or Depp

You sound like you've got an ax to grind.

Cruise has won three Golden Globes and gotten three Oscar nominations. Critics often praise his work, including Collateral, one of his most recent films. There are a lot of actors who have a much higher opinion of his skills than you do. Not to mention directors, Academy voters, and Golden Globe voters.

Cruise's political involvement began after The Color of Money, when he met Paul Newman. He took "Fourth of July" specifically to make amends for his role in Top Gun, which he has said he regretted because of its political naivite. Tom has grown considerably politically over the years, and donates more time and money to the Democrats than Depp, last I saw. Depp is more outspoken, buteven there, he mostly speaks out to criticize.

As for Cruise's two failed marriages-- Depp's no saint there. He has one failed marriage, a bunch of failed engagements, and a current live-in girlfriend with two children. He was quite the player until his children were born. I don't know why Cruise and Rogers split, but his split with Kidman came after she made comments that monogamy was not natural and got pregnant (when Tom and she supposedly couldn't have childen). I doubt she was left wondering what had happened.

I love Depp. I wouldn't put cruise over him. But Cruise is closer to Johnny Depp than to Alex Baldwin, and I know Paul Newman thinks the world of Cruise's acting, and has said Cruise helped earn his Oscar. Zeilwegger and Hoffman said the same things.

Here's a list of people who have won or been nominated for Oscars in films with cruise: Paul Newman, Dustin Hoffman, Cuba Gooding Jr, Jack Nicholson, Cameron Crowe, Holly Hunter, Oliver Stone, Barry Levinson, Jamie Fox. Those are some big names who have had no trouble wanting to work with someone you claim isn't a respectable actor.

[OldLeftieLawyer]

21. Golden Globes? And more ....

Do you know how and who awards the Golden Globes? If you did, you would have a real laughfest, because you'd know what a joke they are. Consider the number of members of the organization that awards them, and then do a little research about how those same members are blatantly bribed - yes, this does happen in Hollywood, a place I know well.

What on earth do the Oscar nominations of other actors have to do with Tom Cruise? Sounds to me like someone's got a woodie for Mr. Cruise, and that's probably not real healthy.

I'm glad you're enthusiastic about movie stars, though, and that you have favorites about whom you know so much. That's good, and I hope you know that it'll never be a substitute for having an informed opinion, but there's still hope for you.

Now, go watch some real movies, the kind the gutsy, independent folks are making, and see some real acting.

[jobycom]

29. Yes, Golden Globes.

The point is, Cruise is highly respected, has been in a lot of Oscar caliber films, has been thanked by numerous Oscar winners for helping them win Oscars in his films, and has the respect of critics, actors, directors, producers, and apparently the fans, considering how much his films gross. Actors like to work with him. Much like with Depp.

I'm not the only one who makes the comparison. They are often considered for the same roles. Depp was originally considered for Lestadt, and Cruise was originally cast for Edward Scissorhands. They've both been considered for other roles, too, some of which neither got. Cruise has chosen more mainstream roles, preferring to portray realistic characters. Depp has chosen more literary roles, preferring to portray artistic characters.

I guess I just don't get your hostility, towards Cruise or towards me. I can get not liking a popular actor, there are a lot I don't like, too. I'm just not hostile towards them, and if they've earned respect of other actors, I acknowledge that. But hey, knock yourself out. Hate all you want, over the least little offense. This is America, that's the way it is these days.

[OldLeftieLawyer]

30. Hostility?

You've not responded to anything I wrote, so you're essentially doing a monologue. Or a soliloquy. You became uninteresting when you showed that your assertions and knowledge were - at best - superficial.

So, I don't like Tom Cruise.

Jeez, kid - he's only a move star. So what? I don't like strawberry ice cream, either. Does that twist your knickers, too?

You really should go and learn about what the Golden Globes are, and then you might find yourself blushing for believing they're anything worth boasting about.

Happy trails, cupcake, and quit taking yourself - and people you don't know who don't like Tom Mapother - so seriously.

[jobycom]

34. Geeze

You're a jackass. Bye. You're on ignore.

[RevCheesehead]

16. Retro-Lounge!

Gotta be Baldwin, ba-bee!! :loveya:

[khashka]

18. No contest

I want to drown in Alec's chest hair. What better way to die?

Khash.

[Left Is Write]

20. I have to go with Pete Schwetty.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

24. The Scoutmaster...

with Adam Sandler and "Canteen Boy." Creepy as hell, but really funny.

[undeterred]

22. For a minute there I thought I posted this in GD!

:popcorn:

[jukes]

23. baldwin is a better actor

but cruise is coming along.


cruise/crazy is just hype; the PR folks want to paint him as a badboi for awhile.


tjdee: "successful" movies are usu tripe. the american masses are mostly unimaginative clots. 'swhy bush is in office...

[Dervill Crow]

25. Alec Baldwin has appeared in my dreams.

I can't say that about Tom Cruise.

Alec Baldwin also has much more range as an actor.

[terrya]

26. Alec Baldwin. And did you know that he worked at Studio 54 in the 80's?

Yep. He was a bartender there.

[PassingFair]

27. Baldwin, no contest for me...

Baldwin = Robert Mitchum

Cruise = Gig Young

[OldLeftieLawyer]

31. GIG YOUNG????

You just made me scream.

That's deadly right. Congratulations!

[OldLeftieLawyer]

32. GIG YOUNG????

You just made me scream.

That's deadly right. Congratulations!

[undeterred]

33. I dunno who that is?

[Skittles]

36. overrated, egotistical actor from way back when

I believe he shot his wife and then killed himself

[undeterred]

28. Kick!

The lounge doesn't have enough Tom Cruise threads.

[Skittles]

35. Baldwin is a very underrated actor

he consistently gives a good performance, whereas Mr. Cruise is very, very uneven. I was glad to see Alec finally given the Oscar nod.