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Cruise, Smith, and the Saga of 'Salt'

tcruise5.jpgAt this point, I honestly don't know what to think about Tom Cruise's career. Is it rebounding? Is it headed into a smoking tail spin? Hard to say. What's easy to say, though, is the public really turned on the guy, for reasons we all know. Ever since then, Mission: Impossible 3 didn't do what it was supposed to (although I personally thought it was the best film in the trilogy), Lions for Lambs stiffed, and his Bryan Singer-directed Nazi movie, Valkyrie, has been beset with one problem after another.

Now there are conflicting reports about Cruise's future with another project, Edwin A. Salt, a thriller to be directed by Phillip Noyce. IGN has done a good job collecting the data on this, and it began with Roger Friedman at Fox saying Cruise is no longer in the picture, "and I'm told it's because of money. Apparently, Tom is unaware of the change in his status in the Hollywood community." A-ha. Well, that'll happen.

But the story had only begun to unfold. Apparently there was a rumor floating around that Will Smith would take over the role of a CIA agent accused of being a Russian spy (similar ground was handled very well in Breach, by the way. Dig that Chris Cooper performance). Now, if we know one thing about Will Smith it's that he can't hide being a good guy. And we know he's close with Cruise. So I seriously doubt he'd take money out of Tom's wallet. And it's not as if you're not going to pay Will Smith for that role, so if money's an issue, it would still be an issue if you wanted to hire Big Willie Style.

But Moviehole reports that nothing you've seen here is real. Cruise, according to their digging, is still going ahead with the project. Which would mean...his career is on an upswing?

See what I mean? You just can't tell with this guy anymore.

Posted on Sunday, July 20, 2008 at 01:02AM by Registered CommenterColin Boyd in , , | Comments1 Comment

Reader Comments (1)

I wouldn't even acknowledge anything that sniveling gossip columnist Roger Friedman has to say, particularly about Tom Cruise, who he clearly has a vendetta against, even questioning whether Cruise ever had a "heyday" as a box-office draw (?!?); keep in mind this is someone who thinks Kenny Loggins and Richie Sambora are great singers (again, ?!?)...

Sunday, July 20, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterJMK

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