I Don't Get It

I don't understand why 'Edge of Tomorrow' isn't getting more traction. Footage by Dion Beebe (Collateral, Chicago) looks great. Director Doug Liman's stamp is evident. There's a strong sense of character -- the story seems to have a spine. And, the chemistry between Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt is fairly palpable.

So, why don't people care? I'm going out on a limb. I think we're wary of any movie that looks this good, especially if it opens in the summer. That's it. That's my theory. We get so much glossy crappy product shoved down our throats that, when we see something that looks good, we figure there's a catch.

To boil it down: If it looks good it must be because it's crap, but since they spent so much money on the marketing, it looks great.

So, what happens now? Simple. The first people who see 'Edge of Tomorrow' Tweet/text/blog -- whatever -- how good it is, and by Monday morning the movie will have raked at the box office.

That might be a little out on a limb as well. Still, I'm betting this does well internationally, if not domestically. And, that's all that counts anymore.

Meanwhile, here's the last trailer and, really, it pretty much rocks. To me, this is must-see.

'Edge Of Tomorrow' Clips -- The Best Thing You'll See Today

Everything I see from 'Edge of Tomorrow' impresses. These new clips resonate. They're (actually, really) funny, (genuinely) suspenseful, and engrossing. There's nothing product-y.

How often can you say that about a summer sci-fi popcorn flick? Those qualities may be what studios and directors strive for, but they rarely succeed. Usually, we get the same weary been-there/seen-that flash pop. 'Edge' looks to be well above that level.

Reviews are good. This should set Cruise up nicely for his next few pictures.

A Triple Down The Line -- Or -- Why Tom Cruise Is The Most Important Movie Star We Have

Tom Cruise is looking good in the latest TV trailer for 'Edge of Tomorrow', which is posted below. There's a vibe between him and Emily Blunt -- I can't remember the last time there was any chemistry between Cruise and a co-star, including Kidman (it just wasn't there).

People are hot for 'Edge of Tomorrow', and I'm thinking it'll be a solid triple if not a home run. It's what Tom Cruise has coming up next that worries me. After 'MI: 5' (which should coast into profit), there's 'Van Helsing', which doesn't look good even this far out, 'Top Gun 2' (really?), which needs a new title and completely different approach if it's going to have a chance, then a Jack Reacher sequel, which doesn't seem called for.

What has changed in the last few years is the foreign market. While a movie like TG2 could flop bad in the U.S. because we don't care about that kind of storyline anymore, it could do great overseas, especially in Asia. That stuff is new over there, where they haven't been watching product 24/7 for the last thirty years. So, something as odd sounding as 'Van Helsing' might make a strong showing in foreign markets. 'Protocol' made $200 million in the U.S., but almost $500 million overseas.

Still, even if those flicks are hits due to overseas box office, I don't see Cruise being happy. That being said, the way business is going here, being a star in other countries may be all that's left -- for anyone. 

So, if I'm wrong about Cruise's upcoming projects, great -- fantastic, but right now it feels like one step forward, two steps back. Why do I care? Because how well Cruise's movies do, perhaps more than any other star, reflects the condition of the industry. How he got saddled with that responsibility I don't know but, to me, it seems to be the case. 

I just don't see another star who is on that level. You might think Johnny Depp, but outside 'Pirates', which has run its coarse, I don't think so. Daniel Craig? Tom Hardy? No. Leonardo DiCaprio occurs to me. He might be a candidate, but his stuff doesn't have the broad appeal. Cruise can do genre better than DiCaprio, Cruise does popcorn flicks better while DiCaprio's movies have more refined stories. That has to count more in a business sense. As far as pure genre flicks go, Leo was in 'Django', but was he the main draw and is there another movie DiCaprio has been in with hat kind of sensibility?

You could argue, but for pop appeal I'm sticking with Cruise.

You might suggest Bryan Cranston. He can do a wide range of stuff but, like DiCaprio, he can't do action, or pure thrillers. Cruise can. Plus, Cranston is best known for TV. That more or less cuts him out.

Hugh Jackman? He's good. But, pure action? Pure summer popcorn? Outside of X-Men, not so much.

Chris Evans? Like Jackman, outside of the Cap character, not really.

Ben Affleck? Yes. Oddly. A few years ago his name was a punchline, but now he's so A-list. If his take on Batman flies, maybe. Otherwise, nope -- again, because of his lack of pure action appeal, which is a must to pull down global dollars on a regular basis.

Christian Bale? Doesn't do pure action.

Brad Pitt? Certainly, right? No. He's always reaching, always going for the brass ring storywise. No real popcorn from this guy.

Matthew McConaughey? Maybe, even without action flicks. He's so strong, but I'm thinking that's mostly in this country. I don't think it translates overseas.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt? You'd think not, but he gets my vote. He has an appeal, can do action/thrillers, tries his hand at pure action, and is young enough. So...waiting to see.

That's it. I'm out of ideas. Tom Cruise may have been considered to be on the ropes a few years ago, but that ain't the case now. Today, I mean. After his next few movies it could be a different story, but I think not.

So, to summarize, Tom Cruise is the most important movie star we have and how his movies perform is the leading barometer for box office trends and global release strategy. Go ahead. You can quote me on that. Oh, yeah -- action/thriller is/are the most important genre(s) as a determiner for worldwide appeal of any given movie star. You can quote me on that, too.

Don't think so? If Tom Cruise's next four movies -- two of which are action, two solid genre movies -- are successful it'll most likely be because of international coin and we won't be arguing whether things have changed anymore. Whether Cruise is the most important movie star...we can still argue that.

As for 'Edge of Tomorrow', I like it except for the soap-opera sounding title. But, how that translates into Italian or Japanese, or whatever foreign language, is the important thing. Right?

I Totally Don't Get It, But That's A Good Thing

Okay, yeah, the basic premise I get, and it's a good one. Worth remembering this is written by (with Jez Butterworth) Christopher McQuarrie, who created one of the all time favorite identity twist yarns, 'The Usual Suspects'. The same kind of vibe here, not to put too fine a point on it.

With effortless technical polish from Doug Liman and cinematographer Dion Beebe (Collateral, Green Lantern).

Have to say, though I've never been a fan, Tom Cruise is watchable and more -- even compelling, having reached a certain age. Chemistry between him and Emily Blunt works. I think we're in Cruise phase 2.0.

So, despite (perhaps because of) not being able to nail down plot specifics too well (and glad for it considering how much trailers give away these days) I'm very much looking forward to this flick. Will buy on Blu-Ray, will watch every once in a while.

Short, Snappy, Good

Hard not to like. Mostly compelling, doesn't get into an action movie cliche rut -- not bad.

I do like the way Doug Liman handles the camera. This is on my list for that reason. Hate the title, though. So soap opera-y. I think this will do well.

'Edge Of Tomorrow'? Really

'All You Need is Kill' is far better. Maybe with headlines being what they are that title just had to go. I guess I can understand that, however I'm at a loss to see how 'Edge of Tomorrow' works as good. It sounds like a soap opera.

Anyway, the trailer has people scratching their heads. Seems been-there-done-that (as in 'Source Code') yet fresh at the same time. The concept is fairly cerebral for a summer flick but, if the action holds up, that might not matter.

Waiting for more.