Whereas some query the facility of celebrities to ensure field workplace success, there may be one actor whose identify worth seldom wavers in getting folks into the theaters. Tom Cruise has change into one of many world’s most acknowledged and revered actors, with a formidable filmography of fan favorites all through the many years, together with Dangerous Enterprise (1983), High Gun (1986), Mission Unattainable (1996), Jerry Maguire (1996), Minority Report (2002), and the checklist goes on and on as much as the trendy period with huge blockbuster his like High Gun: Maverick (2022) and fan favorites like Fringe of Tomorrow (2014).
His success as an actor has remained prevalent for many years, regardless of controversies involving his affiliation with the Church of Scientology and a few oddball interviews (who can neglect Cruise leaping on Oprah Winfrey’s sofa in 2005?). Nonetheless, Cruise stays finest often known as an actor who could be very a lot answerable for his profession trajectory. That’s what makes his first and final directed work such an oddity.
‘Fallen Angels’ Was Neo Noir Perfection on TV
Taking inspiration from The Twilight Zone, Fallen Angels was an American neo-noir anthology tv collection that introduced tales by a few of the style’s most notable authors. The collection initially aired on Showtime on August 1, 1993, and lasted for 2 seasons, at 15 episodes. Fallen Angels passed off in a somber Los Angeles in the course of the post-World Struggle II period, with the fashion mimicking that of the black-and-white classics of the Forties and 50s.
The present would have many notable names hooked up to the challenge, upfront and behind the scenes. Moreover Tom Cruise’s involvement as a director for an episode, Peter Bogdanovich, John Dahl, Phil Joanou, and Steven Soderbergh lent their skills to the collection. The forged additionally had some recurring actors of notice, together with Gary Oldman, Kiefer Sutherland, and Danny Glover. To deliver authenticity to the challenge in capturing the period’s fashion, famed composer Elmer Bernstein wrote the theme for the opening and shutting credit, together with his son, Peter Bernstein, composing the person episodes.
Fallen Angels would go on to be nominated for the present, which was nominated for 3 Primetime Emmy Awards and was typically heralded for its distinctive strategy. Nonetheless, the half-hour format many followers of the style felt was limiting. The present, considerably misplaced within the ’90s, had maintained a devoted fanbase amongst noir followers. Tom Cruise’s episode was launched at some extent when the director had already discovered fanfare, popping out the identical yr as The Agency and a yr after A Few Good Males.
Associated
Tom Cruise Deserved an Oscar for One in every of His Finest Performances in This 1999 Drama
Tom Cruise acquired his remaining (to this point) Oscar nomination for 1999’s ‘Magnolia,’ and the veteran actor ought to’ve gained it.
Tom Cruise Took to the Director’s Chair to Make ‘The Horrifying Frammis’
Season 1, Episode 4, titled The Horrifying Frammis, would mark Tom Cruise’s directorial debut for the TV anthology present Fallen Angels. Based mostly on the quick novel by Jim Thompson, the episode follows grifter Mitch Allison (Peter Gallagher), who makes use of a few of his spouse’s cash after she comes into a big quantity off a con job to run his personal get-rich-quick scheme. But, when he comes throughout a girl often known as Babe (Isabella Rossellini), he falls for her exhausting, and his schemes get entangled in making an attempt to impress the lady. Babe, married to a person (John Reilly), begins an internet of deception and backstabbing between events as they vie for a giant payday.
Whereas it could be perfect to say that Tom Cruise’s directorial debut confirmed potential, the reality is that the episode does little to differentiate itself from the prevailing format or present any flare one might level to. The episode is a fascinating back-and-forth backstabbing drama as varied people race for a big sum of cash, completely paced at half an hour. Nonetheless, it’s not even the most effective episode within the collection, with that title being a toss-up between Alfonso Cuarón’s Homicide, Obliquely, Steven Soderbergh’s Skilled Man, or his The Quiet Room.
Tom Cruise’s involvement in Fallen Angels additionally doesn’t make clear his views on directing or whether or not this was an pleasurable course of for him. Nonetheless, together with his manufacturing firm, Cruise’s involvement has been known as very hands-on. This included Mission Unattainable, the place he would assist direct camerawork, stunts, and dialogue. Maybe Cruise’s involvement in Fallen Angels gave him early confidence to have a grander command of assorted points of manufacturing, however it could have additionally led him by no means to wish to tackle the particular position of director once more.
Ought to I Watch Fallen Angels and Tom Cruise’s Directorial Debut?
Fallen Angels is a superb present but additionally a product of the period. It predates reveals like The Sopranos, which might outline the manufacturing requirements of TV as we all know them at the moment. Merely put, the collection is a bit tough across the edges, and you’ll have needed to have grown up in that period to understand the tough aesthetic of the present, which was commonplace; it’s undoubtedly polished and classy for the time.
Associated
7 Tom Cruise Motion pictures That Broke World Information
These Tom Cruise movies broke data with jaw-dropping stunts and big box-office returns.
Fallen Angels gives intelligent tales considerably harmed by the quick 30-minute runtime (45+ minute episodes would have been higher). Nonetheless, for followers of the noir style, there are numerous gems within the collection, notably for individuals who love pulp novels and are accustomed to the supply materials. Tom Cruise’s episode is nothing particular, however it is usually entertaining as properly. If you’ll watch the collection, there isn’t any motive to keep away from his entry, notably figuring out the Hollywood icon was behind the digital camera. Fallen Angels is unavailable for streaming, however you’ll find episodes on YouTube.