Icons Unearthed continues its exploration of Tom Cruise’s career with a double bill of episodes on Vice. At 8:00 PM, “The Serious Actor” examines how Cruise received his first Oscar nomination for breaking out of his mold in “Born on the Fourth of July,” moving away from the shadow of Dustin Hoffman’s performance in “Rain Man.” This is followed at 9:00 PM by “The Mentor,” which looks at how Cruise’s next two films helped launch the careers of those around him and brought him closer to winning an Oscar.
“The Serious Actor,” looks into the transformation that Cruise underwent for his role in Oliver Stone’s “Born on the Fourth of July.” The film, released in 1989, was a significant turning point in Cruise’s career, as it showed his range and depth as an actor. By taking on the challenging role of Ron Kovic, a paralyzed Vietnam War veteran, Cruise broke free from the charming, light-hearted characters he had become known for. This episode analyzes how Cruise’s commitment to the role, both physically and emotionally, impressed critics and earned him his first Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.
In “The Mentor,” the documentary shifts its focus to Cruise’s impact on the careers of others. The episode explores how Cruise used his star power to advocate for then-unknown actors, helping to launch their careers. It also examines the mentorship he received from legendary filmmaker Stanley Kubrick during the making of “Eyes Wide Shut,” and how this influenced his approach to guiding others.
Icons Unearthed: The Serious Actor and The Mentor air back-to-back on Vice, Wednesday, September 11, 2024, starting at 8:00 PM.
