Defamer
These days, there seems to be no more reliable way to elicit a sensational media mogul sound-bite than by placing a tape recorder on the desk of antediluvian Viacom potentate Sumner Redstone, prompting, "Tom Cruise...go!" and waiting to see what angry words pour out once the mere mention of the actor's name starts to heat up the blood-dust pumping through the executive's desiccated circulatory system. Page Six reports that Redstone's anti-Cruise campaign will continue in the pages of an upcoming issue of Vanity Fair (you can read the entire article here), where he confirms his wife's rumored role in Paramount's public dissociation with the sofa-stomping star, then throws out a ballpark, nine-figure estimate of what he thinks Cruise's antics cost M:i:III:
"Paula, like women everywhere, had come to hate him. The truth of the matter is, I did listen to her . . ." Redstone says. "His behavior was entirely unacceptable to Paula and to the rest of the world. He just didn't turn one [woman] off. He turned off all women, and a lot of men."Redstone estimates that Cruise's antics - acting wacky, ripping into psychiatry, firing his professional publicist - were the key elements in the star's downfall: "When did I decide [to fire him]? I don't know. When he was on the 'Today' show? When he was jumping on a couch at 'Oprah'? He changed his handler, you know, to his sister [LeAnne Devette] - not a good idea." [...]
Redstone estimates that Cruise's bizarre behavior cost Paramount "$100 million, $150 million on 'Mission: Impossible III.' It was the best picture of the three, and it did the worst." He isn't sorry he embarrassed Cruise publicly: "The explosion was good. It sent a message to the rest of the world that the time of the big star getting all this money is over. And it is! I would like to think that what I did, or what we did, has had a salutary effect on the rest of the industry."
Perhaps Redstone allowed himself to get a little caught up in yet another moment of airing his thoughts on the Cruise menace, clenching a liver-spotted, veiny fist, waving it in front of him, and promising to "sock that little punk in the jaw the next time I see him, on behalf of all the studios sick and tired of having their profit margins destroyed by runaway talent costs." He then momentarily softened, adding, "But don't get me wrong—we'd work with him again if we found a project that made sense. We're still showbiz friends."
- REDSTONE UNLOADS ON CRUISE [Page Six]
Comments
One of the most sensible things I've ever heard from a man in this position. Where do I pick up my "Women against Tom Cruise" pin?
I want a "People Who Like Movie Stars Who Can Actually Act Against Tom Cruise" pin.
The story's not over until they announce the direct-to-DVD Risky Business 2.
Direct-to-DVD nothing. Remember that the biggest voting block in the Academy are the actors, and they love an actor's hard-luck story. A mean, heartless corporate exec, picking on a hard-working thespian trying to express his inner turmoil to the multiplex masses? That's just the sort of sympathetic struggle that could finally get Tommy Boy that long-coveted Oscar Gold.
Nah...I think that the acting part of the academy also think he's a freak. I really doubt anyone's going to want to be subjected to a lengthy acceptance speech where he babbles about the clams and his hatred of psychiatry.
Yeah, Tom would have to get a job to get an Oscar, and I don't really see that one forthcoming. I mean, aside from "L. Ron: The Untold Story" where L Ron saves 50,000 people from death by earthquake using vitamin C and a pair of pliers.
Remember, just a few days ago, either Variety or Hollywood Reporter had Tommy shopping for parts. All of them were serious ones, the kind that allowed him to do that overly earnest thing he loves to do. I think they were all (or mostly) sort of anti-war, too. Hooray for Hollywood liberalism!
Its-about-time.
Now if only other execs would start looking at "other" over-paid thespians. C'mon, its not like they are firefighters, police, or others that put their lives into danger to save someone....not to make a buck.
Movie stars overpaid?! They do what no one else has the courage to do! They heroically go out and rescue $10,000 dresses from maniacal Eurotrash shopkeepers! They brave the streets of Beverly Hills in death-defying Cadillacs stretched to enormous lengths, with windows so dark one can barely see inside them! They invite complete strangers inside their home to cook their food and put their personal objects away! And you dare to call them overpaid?!
I've never really had a thing for saggy-balled old men with bad dye jobs, but my loins are quivering.
Trixie: My address is...
I wonder if Amway has any ideas on signing Cruise?
This way Tom would have all the soap in the world to drop.
"He turned off all women, and a lot of men..."
That "and a lot of men" has got to hurt.
OT: Xenu, this is your week, and it's only Tuesday! If Defamer doesn't give you some kind of gold-filled tinsel laurel leaf crown for your achievements in the comments I will have to have my legion of footsoldiers who go up and down Sunset deal with them. Oh. Right.
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