The Unauthorized Tom Cruise Biography

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Celeb News, Celebrity Gossip, Rumors

When you put yourself in the public eye in a very bold way, you have to expect at least a little backlash. Could that be what’s happening to couch-jumping and overzealous Tom Cruise right this moment? Andrew Morton’s Tom Cruise: An Unauthorized Biography (which you can buy right now for less than twenty bucks online) talks at great length about Cruise and his various women, rumors concerning this love life and of course, Scientology. The media has already reported that Morton may be getting sued by Cruise and the Scientology Church for the mind-boggling sum of $100 million. Doesn’t matter. The book hit the shelves January 15, no matter what Cruise or anyone else has to say about it.

Before the book’s release, an excerpt of the prose was released which detailed the inner circle of Scientology followers, showing just how important Cruise’s role is therein. Followers of the religion, which is based on a series of books by author L. Ron Hubbard, have taken a lot of flak from the press (and the spoofers). But in this country, we’re all allowed to believe whatever we please - even our biggest stars. Read all about it in the unauthorized (and possibly very costly) Tom Cruise biography.

Read More | MSNBC

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‘Valkyrie’ Debut Delayed

Posted by Veronica Santiago Categories: MGM, Action, Drama, Period, Political, Filmmaking, Upcoming Releases

Valkyrie, a movie already plagued with production issues, has just given us another reason to be wary.  It’s now been linked to two of the most cringe-inducing words in the film industry:  delayed release.  The Tom Cruise biopic about a German officer who plotted to take down Adolf Hitler will now premiere October 3, 2008.  Valkyrie was originally slated to open June 27, unfortunately Bryan Singer (The Usual Suspects) has yet to shoot an integral war scene.

So let’s now officially add ‘date change’ to the ever-growing list of problems.  (Items already noted include Scientology haters, destroyed footage and injured extras.)  I predict a Suri fashion faux pas - or maybe even locusts - will trip things up next.

Read More | Variety

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Tom Cruise: No Longer a Hot Ticket

Posted by K.C. Morgan Categories: Drama, Box Office, Casting, Celeb News, Celebrity Gossip, Upcoming Releases

Tom Cruise has been steadily losing the favor of public opinion. All the couch-jumping, weird Scientology associations and media hype about his marriage with Katie Holmes is starting to have an effect on his box office power, once a mighty thing. The much-hyped Lions for Lambs did not bring in the expected sales, and in Hollywood you’re only as good as your last picture.

According to MSNBC, insiders are losing faith in Cruise’s once-guaranteed popularity. His high salary, coupled with sluggish movie sales, are helping to hammer home the fact that the fans are just no longer interested in Cruise – unless, of course, he’s being featured in a tabloid. Valkyrie, an upcoming flick featuring Cruise, is already getting bad press. A trailer was “leaked” on the Internet, and instead of being met with hopeful buzz, it has suffered a much more negative fate.

Read More | AOL

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Cruise’s ‘Valkyrie’ Suffers (Another) Setback

Posted by David Onda Categories: MGM, Drama, Period, Political, Thrillers, Filmmaking, Upcoming Releases, Short FilmCrunch

Tom Cruise’s World War II thriller Valkyrie has suffered yet another in a long line of setbacks while filming in Germany. Apparently, a batch of nighttime footage shot a couple weeks ago has been deemed unusable after the negatives were developed in the wrong chemicals. Adding insult to injury, the footage was shot at the German Defense Ministry which had resisted granting Cruise (who executive produces) permission to shoot in the first place. The Ministry houses the spot where Colonel Claus Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg (played by Cruise) and his conspirators plotted to assassinate Adolf Hitler. The footage will need to be re-shot, and the Ministry has already granted re-entry.

Click to continue reading Cruise’s ‘Valkyrie’ Suffers (Another) Setback

Read More | E! Online

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Cruise Barred for Being a Scientologist

Posted by Johnny Mercedes Categories: Celeb News, Celebrity Controversy, Upcoming Releases

In a new film entitled Valkyrie, Tom Cruise will play Colonel Claus Von Stauffenberg, a man deeply opposed to Nazi treatment of the Jews and leader of a plot to assassinate Adolf Hitler.  Unfortunately, the plan to film on German military sites was quickly undermined when Defense Ministry spokesperson Harald Kammerbauer denied the crew access citing Cruise’s belief in Scientology.  Kammerbauer claimed that the Church of Scientology is not recognized as a church by the German government and that the religion is merely an invention to make money.  Furthermore, he said the film would not be shot on the sites as long as Cruise was playing Count Stauffenberg.

Kammerbauer also stated that the German military deeply espouse the accurate portrayal of Stauffenberg and the events of said mission.  One of the films producers, Paula Wagner, was quick to refute: “(Cruise’s) personal beliefs have absolutely no bearing on the movie’s plot, themes or content.”

I’m no advocate for Scientology.  In fact, I largely agree with the opinion of the German military — Scientology is a façade, a faux religion for rich people.  But I must side with Cruise in this case — this is a ridiculous reason to hinder the production of a movie.  He is an actor.  His religious affiliation won’t have an effect on how this story is told.  And hasn’t Germany learned yet about the dangers of discrimination?

Read More | CNN

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