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Behind tom cruise’s changing eye color and transformation.

Tom Cruise is one of the most handsome actors, but is it all natural?

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Tom Cruise is a top American actor and producer famous for his roles in popular films such as  Top Gun ,  Mission: Impossible  series,  Jerry Maguire , and  Rain Man . 

Cruise has been acclaimed for his versatile performances and has garnered multiple awards throughout his career. He is known far and wide for his intense dedication to his craft, often performing his own stunts, which has further solidified his reputation as an action star. 

His success in the film industry has made him one of Hollywood ‘s most influential and highest-paid actors. This might also be why his looks and appearance, like his eye color, face structure, etc., are discussed more than his fellow co-actors.

What color are Tom Cruise’s eyes?

Upon closer examination of his photos, Cruise’s eyes can be  described  as blueish green with a yellow ring around the pupil, known as central heterochromia. Most green eyes are a combination of blue and yellow, causing them to appear differently under varying lighting conditions. 

Tom Cruise eye color are blueish-green with a yellow ring around the pupil.

Tom Cruise has blueish-green eyes with a yellow ring around the pupil. (Credit: Pinterest)

However, some fans  think  his eye color looks different in certain movies. But others pointed out that people with green eyes are unique in that their eye color can appear to change depending on the lighting and background conditions. For example, in  Legend , the snowy forest scenes with a blue hue likely brought out the blue in his eyes. In the movie  Edge of Tomorrow , a similar phenomenon occurs with the perception of eye color due to lighting. 

Agreeing with this, a fan wrote, “People often mistake my eye color for hazel or green, but in reality, I have true blue-green eyes, which are quite rare. It can be frustrating when people compliment my eye color and mistakenly label it with the wrong description.”

Therefore, it can be attributed to the presence of multiple colors within Cruise’s eyes that stand out depending on the surrounding backdrop and lighting.

Tom Cruise’s recently changed appearance

During the Queen of England’s Platinum Jubilee Celebration in 2022, Cruise was  interviewed by Phillip Schofield and Julie Etchingham. During the interview, many fans commented on his attractive appearance, with one person tweeting, “Tom Cruise is keeping me wide awake. He still looks incredibly attractive.”

Pictures of 60 year old Tom Cruise from the queen’s platinum jubilee pic.twitter.com/108CZxwu0A — Ninad Berry (@ninad__berry10) May 17, 2022

Another individual wrote, “Wow, Tom Cruise is back to looking like the classic Tom Cruise,” referring to photos of the actor at a baseball game in San Francisco the previous year, where he appeared to have a fuller face.

Tom Cruise at a baseball game in San Francisco in 2021.

Tom Cruise at a baseball game in San Francisco in 2021. (Credit: Dailymail)

During that time, fans speculated whether he had undergone unsuccessful cosmetic procedures, with one person tweeting, “What has Tom Cruise done to alter his face?”

Given his youthful charm and absence of wrinkles, rumors of plastic surgery have followed the actor for many years. Despite his consistent denial of undergoing any cosmetic procedures, fans have speculated that the perpetually youthful actor has undergone a rhinoplasty, hair transplant, Botox treatments, and dental veneers.

Regarding his youthful appearance, Alice Henshaw, the owner and practitioner of Harley Street Injectables, said, “At almost 60, Tom’s hairline has remained relatively unchanged, although slightly thinning, which suggests he may have had hair transplants.”

Getting changes done to one’s body is a personal choice, so it would not be right to speculate about it if the person has not publicly spoken about it.

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Pooja is an entertainment writer for GB Issue who enjoys binge-watching true crime docu-series.

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How Much Is Hovik Keuchkerian’s Net Worth? Look At His Career

Hovik Keuchkerian’s fascinating performances and comedic prowess helped him make a name for himself in the entertainment industry.

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penn state jersey deion sanders jersey brandon aiyuk jersey OSU Jerseys custom football jerseys justin jefferson lsu jersey johnny manziel jersey colleges in new jersey brock purdy jersey florida jersey oregon football jerseys Ohio State Team Jersey florida jersey ohio state jersey College Football Jerseys s://gbissue.comjustin jefferson lsu jersey johnny manziel jersey penn state jersey deuce vaughn jersey Florida state seminars jerseys justin jefferson lsu jersey brandon aiyuk jersey colleges in new jersey florida jersey custom football jerseys johnny manziel jersey OSU Jerseys rowan university new jersey ohio state jersey justin jefferson lsu jersey /tag/Hovik-Keuchkerian/” target=”_blank” data-type=”link” data-id=”https://gbissue.com/tag/Hovik-Keuchkerian/” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>Hovik Keuchkerian , born November 14, 1972, is a Spanish artist with a diverse career in acting, stand-up comedy, and boxing. His fascinating performances and comedic prowess helped him make a name for himself in the entertainment industry.

With his multifaceted talents, diverse background, and impressive work, Hovik Keuchkerian has secured a prominent place in the entertainment industry and continues to captivate audiences worldwide. 

This article delves into his net worth, exploring the financial rewards accompanying his successful career. We also highlight some of his most recognized roles, showcasing the breadth of his talent and his impact on the industry.

Hovik Keuchkerian’s net worth and career

Keuchkerian has amassed an impressive net worth of around $3 million through his multifaceted career in entertainment. His financial success stems from his diverse talents as an actor, stand-up comedian, and former boxer.

His acting career has been a significant contributor to his wealth. He has appeared in numerous films and television series. His impressive filmography spans film and television, showcasing his acting versatility.

Some of his most notable acting roles include Pedro in the 2013 film  Scorpion in Love , for which he received a Goya Award nomination for Best New Actor and Bogotá in the popular crime drama series  Money Heist  (2019-2021). 

Hovik Keuchkerian is a talented Spanish artist

Hovik Keuchkerian is a talented Spanish artist (Source: X )

In addition to these roles ,  he has appeared in films such as  Toro  (2016),  Assassin’s Creed  (2016),  The Man Who Killed Don Quixote (2018),  4 latas  (2019), Rainbow (2022), and  Un amor  (2023).

On the small screen, he has had notable roles in series like  Hispania, la leyenda  (2010-2011),  Isabel  (2013),  El ministerio del tiempo  (2015),  The Night Manager  (2016),  Snatch  (2018),  The Head  (2022), and the upcoming  Reina Roja  (2024).

In addition to his acting endeavors, his background as a former boxer and his transition to stand-up comedy contributed to his financial success. He was a two-time Spanish Heavyweight Champion before pursuing a career in comedy and writing. 

His comedic talents and published works, including four books, have further expanded his reach and earning potential.

Hovik Keuchkerian in ‘Assasin’s Creed’

Keuchkerian, the talented Armenian-Spanish actor, is best known for portraying the formidable character Ojeda in the 2016 film adaptation of the popular video game franchise  Assassin’s Creed .

In the movie, he brought to life the ruthless Templar commander, Ojeda, who served as the right-hand man to the Grand Inquisitor Tomás de Torquemada during the Spanish Inquisition.

His Ojeda was imposing on-screen, exuding a sense of danger and power. With his stern demeanor and unwavering loyalty to the Templar cause, Ojeda was a force to be reckoned with, willing to go to extreme lengths to achieve his goals. 

Keuchkerian’s portrayal perfectly captured the character’s hatred for the Assassins and his relentless pursuit of the mighty Apple of Eden artifact.

Hovik Keuchkerian as Ojeda in 'Assain's Creed'

Hovik Keuchkerian as Ojeda in ‘Assain’s Creed’ (Source: Yakimankagbu )

Ojeda’s fierce determination and combat prowess are displayed throughout the film. Keuchkerian showcased his skills as an actor, effortlessly transitioning between intense action sequences and tense dialogue. 

His ability to convey Ojeda’s ruthlessness and physical strength made him a formidable opponent for the film’s protagonist, Aguilar de Nerha.

His portrayal of Ojeda was visually striking and provided depth and nuance to the character. His unwavering devotion to the Templar cause was evident in every frame, making Ojeda a compelling antagonist who posed a significant threat to the Assassins. 

Through portraying Ojeda in  Assassin’s Creed,  Keuchkerian demonstrated his ability to embody a formidable and imposing character, showcasing his acting range and commitment to delivering a memorable performance. 

His work in the film contributed to the overall success of the  Assassin’s Creed  adaptation. Further, it solidified his reputation as a talented and respected actor in the industry.

Hovik Keuchkerian was also in ‘Money Heist’

Keuchkerian portrays the character Bogotá in the popular Spanish series  Money Heist.  Bogotá is introduced in season 3 as one of the recruits for the heist on the Bank of Spain. 

As an experienced welder, Bogotá plays a vital role in helping melt down the gold held in the bank’s reserve. His specialized skills successfully enabled the team to extract gold from the flooded underground vault. 

Bogotá also develops a romantic connection with Nairobi throughout the heist. He falls in love with her feisty personality. He shows his caring side by looking after her when she gets seriously injured. 

Hovick Keuchkerian as Bogotá in 'Money Heist'

Hovick Keuchkerian as Bogotá in ‘Money Heist’ (Source: Radio Times )

Their relationship provides some touching moments amidst the chaos of the heist. In addition to his importance to the plot, Bogotá adds diversity and flair to the show’s ensemble cast. As an older member of the gang, he brings wisdom and experience. 

His globetrotting backstory, with seven children worldwide, gives him a worldly perspective. Keuchkerian’s acting helps make Bogotá likable despite his criminal activities. He portrays the character as tough yet charming, principled yet flawed. 

Bogotá earns respect through his essential contributions and genuine care for his teammates. Keuchkerian’s nuanced performance as this complex character is an asset to  Money Heist  and helps explain the show’s widespread popularity.

Hovik Keuchkerian’s upcoming movie ‘Reina Roja’

Keuchkerian is set to co-star in the new Spanish thriller series   Reina Roja,  based on the novel by Juan Gómez-Jurado.

 He will play the role of Jon Gutiérrez, a police inspector tasked with investigating the murder of a wealthy family’s son and the kidnapping of their daughter.

His character is described as a Basque homosexual, allowing Keuchkerian to showcase his versatility as an actor.

The series follows Gutiérrez as he teams up with an eccentric genius named Antonia Scott, played by Vicky Luengo, to crack the complicated case. Their unlikely partnership will be a central focus of the show’s drama and mystery.

The series has an intriguing premise, high production value, and a stellar cast. Keuchkerian’s previous experience on the hit show  Money Heist  demonstrated his acting chops and ability to bring depth to complex characters. 

As Gutiérrez, he will share the spotlight with Luengo and navigate tense police procedural plotlines. The series’ February 2024 premiere on Amazon Prime is highly anticipated following Keuchkerian’s breakout fame on Netflix.

The Best Anime to Watch on Netflix in 2023

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Anime is something that isn’t everyone’s cup of tea but the people who watch it regularly know how amazing anime is. The best part about animes is that they have a very captivating storyline, something that you wouldn’t see in any show that the United States or any other country would have to offer.

You can watch anime on Netflix as well, but before that, you need to make sure that your internet is fast enough to stream all your favorite anime without any lag. 

For that matter, we would suggest that you consider looking at Spectrum Internet Packages so that not only could you get a superfast, reliable internet connection but you can also make sure that it is in your budget and save money down the line as well. 

Coming back to anime, here are some of the best anime that we think you should watch on Netflix as soon as you get the chance. Make sure that you read all the way to the end of the article. 

If you are into something that is centered on fantasy and adventure, then InuYasha is the kind of anime that you shouldn’t miss out on. The show is about a boy called Gon Freecss who finds out that his father (who he thought was a girl from Tokyo) and his father is transported back in time to feudal Japan and there she is tasked to battle an evil half-demon called Naraku so that it isn’t able to put together an ancient sacred Shikon Jewel with the help of a lesser evil half-demon called InuYasha. 

What sets InuYasha apart from other half-demons is that it is funny, romantic, and has a lively personality. The best part is that the show only has four seasons that you can watch easily on Netflix. Be sure to watch the show as soon as you can!

Aggrestsuko

This is for the ones that just love animals. Aggretsuko is set in modern-day Japan that is inhabited by adorable talking animals but the show depicts that the everyday life of these animals is anything but cute.

After a burnout, in order to wind down from her office job, our protagonist who is a Red Panda called Retsuko spends most of her nights at a karaoke bar as she sings the night away with heavy metal songs. The show is very relatable in the sense that Retsuko has to deal with her annoying coworkers every day and the superiors that suck the life out of her until she can find a work-life balance, find love, happiness, and everything else necessary in life. 

Pluto is another anime that you shouldn’t miss out on. It is set in the same universe as Astro Boy and Pluto tells the story about the murder of a heroic robot called Montblanc, who took part in the 39 th Asian War.

Things start to get darker when a war veteran and Europol detective called Gesicht starts investigating the murder of the war hero and as he gets deeper into his investigation, he finds out that there is a deep-rooted plot with a conspiracy against all robots that took part in said war.

The show revolves around the theme of a crime drama and science fiction, all the more reason to watch the anime as soon as you can. Whenever you get the time, you should definitely watch Pluto. 

Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba

This anime is among the most popular anime of 2023. The show is about a youth called Tanjiro who joins the Demon Slayer Corps to take revenge on the demons that killed his family. All the while he also intends on helping his sister Nezuko as she becomes a demon in the process. Demon Slayer shows how Tanjiro has his own style and skills when it comes to slaying demons and he also has a shift in his perspective as he tries to see the good side to demons as well. 

This show too has a very captivating storyline and it is the kind of anime that you should not miss out on in any case. Even if this is your first anime, it is the sort that will definitely get you hooked on anime and their brilliance. 

Provided that One Piece now has a live-action show as well, you should definitely watch the anime first. The show is about a boy called Monkey D. Luffy as he sails with his crew of people who wear straw hats so that they can look for the famous treasure called One Piece. Once he does so, Luffy intends to become the king of Pirates.

The show also has a comedic take, which makes it pretty interesting to watch. The show is the perfect blend of action and comedy, making it definitely worth your while. The show has a balance of male and female characters, proving that Pirates don’t necessarily have to be male. 

Wrapping Up

Anime is something that would definitely keep you hooked when you have nothing else to watch. So, this is high time that you start watching anime so that you can see how brilliant they are and how amazing their story is.

Jasmine Orlando’s Biography – Who Is the Famous TikTok Star?

Jasmine Orlando suffers form a condition known as Bell’s Palsy which affects her facial muscles.

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Jasmine Orlando, an American TikTok sensation, primarily posts traditional lip-syncing and reaction content on the platform. With over one million followers and around 60 million likes, she has also established a strong presence on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook. 

On Instagram, her main account is ‘@shorty_bae_12,’ while she uses the name Vanessa Queen on Facebook. Additionally, she also has a YouTube channel named Jasmine Orlando2, boasting over seven thousand subscribers and around two hundred thousand total views. 

Orlando has been diagnosed with Bell’s palsy, an unexpected episode of facial muscle weakness or paralysis without a clear explanation. But this has not stopped Orlando from creating amazing lip-syncing videos. 

Jasmine Orlando’s real name is Vanessa 

Orlando, born on November 8, 2002, in Spring Lake Park, Minnesota, United States, goes by the real name Vanessa. She is currently 21 years old. 

View this post on Instagram A post shared by vanessa❤ (@jasmin_orlando_)

Details about her parents are limited. There is no information about their names and other details. In the early days of her TikTok journey, her younger brother contributed some of his TikTok videos to her page. She attended Spring Lake Park High School, as mentioned by  Famous Birthdays.  

She used the Snapchat username ‘jasminth’ and can be found on Facebook under Vanessa Queen. 

Jasmine Orlando’s Presence on TikTok and other social media 

As a highly renowned and verified TikTok user, Orlando specializes in creating content, primarily lip-syncing and reaction videos. Notably, she has gained recognition for her skillful dance performances set to popular tracks and other interesting and fun videos she makes with her brother and friends. 

As of late 2023, the creator has shared approximately three thousand clips on the platform. She has gained around 1.6 million followers on the platform and has over 62 million likes. Additionally, Orlando is recognized on TikTok as Shawty Bae.

Orlando made her first post on her primary Instagram account in June 2019. Since then, she has shared several hundred photos and videos on the platform, amassing a following of over 150 thousand.

Her posts encompass a variety of content, including selfies, images showcasing her merchandise, and snapshots of her other social media profiles. Additionally, she utilizes her Instagram to endorse fellow social media personalities.

For backup, the social media star maintains another account with the username ‘@shortybae2002,’ boasting a follower count exceeding nine thousand. Moreover, she manages a dedicated spam page, ‘@shortybae12spam,’ with just over two thousand followers.

Having established her YouTube channel in July 2019, Jasmine has uploaded various videos where she delves into her personal life and discusses topics of interest. Her very first video, titled ‘Edit someone did for me jasmine Orlando,’ was posted in August 2019. 

However, it’s worth noting that her YouTube channel hasn’t reached the same level of popularity as her TikTok page.

Does Jasmine Orlando have a boyfriend?

As mentioned in  Dating Celebs  in 2023, Orlando is possibly single and has not been engaged or married before. There are no records of past relationships for Orlando, and she is not currently dating anyone, according to the available information. 

Jasmine Orlando (Source: Instagram)

Jasmine Orlando (Source: Instagram )

Some sources, like  The Famous People , have mentioned that she is known to have a spouse or ex-spouse named Yahir Almanza. They have two children named Jose and Yahir. Additionally, in October 2019, Jasmine revealed her bisexuality to her fans through a YouTube video.

However, this information has no supporting backups, and there is a possibility that the TikToker is keeping her relationships and dating life private and doesn’t want to discuss it openly. 

Jasmine Orlando’s height 

Details regarding Orlando’s body measurements, including her height, weight, chest size, waist size, hip size, and bicep size, are currently unavailable. Additionally, she possesses brown eyes. 

It’s noteworthy that Orlando has been diagnosed with Bell’s palsy, a condition that leads to a loss of control over the affected facial muscles. Shawty Bae openly discusses her battle with Bell’s palsy and spreads awareness about her condition. 

Throughout her journey, she has engaged in collaborations with various influencers. However, for most of her personal life, Orlando remains discreet about it, keeping it largely private.

What is Jasmine Orlando’s net worth?

Orlando’s primary source of income comes from TikTok, and as of 2023, she has an estimated net worth of $1 million.

In addition to her earnings from social media, she also generates income through her merchandise.

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tom cruise brown eyes

What Color Eyes Does Tom Cruise Have

What Color Eyes Does Tom Cruise Have? 9 Interesting Facts Revealed

Tom Cruise, the American actor and producer, is known for his charming looks and captivating performances on the big screen. One aspect of his appearance that often catches attention is his eye color. Many fans have wondered about the exact shade of Tom Cruise’s eyes, and in this article, we will reveal the answer to that question along with nine interesting facts about his eyes. So, let’s dive in and unravel the mysteries surrounding Tom Cruise’s eyes!

1. Eye Color Revelation

Tom Cruise’s eye color is a mesmerizing shade of blue. His intense and piercing blue eyes have become one of his defining features and have undoubtedly contributed to his on-screen charisma.

2. Natural Blue

Contrary to popular belief, Tom Cruise was not born with brown eyes. His natural eye color has always been blue. However, there have been instances where he appeared to have darker eyes due to lighting or contact lenses for specific roles.

3. The Genetic Aspect

Eye color is determined by genetics, specifically the amount and type of pigments present in the iris. The blue color in Tom Cruise’s eyes is a result of the low concentration of melanin, the pigment responsible for eye color. The absence of melanin in his irises gives his eyes their striking blue hue.

4. Heterochromia Rumors

Heterochromia is a condition in which a person has two different colored eyes. Despite some rumors suggesting Tom Cruise has heterochromia, it is not true. Both of his eyes are blue, although they may appear slightly different shades at times due to lighting or other factors.

5. Eye-Catching Complement

Tom Cruise’s blue eyes are often complemented by his dark hair, making them appear even more vibrant and captivating. This contrast adds to his overall appeal and charisma.

6. Blue Eyes in Hollywood

Blue eyes have always been associated with beauty and charm in Hollywood. Many successful actors, including Paul Newman, Chris Hemsworth, and Frank Sinatra, have captivated audiences with their piercing blue gaze. Tom Cruise undoubtedly follows in their footsteps, captivating audiences with his own striking blue eyes.

7. Eye Color and Personality

According to studies on eye color and personality, individuals with blue eyes are often associated with qualities such as intelligence, confidence, and charisma. These traits seem to align perfectly with the persona that Tom Cruise portrays both on and off the screen.

8. Eye-Related Injuries

While filming action-packed scenes for his movies, Tom Cruise has encountered several accidents and injuries. However, his eyes have remained unscathed. His dedication to safety and professionalism ensures that his captivating blue eyes continue to shine brightly.

9. Tom Cruise’s Eye-Catching Stare

Throughout his career, Tom Cruise has mastered the art of the intense stare. His piercing blue eyes have the ability to draw viewers in and hold their attention, adding depth to his on-screen performances.

Now, let’s address some common questions about Tom Cruise’s eye color:

Q1. Are Tom Cruise’s eyes naturally blue?

A1. Yes, Tom Cruise’s eyes are naturally blue.

Q2. Does Tom Cruise have heterochromia?

A2. No, Tom Cruise does not have heterochromia. Both of his eyes are blue.

Q3. Are Tom Cruise’s eyes ever brown?

A3. No, Tom Cruise’s eyes have always been blue. Any instances where his eyes appeared brown were due to lighting or contact lenses for specific roles.

Q4. Are blue eyes common in Hollywood?

A4. Blue eyes have been considered a desirable trait in Hollywood, and many successful actors, including Tom Cruise, possess this eye color.

Q5. What qualities are associated with blue eyes?

A5. Intelligence, confidence, and charisma are often associated with individuals who have blue eyes.

Q6. Has Tom Cruise ever injured his eyes during filming?

A6. While Tom Cruise has suffered injuries while filming action scenes, his eyes have remained unharmed.

Q7. How does Tom Cruise’s eye color complement his overall appearance?

A7. The contrast between Tom Cruise’s blue eyes and his dark hair enhances his overall appeal and charisma.

Q8. How does Tom Cruise use his eyes to captivate audiences?

A8. Tom Cruise’s intense stare, combined with his piercing blue eyes, has the ability to draw viewers in and add depth to his on-screen performances.

Q9. What makes Tom Cruise’s eyes unique?

A9. Tom Cruise’s eyes are unique due to their mesmerizing blue color, which has become one of his defining features.

In summary, Tom Cruise’s eyes are a captivating shade of blue that adds to his overall charm and charisma. Their striking color, combined with his dark hair, has made them a defining feature of his appearance. While rumors of heterochromia persist, Tom Cruise’s eyes are indeed both blue. Their intensity and ability to captivate audiences have undoubtedly contributed to his success as one of Hollywood’s most iconic actors.

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Tom Cruise then and now: His face transformation in photos

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Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck stroll through NYC and more star snaps

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck stroll through NYC and more star snaps

tom cruise brown eyes

Good news: you are, in fact, allowed to look Tom Cruise in the eye

Cruise's mission: impossible–dead reckoning part one co-stars recently debunked this rumor, which he called the "weirdest story" he had ever heard about himself.

Tom Cruise

Look, Tom Cruise is a weird guy. This shouldn’t be news to anyone. He’s famously a Scientologist, does all of his own insane, mind-numbingly dangerous stunts , and would continue until he was 80 , if he had his druthers. All of this is to say, when rumors surface about what Cruise is supposedly like behind closed doors, they tend to take off. Perhaps even a rumor that cast and crew members were forbidden from looking him in the eye on set—one that, apparently, has gotten back to Cruise himself.

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In a recent story in The Times Of London , Mission: Impossible–Dead Reckoning Part One director and frequent Cruise collaborator Christopher McQuarrie revealed that, according to Cruise, the whole eye contact thing is the “weirdest story” the actor had ever heard about himself, and that anyone who isn’t Tom Cruise’s reflection in the mirror is, in fact, allowed to actually interact with him. Which... duh. How else could anyone expect the actor to complete his completely normal film prep regimen of 30 skydives per day without being squashed to a pulp?

Simon Pegg, Cruise’s Mission: Impossible costar and sharer in “ simple friendship ” (a.k.a., one in which any mention of the S-word is strictly off the table), also weighed in on the churning of the rumor mill, saying that Cruise is really just a normal dude who “took us go-karting and zip-lining,” during off time on set, which, for Cruise, is probably the equivalent of grabbing a beer or having a casual game night.

“I’ve been able to hack my way through all the bizarre mythology that surrounds him,” Pegg added. “On one side he’s Tom Cruise—this enigmatic film star everyone wants to know about. And on the other he’s just a guy. I like being normal with him.”

Mission: Impossible–Dead Reckoning Part One premieres July 12 in theaters.

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Eyes Wide Shut

Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman in Eyes Wide Shut (1999)

A Manhattan doctor embarks on a bizarre, night-long odyssey after his wife's admission of unfulfilled longing. A Manhattan doctor embarks on a bizarre, night-long odyssey after his wife's admission of unfulfilled longing. A Manhattan doctor embarks on a bizarre, night-long odyssey after his wife's admission of unfulfilled longing.

  • Stanley Kubrick
  • Frederic Raphael
  • Arthur Schnitzler
  • Nicole Kidman
  • 1.8K User reviews
  • 296 Critic reviews
  • 69 Metascore
  • 12 wins & 30 nominations

Trailer [EN]

  • Dr. William Harford

Nicole Kidman

  • Alice Harford

Todd Field

  • Nick Nightingale

Sydney Pollack

  • Victor Ziegler

Madison Eginton

  • Helena Harford

Peter Hans Benson

  • (as Peter Benson)

Michael Doven

  • Ziegler's Secretary

Sky du Mont

  • Sandor Szavost
  • (as Sky Dumont)
  • (as Louise Taylor)

Stewart Thorndike

  • Lou Nathanson

Marie Richardson

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  • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

Director's Trademarks: A Guide to Stanley Kubrick's Films

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A Clockwork Orange

Did you know

  • Trivia Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman signed open-ended contracts. They agreed to work on this project until Stanley Kubrick released them from it, however long that turned out to be.
  • Goofs Bill Harford arrives at Rainbow Fashions by taxi from the Sonata Cafe, and, as he talks to Milich, Gillespie's Diner can be been seen across the other side of the street. Earlier in the story, it was seen that Gillespie's is next door to the Sonata Cafe; there's no way he would have taken a taxi just to cross the street.

Victor Ziegler : Listen, Bill. Nobody killed anybody. Someone died. It happens all the time. Life goes on. It always does, until it doesn't. But you know that, don't you?

  • Crazy credits The end credits are a slideshow. This is unusual for a film of its time, when many employed rolling end credits.
  • Alternate versions The Europeans version is completely uncensored. The orgy scene was partially censored in the American release to avoid an "NC-17" rating. Computer generated people were placed in front of the sexually explicit action to obscure it from view.
  • Connections Edited into Hai-Kubrick (1999)
  • Soundtracks Musica Ricercata II: Mesto, Rigido e Cerimonale (1950) Performed by Dominic Harlan , piano Written by György Ligeti Published by Schott Musik International GmbH & Co. KG

User reviews 1.8K

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  • Feb 2, 2012
  • How long is Eyes Wide Shut? Powered by Alexa
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  • July 16, 1999 (United States)
  • United Kingdom
  • United States
  • Warner Bros. (United States)
  • Elveden Hall, Elveden, Suffolk, England, UK (interiors: Long Island Mansion "Somerton" where orgy takes place)
  • Warner Bros.
  • Stanley Kubrick Productions
  • Hobby Films
  • See more company credits at IMDbPro
  • $65,000,000 (estimated)
  • $55,691,208
  • $21,706,163
  • Jul 18, 1999
  • $162,260,377

Technical specs

  • Runtime 2 hours 39 minutes
  • Dolby Digital

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Tom Cruise rewatch: Weird at the millennium with Eyes Wide Shut and Mission: Impossible 2

In his strangest and silliest roles, the star at his apex explored the outer limits of his image.

tom cruise brown eyes

Celebrating today's release of Top Gun: Maverick , our writers return to their favorite Tom Cruise movies, in appreciation of an on-screen persona that's evolved over decades.

Something was seriously wrong with Tom Cruise's face. That's either the main plot or one key visual idea in so many Cruise movies from the middle of his career. Vanilla Sky and Valkyrie left him mutilated, minus one eye or plus a few scars. Minority Report body-morphed jowls onto his cheekbones, after an eye transplant. Tropic Thunder swamped him in prosthetic paunch. Did this very famous man want to hide in plain sight — or was he defacing himself as an act of self-reclamation? Would the world still love him if he wasn't beautiful anymore? Or would he wind up wandering, alone, the one guy at the orgy not getting any?

Eyes Wide Shut came out in July 1999. Mission: Impossible 2 landed one summer later. They are not similar movies in any obvious way. One is Stanley Kubrick 's last, least explicable movie, a dreamlike erotic thriller about marital maintenance. The other is Cruise's loopiest Mission , a longhair fantasia about why viruses are great for stock options. I love both movies, but neither was adored upon release. Cruise was at his pinnacle as an audience draw, so Eyes was Kubrick's highest grossing movie and M:I 2 topped the 2000 box office. Don't interpret those numbers as positive feedback, though. Casual moviegoers were still going to the theater on autopilot, seeing "the new Tom Cruise movie" without knowing what they were in for. I recall general bafflement at Eyes , and a slow-boil resentment at M:I 2 's rap-rock silliness.

Eyes Wide Shut 's reputation has improved considerably; M:I 2 is so generally loathed that its defenders (hello!) have gotten louder. And the two films rhyme. In Eyes , Cruise plays Bill Harford, a doctor living well in Manhattan. One night, a casual stoned chat with his awesome wife (Kidman) takes a strange turn. He tells her he never worries about her cheating; she tells him maybe he should. The mere possibility of infidelity sends him on a whole-movie spiral, mulling sexy temptation to get back at his wife for having any urges whatsoever. M:I 2 has its own zigzag-of-jealousy plot, imported directly from Alfred Hitchcock's Notorious with zero shame. When superspy Ethan Hunt meets superthief Nyah Nordhoff-Hall ( Thandiwe Newton ), they fall for each other mid-car chase. But Ethan's IMF superiors have a mission for Nyah. They need her to go undercover with a former boyfriend, Sean Ambrose (Dougray Scott), a rogue agent with global-plague plans.

Bill and Ethan are both romantically tormented, cut off from their loves by physical distance and the possibility of another man. Credit this as a vague comparison — Bill does not rescue Alice from a murderous motorcycle ex, Ethan does not go undercover in any spite orgies — except for the fact that both films also have their own strange strategies for approaching Cruise's famous face.

Watching Eyes Wide Shut , it's clear that Kubrick was sparking more to Kidman as a pure performer, whose scenes combust with crackling undercurrents of domestic ennui, seductiveness, and genuine love. Cruise feels more stunt-cast, like Ryan O'Neal in Barry Lyndon : a famous handsome star who serves as the audience surrogate. He's the watcher, never the most interesting person in the room, variously fascinated and appalled by the strangeness of his odyssey. In the movie's most famous and misunderstood scene, he wanders the halls of an aristocratic sex party, full of occult gyrations and full-frontal decadence. Hidden behind a mask and a cowl, he could be just anyone. When costumed courtiers demand that he reveal himself and remove his clothes, it's an upside-down vision of celebrity: Bill didn't want to be the center of attention. Now everyone won't stop looking at him.

Masks are also a key part of M:I 2 . The franchise loves its surprise identities, a latex face torn off to reveal whoever was really someone else. But John Woo 's entry in the series has the least intricate plot, and seems vividly uninterested in the espionage part of Ethan Hunt's job. This film was the real invention of Daredevil Maniac Tom Cruise, the very famous actor who is actually dangling off a cliff in Utah in the pointless-for-any-obvious-plot-reason mountain-climbing prologue. The actor had just spent half a decade playing somewhat regular humans in Jerry Maguire , Eyes Wide Shut , and Magnolia . So I think this second Mission was meant as a soft comeback, or maybe just an expression of pent-up action-guy frustration: Damn it, I just wanna be freaking awesome . Now Ethan Hunt knows martial arts, and drives a mean motorcycle, and can bungee-jump off a helicopter through an entire skyscraper.

It's ridiculous, but there's an intriguing twist thrown in: M:I 2 is the one Mission that keeps turning the signature mask gag back on its hero. The first time we see Cruise, he's actually Ambrose pretending to be Ethan. "He doubled you, what — two or three times?" asks the IMF Commander (Anthony Hopkins). An interesting window into IMF procedure here: When their top guy is unavailable, they slap an Ethan face onto a lesser agent and hope for the best. This is a quietly mind-boggling revelation, the kind of thing that drives vast fan theories in other franchises. (Do different movies feature different Ethans? Is that why he seems so dour in Ghost Protocol ?) And M:I 2 honors Woo's fascination with parallel good-and-evil identities. Ambrose pretends to be Ethan again later, fooling Nyah away from her moonlight escape. Toward the end of the movie, Ambrose captures Ethan and fires nine or ten bullets into his enemy's body. Of course, it's not Ethan, but the upside-mood lingers.

Malicious Neck-Snapping Cruise, Bad Boyfriend Cruise, Simpering Tortured Dead Cruise: You feel the actor exploring the outer range of his comfort zone, doing all the stuff his characters never really can do. Call these very different movies a linked set of nightmares. M:I 2 turns Cruise into a face anyone can wear. Eyes Wide Shut takes that face away entirely, reducing him to impotence and terror. Was that dwindling too much for Cruise to bear? The future was full of Mission s, hyperbolizing Cruise into the stratospheric "living manifestation of destiny." Whereas who knows with the Harfords, but some marriages just don't last.

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Tom Cruise Called Co-Stars Not Being Allowed to ‘Look Me in the Eye’ the ‘Weirdest’ Tom Cruise Story He’s Heard, Says ‘Mission: Impossible’ Director

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SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JULY 03:  Tom Cruise attends the Australian Premiere of "Mission: Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part One" presented by Paramount Pictures and Skydance at ICC Sydney on July 03, 2023, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Rocket K/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures)

According to Tom Cruise ‘s frequent “Mission: Impossible” director Christopher McQuarrie, the mega-star actor once told him that the “weirdest story” he ever heard about himself was that his co-stars “were not allowed to look me in the eye.” McQuarrie and the rest of his “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One” cast told The Times of London that rumor is just a myth. Simon Pegg said Cruise is far more generous and fun than that rumor suggests, and that he even “took us go-karting and zip-lining” during off hours on “Dead Reckoning Part One.”

Popular on Variety

“We joke about it,” Pegg said. “I mean, I always make fun of him for it, you know, about the things that he can access. We were filming in South Africa recently on this mountain and then he decided he wanted to swim with sharks. He flew us in a helicopter to this seaside part and we dived with sharks. At the end of the day we said, ‘That was a real Tom Cruise kind of day.’ He kind of appreciates the ridiculousness of it sometimes.”

“Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One” opens July 12 from Paramount Pictures.

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20 Years Ago Stanley Kubrick Tormented Tom Cruise to Create a Strange Classic

They don't make 'em like this anymore... why.

Cruise Kidman Eyes Wide shut

1999 was a big year for movies, something we discuss elsewhere on this site as well. But we wanted to take particular note of the Independent's recent write up of Stanley Kubrick's final film . 

It's hard to turn the cultural clock back to the late 1990s. There was no streaming yet. As writer Ed Power reminds us, Tom Cruise had yet to jump on Oprah's couch and none of us had seen Going Clear . Stanley Kubrick wasn't just a legend of cinema, he was a working director still making movies. 

But as different as 1999 was from 2019, this situation seems like it would be weird at any time:

Idiosyncratic/hermit/creative genius filmmaker pairs with Hollywood's most bankable star and his real-life wife for a movie whose centerpiece is a creepy masked orgy's effects on a marriage.

"the  2001  of relationship movies" - Christopher Nolan

Oh, and it was released on July 16. Like some kind of summer blockbuster. 

We have questions!

How Did Eyes Wide Shut Happen?

Kubrick had "long been obsessed" with the source, 'Traumnovelle' or 'Dream Story' which was a 1926 novella by Arthur Schnitzler. The plot is much the same, though it takes place in Vienna in the 20th century. It's a story about adultery or the desire to commit adultery. Having the movie star a Hollywood power-couple at the peak of the tabloid fame was a stroke of pure genius. Or maybe luck. 

Or maybe both... 

Tom Cruise signed on to work with Kubrick instantly, being a fan of Kubrick's work. Having his wife Nicole Kidman play his wife in the movie was Cruise's idea. Who were Kubrick's first picks for the leading role? 

Well in 1973 he'd wanted Woody Allen for the part. You know, Woody Allen and Tom Cruise are always up for the same roles. 

There was also the consideration of Steve Martin and later Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger. Okay, now it's starting to feel familiar to the movie we got.

With Cruise and Kidman in, the budget could balloon and Kubrick could deliver. 

It Took a Long Time to Make

"Hey Tom, stick with me, I'll make you a star."

Cruise and Kidman gave Kubrick the ability to be as particular as he likes to be. He recreated Manhattan in the UK because he refused to travel to shoot anywhere else. He was extremely afraid to fly, and this limited the location options for many of his movies. 

More from Power's Independent post: 

"The movie was a boundary-breaker long before its release. It holds the record for longest ever continuous film shoot. The 400 days Kubrick required his cast and crew to toil at Pinewood Studios was laborious even by his painstaking standards."

Cruise was stressed because Mission Impossible 2 was waiting on him. Kubrick, apparently, never gave anyone much of an idea of how much longer he'd need to finish the movie. Another indicator of how much things have changed in Hollywood: a major franchise sequel sat and waited while an auteur worked out every last detail on a movie about a married couple's sex life. 

Yeah, that wouldn't happen in 2019. 

There are reports that Kubrick was up to his usual tormenting of stars to get the best out of them. Stories suggest he mined Kidman for information about her deeper psychology and found as many ways as possible to minimize Cruise through his character.  

Cruise developed ulcers during the seemingly endless shoot but told no-one for fear it might affect the process. The set was also on constant lockdown and Kubrick worked with a small tight crew. Allegedly Kubrick made Cruise walk through a door for 95 takes joking to Cruise, "Hey Tom, stick with me, I'll make you a star."

Paul Thomas Anderson made it to the set to visit with Tom Cruise (and perhaps get him onboard for Magnolia ) and he commented on how few people Kubrick worked with to which Kubrick replied : "How many do you need?"

The movie is long considering it's based on something so short. It covers one night, and at the end [Spoiler Alert] not much has fundamentally changed. Of course, you could also say "everything has changed" on some deeper level for this couple. 

The Eyes Wide Shut Orgy Scene

Vulture did an oral history of the famous Eyes Wide Shut orgy scene , that gets insights from the many people working on the crew that helped create it. As with all things, Kubrick had a lot of specifics in mind. One story says when he noticed a single lightbulb was out somewhere on set he insisted everyone wait until it was replaced. The body types of the nude figures had to fit certain parameters (nothing surgically altered), and they had to find a way to shoot it so it was 'lyrical' and 'ballet or yoga-like'. 

There was also some research involving watching Red Shoe Diaries .

The Eyes Wide Shut party scene is one of the most enduring elements of the movie, but it's worth thinking back on the fact that a movie with this massively strange orgy at its center was, again, a major mid-summer release with Hollywood's top stars. 

1999 was different. 

The Eyes Wide Shut Meaning

This is certainly one of those movies that critics and fans will reexamine and discuss often, with no clearly obvious meaning. We will all likely continue to do some Eyes Wide Shut analysis every once in a while. There has certainly been plenty written  on theories, proposing to be ' Eyes Wide Shut explained'. 

The reality is the movie may hold different meanings for different people, and even more so at different times in their lives. That's part of what Christopher Nolan thinks, "Watching it with fresh eyes, it plays very differently to a middle-age man than it did to a young man...it is the  2001 of relationship movies."

On a surface level, it could be about a bourgeoisie couple having a sort of interlude with the world of the super-elite, while also providing commentary on their dynamic with the lower class. Ideas of class and status run throughout the entire movie. Perhaps since it is about a marriage and "ownership" of a spouse and their sexuality, there are other depths to mine meaning-wise. 

We can save the Marxist reading of Eyes Wide Shut for another day. Or maybe another website. 

The point remains that Kubrick's movies all take big swings at some big ideas. The dynamics at the core of his plots are between humanity and God, society and base nature, heaven and hell... things get DEEP. Which is one reason film-goers and filmmakers alike keep coming back to his work. 

Maybe what Eyes Wide Shut means is less critical to understand right now than why we don't see Eyes Wide Shut  movies anymore. It wasn't that long ago that movies were about ideas like this, without providing readily available answers, and they could still make money. It was Kubrick's last film, and his most successful (Cruise and Kidman helped...) 

So What Happened?

Why don't these kinds of probing odd movies get made on the largest scale anymore? Did the audience for them dry up? Did the existence of the streaming market and a seemingly infinite ocean of 'content' create too much competition? 

Did creatives like Kubrick just cease to exist? Did stars like Cruise stop trying to make those kinds of movies because they didn't want to get ulcers?

There are honestly lots of ways to answer these questions. There are also, to be fair, plenty of movies and shows that do probe where creatives like Kubrick wanted to. They just don't get center stage as often. 

We're interested in your takes on it. 

Source: The Independant

Check Out Sigma’s Slimmed Down 24-70mm F2.8 DG DN II Zoom Lens

This new sigma lens gets an upgrade with a slimmer, more economical, follow-up to the brand’s popular standard zoom for your full-frame mirrorless cameras..

The new version of the SIGMA 24-70mm F2.8 DG DN | Art also gets some helpful upgrades for enhanced optical performance, AF speed, and operability, as well as the aforementioned slimmed down-ness, which should make the new SIGMA 24-70mm F2.8 DG DN II | Art lens a popular, and very baggable, zoom for any of your full-frame mirrorless camera needs.

Let’s take a look at this updated new lens from Sigma and explore how it could be right for your video projects—as well as of course for any photo gigs that might require a solid hybrid lens.

Introducing the SIGMA 24-70mm F2.8 DG DN II | Art

Featuring an advancement in optical design, this new II version of the SIGMA 24-70mm F2.8 DG DN features a shortening of the total optical length, as well as a lens barrel that has been made slimmer by downsizing the zoom mechanisms in the lens.

The lens barrel in particular has been downsized by placing buttons and switches now directly on the lens barrel itself. This means that the weight of the lens has been reduced by approximately 10% compared to the previous version. This lightweight focus group with the high-thrust HLA should make autofocus significantly swifter than the original as well.

Sigma notes that aberrations have been highly corrected through advanced optical design which has been made possible by some further technologies in both design and manufacturing. More specifically, sagittal coma flare is heavily corrected to achieve MTF characteristics surpassing those of the highly acclaimed 24-70mm F2.8 DG DN | Art.

A Full-Frame Mirrorless Zoom

This new SIGMA 24-70mm F2.8 DG DN II | Art should be a great option for any videographers shooting full-frame with their mirrorless cameras and looking to have a solid and reliable fixed zoom that should fill in for any on-the-run or documentary-style projects.

Zoom lenses are getting better and better these days (as well as more affordable), so it’s no surprise to see this update from Sigma making this zoom even more functional and lightweight. The SIGMA 24-70mm F2.8 DG DN II | Art is also set to include a close-focusing distance of 6.7 inches (17cm) at the wide end at 1:2.7 magnification which should add to the overall versatility of the lens.

The II also includes a click/de-click and lockable aperture ring along with an additional AF-L button for vertical orientation still or video capture. Plus a zoom lock switch which will disengage when zooming is a nice touch as well.

Price and Availability

The SIGMA 24-70mm F2.8 DG DN II | Art is online and available to pre-order with an expected availability set for the end of May 2024. You can check out all of the specs and purchase options below.

  • Full-Frame | f/2.8 to f/22
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  • FLD, SLD & Aspherical Elements
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Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN II Art Lens (Leica L)

Featuring improved rendering performance in a shorter and lighter body, Sigma 's flagship Leica L-mount 24-70mm f/2.8 DG DN II Art Lens deploys an advanced optical design for gains in sharpness, resolution, and portability.

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Celebrity Facts

Celebrity Facts

Tom Cruise: Bio, Height, Weight, Measurements

Tom Cruise is an American film actor and producer. He is best known for playing the role of IMF agent Ethan Hunt in the Mission: Impossible film series since 1996. He has also starred in the films Risky Business, A Few Good Men, Jerry Maguire, Rain Man, Magnolia, Born on the Fourth of July, Top Gun, The Firm and Jerry Maguire. He portrayed Ray Ferrier in the movie adaption of War Of The Worlds. He has been nominated for three Academy Awards and has won three Golden Globe Awards. Born Thomas Cruise Mapother IV on July 3, 1962 in Syracuse, New York, to Mary and Thomas Mapother, his mother was an amateur actress and schoolteacher, and his father was an electrical engineer. His parents got divorced when he was eleven years old. He belongs to Irish, English and German descent. He has three sisters, Lee Ann Mapother, Marian Mapother and Cass Mapother. He had planned to become a priest before becoming interested in acting. He made his film debut with a minor role in the 1981 romantic drama Endless Love. He has been married three times and has two daughters named Isabella and Suri and a son named Connor.

tom cruise brown eyes

Tom Cruise Personal Details: Date Of Birth: 3 July 1962 Birth Place: Syracuse, New York, USA Residence: Los Angeles, California, USA Birth Name: Thomas Cruise Mapother IV Nickname: TC Zodiac Sign: Cancer Occupation: Actor, Producer Nationality: American Race/Ethnicity: White (Irish, English and German) Religion: Scientology Hair Color: Dark Brown Eye Color: Green Sexual Orientation: Straight

Tom Cruise Body Statistics: Weight in Pounds: 150 lbs Weight in Kilogram: 68 kg Height in Feet: 5′ 7″ Height in Meters: 1.70 m Body Build/Type: Athletic Shoe Size: 9 (US)

Tom Cruise Family Details: Father: Thomas Mapother III (Electrical Engineer) Mother: Mary Lee Pfeiffer (Special Education Teacher) Spouse: Katie Holmes (m. 2006-2012), Nicole Kidman (m. 1990-2001), Mimi Rogers (m. 1987-1990) Children: Isabella Jane Cruise (Daughter), Suri Cruise (Daughter), Connor Cruise (Son) Siblings: Lee Ann Mapother (Sister), Marian Mapother (Sister), Cass Mapother (Sister) Others: William Mapother (Cousin), Patrick Russell Cruise (Paternal Great-Great-Great-Grandfather)

Partner: Penélope Cruz (2001-2004)

Tom Cruise Education: St. Xavier High School Glen Ridge High School Henry Munro Middle School Johnson State College

Tom Cruise Facts: *His father,Thomas Mapother III, was an electrical engineer and his mother, Mary Lee Pfeiffer, worked as a special education teacher. *He purchased his first motorcycle when he was just 12. *He started his career at age 19 in the film Endless Love. *He was the world’s most powerful celebrity of 2006 as per Forbes. *One of People magazine’s 50 Most Beautiful People in the World (1990, 1991, 1997). *In 1990, he was chosen as People magazine’s “Sexiest Man Alive”. *He is a big fan of singer Joss Stone. *He was considered for the role of Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace. *He became the most well-known member of the Church of Scientology. *His loves skydiving, scuba diving, and piloting his Pitts Special S-2B stunt plane. *He has a cat called Harvey and two dogs called Basil and Murray. *Visit his official website: www.tomcruise.com *Follow him on Twitter , Google+ , YouTube , Facebook and Instagram .

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Tom Cruise Comments On The 'Weirdest' On Set 'Mission: Impossible' Rumor: Are People Allowed To Look Him In The Eye?

There are major movie stars, and then there’s Tom Cruise. The 61 year-old A-lister is showing no signs of slowing down. Cruise recently commented on the “weirdest” rumor about his behavior on the set of "MI." Namely, are people allowed to look him in the eye during filming? Once you’re an A-list celebrity, you can demand or request a variety of things in order to properly get your work done. There are rumors that celebrities like Ellen Degeneres don’t want actors or crew members looking them in the eye on set, presumably to help maintain focus. Tom Cruise has seemingly heard those rumors about him, and actually name dropped them in an interview with The Times about his public image. After claiming they were the “weirdest” rumor he’d heard about himself, his "Mission: Impossible" co-star Simon Pegg came to his defense.

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Film Colossus

Your Guide to Movies

Eyes Wide Shut (1999) | The Definitive Explanation

Eyes Wide Shut (1999) | The Definitive Explanation

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Welcome to our Colossus Movie Guide for Eyes Wide Shut . This guide contains everything you need to understand the film. Dive into our detailed library of content, covering key aspects of the movie. We encourage your comments to help us create the best possible guide. Thank you!

What is Eyes Wide Shut about?

A group of cloaked and masked men surround Bill Harford on a red carpet as they look up towards the balcony

Eyes Wide Shut is about the rehabilitation of a marriage, and the mentality required to do so. Bill thinks he completely understands his relationship with his wife Alice, and believes is just as faithfully obedient as himself. But as he learns, neither he nor Alice are strong enough to push away every urge. After Alice confesses she once dreamt of sleeping with a naval office, Bill embarks on an Odyssean journey through New York City. Out of jealousy, he is desperate to live out what Alice only dreamed of.

This is a key in-road to understanding Eyes Wide Shut : it’s all a dream . Well, maybe not literally a dream. But in the symbolic movie sense, Bill’s entire adventure is laden with outrageous, otherworldly moments that force him to pretend to be someone he isn’t. As somebody who held an absurd illusion about his marriage, he understandably employs a radical approach in the opposite direction. Instead of being eternally faithful to his wife, he intends to cheat. But much like his idyllic view of marriage, his cynical one is full of lies and mirages.

Going from one extreme to the other, Bill must understand how empty these radically opposing ends are. He must experience a sort of personal hell upon hearing his wife’s story, as he must understand that his wife is more complicated than the cookie-cutter mold he’s envisioned; and he must experience an outwardly hell in the form of secret societies that hold orgies, as he must see how people like Ziegler have no passion for sex. Bill must come back to the middle where his wife is waiting, desperate to form a deeper connection that allows them to see one another for who they truly are.

Movie Guide table of contents

The ending of eyes wide shut explained, the themes and meaning of eyes wide shut.

  • Why is the movie called Eyes Wide Shut?

Important motifs in Eyes Wide Shut

Questions & answers about eyes wide shut.

  • Tom Cruise – Dr. William “Bill” Harford
  • Nicole Kidman – Alice Harford
  • Sydney Pollack – Victor Ziegler
  • Todd Field – Nick Nightingale
  • Marie Richardson – Marion Nathanson
  • Sky du Mont – Sandor Szavost
  • Rade Šerbedžija – Mr. Milich
  • Thomas Gibson – Carl
  • Vinessa Shaw – Domino
  • Fay Masterson – Sally
  • Alan Cumming – Hotel Desk Clerk
  • Leelee Sobieski – Milich’s daughter
  • Leon Vitali – Red Cloak
  • Julienne Davis – Amanda “Mandy” Curran
  • Madison Eginton – Helena Harford
  • Abigail Good – Mysterious Woman
  • Gary Goba – Naval Officer

Alice Harford hugs her husband Bill in their bedroom

Eyes Wide Shut was famously Stanley Kubrick’s last film, as he died weeks before the film’s release—which was a strange pill to swallow for many. Critics trashed the film as indulgent and passive, while casual moviegoers found the movie’s dream-like style and apathetic tone elusive. Even fans who were used to seeming impersonality of Kubrick’s films may have been taken aback by the movie’s cold, almost observational approach to Bill Harford’s mental torture. Film critic James Naremore put it perfectly when he said that Kubrick’s unique style gives “a sense of authorial understanding without immersion, as if volcanic, almost infantile feelings were being observed in a lucid, rational manner.” This approach reached its apex in Eyes Wide Shut .

Especially through the final word of the film—a truly jarring moment that leaves you wondering what the movie’s about. The movie ends with Bill and Alice walking through a department store with their daughter Helena while Christmas shopping. They are fresh from a night of no sleep, during which Bill confessed all his transgressions—from the orgy to the hooker to his potential involvement with a woman’s murder. The energy is awkward between them, as they force smiles while Helena excitedly runs around picking up toys. Finally, Bill stops them to ask what they should do next, what Alice is thinking about everything that happened.

Here’s the conversation that follows:

Alice: “Maybe, I think, we should be grateful. Grateful that we’ve managed to survive through all of our adventures, whether they were real or only a dream.” Bill: “Are you sure of that?” Alice: “Am I sure? Only as sure as I am that the reality of one night, let alone that of a whole lifetime, can ever be the whole truth.” Bill: “And no dream is ever just a dream.” Alice: The important thing is, we’re awake now. And hopefully…for a long time to come. Bill: Forever. Alice: Forever? Bill: Forever! Alice: Let’s not use that word, you know? It frightens me. But I do love you. And, you know, there’s something very important that we need to do as soon as possible. Bill: What’s that? Alice: Fuck.

There’s a lot to unpack in that dialogue. But as we go through it line by line, we can understand what exactly the ending of Eyes Wide Shut is trying to say, and how it brings clarity and catharsis to the movie’s themes and motifs .

Notice how Bill isn’t the one to begin the conversation—this lines up with everything we’ve learned about him. After everything he has laid upon Alice the previous night, he finds himself in a comatose state. Alice may have confessed her desire to commit infidelity, but it was only a fantasy and never acted upon. Bill, on the other hand, very much desired to commit adultery and went through the steps of doing so. But his impotence is key here. Bill asserts authority at every turn, flashing his doctor’s license, believing he should have access to anything (say, information about where Nick Nightingale is staying) or anyone (say, hookers at a mass orgy). But Bill is repeatedly thwarted and denied sex. He is constantly at the expense of others; a pawn in powerful men’s elaborate game. When brought before the man in the red cloak, Bill isn’t heroic, but frozen. He is, through and through, a passive person who lives a privileged life. He believes his is important because he’s a wealthy doctor—he isn’t. And he believes his marriage is thriving because both he and his wife are eternally devoted to one another—they aren’t.

Alice is truly the strong foundation of the relationship. She loves Bill for his tenderness, but she also feels sad about Bill’s undying adoration. He is not someone, as we see in the movie, who commands or dictates or influences. He is, sadly, a small man surrounded by powerful ones, a husband who views his marriage as black and white unlike his wife. Perhaps the one act that would assuredly give Bill some machismo is sleeping with another woman, and even there he fails and is emasculated.

So, it makes sense that Alice must start this conversation. She’s able to make sense of their dramatic situation, to put all their feelings into words in a manner Bill could not. And she’s able to recognize something very simple and truthful about Bill’s sins: sex never came to fruition. Bill wanted to have sex, and perhaps would have been able to do it if he were a stronger man. But, in the end, his adventure had the same air as Alice’s fantasies: it was nothing more than a dream.

This explains the ghostly tone throughout the film: the dead air, the long pauses, the parrot-like repetition of thoughts; the washes of red and blues, the masks concealing people’s faces, the constant lack of understanding. This feeling is most unmistakable during the scene where the man in the red cloak demands that Bill strip down. Bill’s reaction is one of utter bewilderment, and his face constantly suggests, “What the hell have I gotten myself into? Who are these people?” Yet, like a dream, he’s pulled right back into the world, compelled to decipher its every element.

In this sense, you can view Bill’s Odyssean adventure as just that: a dream. Movies often serve as allegories for the universal truths of life, with the situations serving as the infrastructure for life’s most common dilemmas, with the characters accentuating certain fears and desires, with the aesthetic adding color and commentary to it all. So, we can think of Bill’s crazy journey as a purely internal one that reflects his desire to gain a sense of authority, to even the playing field with his wife. It’s all very childish and not very well thought out—a knee-jerk reaction that sends him down an absurd road with dire consequences.

Perhaps Alice is able to recognize this. Perhaps she’s able to look past the reality of her husband’s sins and look deeper to his imperfections, to the pure sadness within.

Her sexual fantasy sent Bill into a pit of despair—much further than she ever dreamed. She knew she needed to express her sexual desires to wake Bill up, to open his eyes, to make him see her for who she truly is. As we discussed in the themes section, marriages thrive on honesty and understanding. This means being accepting of your partner’s flaws and their susceptibility to change. And she knew that Bill’s idyllic vision of her and their marriage wasn’t an honest one—it was a facade. An idea. A dream of a better life.

And what else would a disillusioned man do but radically push his disillusion in the opposite direction? To deal with the destruction of his idyllic marriage, he went on an adulterous voyage out of pure jealousy. It’s exactly what a broken man would do. He is nothing without Alice, and it seems she recognizes that in these moments.

In this light, that first line makes a lot of sense: “Maybe, I think, we should be grateful. Grateful that we’ve managed to survive through all of our adventures, whether they were real or only a dream.” Is she sure of that? Sort of. “Only as sure as I am that the reality of one night, let alone that of a whole lifetime, can ever be the whole truth.”

Here, we see Alice respecting the mystery of life. She was ready to have sex with the naval officer, even if it meant ending her marriage and losing her daughter. It would have been completely self-destructive and stupid—yet, she was ready to do it. Bill’s adventure was every bit as self-destructive and stupid. But Alice recognizes the undeniable allure that pulled him in. Is it OK that he tried to cheat on her? Maybe that’s the wrong question. Maybe it’s better to recognize that this awkward feeling grips us all, that it’s really fucking hard to be faithful in a marriage, that making a relationship work for years on end requires you to accept that some wishes and desires just don’t really make much sense.

Alice stands as a heroic figure alongside Ziegler, who tries to explain away Bill’s odyssey with simple facts: Mandy wasn’t murdered, and in fact “got her brains fucked out” after Bill left; and Nick wasn’t killed, but instead put on a plane to Seattle where he is currently “banging Mrs. Nick.” Ziegler wishes to remove all mystery and wonder from sex; to open Bill’s eyes to the reality of his sad situation, to reveal that he was never in control.

But Alice says just the opposite. In a movie where sex is both the most desired thing in the world and painstakingly absent and barren, she gives sex the intensity it deserves. These thoughts, these fantasies consume men and women who are trying to make marriages work, and it’s upon them to draw distinctions. Bill may have tried to cheat on Alice, but he didn’t necessarily want to cheat on Alice. He was compelled by a force greater than himself, drawn into a farcical night that very well could have played out as a comedy of errors in any other film. (A note here: Kubrick did envision Eyes Wide Shut as a comedy for many years, envisioning someone like Steve Martin or Bill Murray in the lead role.)

This helps us understand Bill’s next line: “And no dream is ever just a dream.” This isn’t a question, but a realization. Ziegler may have opened Bill’s eyes to his small status, but Alice opened his eyes—opened his mind—to the beauties and complexities of marriage. Where Ziegler wishes to simplify, Alice strives to rebuild; to bring clarity to their relationship, to their shared love. In this moment, as we discussed in the title section, Bill’s eyes are wide open .

And it’s important that his eyes stay open. There’s no talk about “forever,” because forever isn’t realistic. But it is realistic to try as hard as you can, to recognize and accept the flaws in your partner, to form an undeniable connection with your partner that cannot be replicated with anyone else. And what better way to do that than to…well.

Bill Harford sits in a bar surrounded by Christmas lights

Stanley Kubrick’s personal connection to Eyes Wide Shut

For all of the wild and fantastical places that Kubrick’s movies go, Eyes Wide Shut is his most ordinary in its depiction of married life. While at times the colors and speech patterns feel dream-like, the story at the film’s core is a very personal one that Kubrick had envisioned telling for years. Understanding some of these facts about his life will aid our analysis of the film.

Kubrick first read the movie’s source material, “Dream Story” (the German translation was “Traumnovelle”) by Arthur Schnitzler, back in the early 1960s. The novella focuses on a couple, Fridolin and Albertine, with a young daughter in 20th-century Vienna. The couple exchanges stories about their sexual fantasies, which strikes Fridolin with jealousy. In rebellion, he makes it his mission to have sex with a younger woman. Much like the movie, he repeatedly fails in doing so: after a number of near-sexual encounters, including a visit to a masked orgy, he returns home from this “senseless night with its stupid unresolved adventures.” The book ends with Fridolin apologetically confessing his crazy night to Albertine. Just as the couple reaffirms their love in the wee hours of the morning, they hear their daughter’s laughter as she wakes up in the next room.

This material sparked both interest and fear in Kubrick, who struggled for several years to find the right partner. Kubrick was married three times, and his marriage to his second wife, Ruth Sobotka, was especially troubling and trying—which undoubtedly drove his interest in the film. His third, however, to Christiane Harlan, was lovely and brought catharsis to his life—which is what likely kept him from making the movie for so many years. Back in 1962 when Kubrick wanted to make “Dream Story” after Lolita , Kubrick said (this is according to Tom Cruise) Christiane begged him not to. “Don’t…oh, please don’t…not now. We’re so young. Let’s not go through this right now.”

Over the years, Kubrick wanted to make the movie several more times, but never found the right moment. Towards the end of his life, however (Kubrick would die mere weeks before Eyes Wide Shut ‘s release), he must have felt confident enough in his marriage, in he and Christiane’s love, to finally find the humanism within the darkness that is Eyes Wide Shut ‘s story. We see that humanity, the promise of a better future, in the final moments of the film .

But in order to achieve the ending’s beautiful life-affirming catharsis, Kubrick first had to explore the complications of marriage that haunted him for years through Bill’s Odyssean journey in Eyes Wide Shut . It helps that he enlisted a real-life celebrity couple—Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman, who themselves were overexposed and experienced turmoil at the hands of the press—to play Bill and Alice.

As Kubrick often did, he psychologically evaluated his actors—but much more so than he ever had before. He became incredibly intimate with Cruise and Kidman over the course of Eyes Wide Shut ‘s insanely long 16-month shooting schedule. “[Kubrick] knew us and our relationship as no one else does,” said Kidman, and that, he got to know her “better even than [my] parents.”

This connection between director and actors was crucial, as Eyes Wide Shut became intimately attached to Kubrick’s personal life. As David Mikics wrote in the biography “ Stanley Kubrick: American Filmmaker “:

This intensity declares the crucial role that Eyes Wide Shut played in Kubrick’s psyche, as if the movie were the enfolded meaning of his life. Kubrick’s identification of himself with Bill was clear. Young Stanley had imagined becoming a doctor like his father. Like Bill, Kubrick was polite rather than flirtatious with women, but driven to sexual fantasy. The Harfords’ apartment was modeled on the Kubricks’ own on the Upper West Side in the early sixties, when Kubrick first wanted to make Dream Story. Eyes Wide Shut, a slow ritual of a movie, was designed to free Kubrick from the obsession with control that it also embodies, to provide a release into renewed relationship with the wife who had been at his side for four decades, with Tom and Nicole standing in for Stanley and Christiane. David Mikics, “Stanley Kubrick: American Filmmaker”

The strength required to make marriage flourish

The result of Kubrick’s obsession with the themes of “Dream Work” and his close relationship with Kidman and Cruise is a film that takes a deep look into the troubles people face in marriage—and the resulting beauty that’s found on the other side of such trauma. Take Bill, who is completely naive about his wife’s sexual inclinations and unwavering faith. When Alice asks Bill if he had sex with the two models at Ziegler’s party, Bill is indignant and defensive, claiming he is eternally loyal to his wife. And then he makes the mistake of stating that women are not ruled by desire like men, who which she responds with “If you men only knew…”

She then tells, in excruciating detail, of her fantasy with the naval officer. “I thought that if he wanted me, even if it was for only one night, I was ready to give up everything. You, Helena, my whole fucking future.” Bill has envisioned a cookie-cutter version of his life where faithfulness is never questioned. But, as anyone who has experience with long-term relationships would know, that is simply not a reality. on set, Kubrick even toyed with Cruise by shooting Kidman’s sex scenes with the naval officer on days when Cruise was absent, firmly placing the actor in Bill’s shoes. The entire dynamic between director and his actors informs the film’s entire mood, feel, aesthetic.

Alice, on the other hand, only purports strength regarding her sexual urges and condescension towards Bill’s naivete. When recounting her fantasy with the naval officer, she sounds so sure of herself and her sexual inclinations. However, it becomes clear she is troubled by her flirtation with martial destruction, which causes her to cry in Bill’s arms after she wakes up from a vivid dream about an orgy.

As Mikics notes, “Kidman’s acting here is full of expert grace notes that conceal as much as they reveal. She is by turns absorbed, defiant, charged with mockery, and, as she puts it, tender and sad.” Alice pushes Bill to recognize her as a complicated human being with flaws and jagged edges, and not simply as the idyllic, eternally faithful wife. Yet, as we learn in the end, she finds immense power in lifelong love and friendship.

This pushes Bill to live out the sexual encounter that Alice only dreamed about, which in turn gives Eyes Wide Shut an ethereal feel. He descends into unknown territory; a realm that attempts to become a realized version of Alice’s mere fantasies. Yet, despite his efforts, Bill never actually has sex with anyone else—it all remains a dream; a vision of what turmoil could potentially befall this married couple. Their fantasies about extramarital affairs present dire consequences, such as the cloaked men who about to strip Bill bare and possibly kill him, or the dozens of men who cause Alice’s fit of laughter during a dream.

It’s a symbolic representation of Bill and Alice’s disconnect, or their inability to communicate and deepen their love this far into their marriage. With Christmas around the corner, with their daughter growing older, the pressure to form a deeper connection is palpable. This tension reaches its breaking point when Bill confesses his transgressions to Alice, which triggers the movie’s cathartic end when Alice makes a commitment to improving their marriage.

Viewing Eyes Wide Shut as a comedy

There is a famous trope in Hollywood called “the comedy of remarriage,” which usually focuses on a couple whose relationship is on the rocks. It was a classic formula used in such movies as The Philadelphia Story and The Awful Truth , and is even utilized these days by films like It’s Complicated . Outrageous, slapstick scenarios consume couples who are trying to fix (or end) their relationship. Witty, rapid-fire dialogue consumes their hectic lives as they march away from each other, only to find each other in the end and realize why they got married in the first place. Believe it or not, Kubrick had a version of this sub-genre in mind when considering actors back in the 1980s, as he heavily sought out comedians like Steve Martin.

As you can see, Eyes Wide Shut became something very different. The movie very much uses the structure of a comedy of remarriage, but carries an entirely different tone. The situations Bill finds himself in are just as crazy, but the energy practically zapped away. There is a cold, dense atmosphere to the chilling settings that surround Bill and Alice as they go through a rough patch in their marriage. In truth, you could very well view Eyes Wide Shut as a comedy—a much more biting, tenacious one than either Howard Hawks or Preston Sturges would ever muster.

So how does this help us understand the meaning of the film? Well, think of it more as a way to watch the movie. Pretend everything you see is supposed to be…funny. It’s black comedy, sure. But it’s funny. Perhaps even funny in the way that Dr. Strangelove is funny, as it’s supposed to serve as commentary for a grander societal problem. Where Dr. Strangelove tacked the stupidity of war, Eyes Wide Shut is much more humanistic in its depiction of the human struggle in marriage. None of this is supposed to be funny…but it is pretty funny in movies like His Girl Friday or The Palm Beach Story . Through the lens of “comedy,” we can view Bill’s night out as a ridiculous cavalcade of nonsense that forces him to understand the importance of connecting with his wife.

Why is the movie called Eyes Wide Shut ?

Alice Harford smiles at the camera with her glasses resting below her eyes

Frederic Raphael, who helped Kubrick write the screenplay for Eyes Wide Shut , did not like the title of the film. In his memoir about working with Kubrick, he revealed he had pitched the “much better” title The Female Subject —which, when you consider the enigmatic and visuals-focused Kubrick, who was first and foremost concerned with poetically capturing the human condition, this on-the-nose title likely did not appeal to him.

Kubrick instead opted for metaphorical title that’s a play on words. The common phrase is “eyes wide open,” meaning you are aware of your surroundings. But adding “shut” implies that you couldn’t be more unaware of your surroundings. The “eyes wide” part implies you are very confident in your views, but the irony is that you don’t understand anything at all.

This echoes the scene when Bill implies that women are not ruled by their desire like men are—which causes Alice to have a laughing fit. “If you men only knew…” she says before telling Bill of her sexual fantasies about the naval officer. Bill believes that his marriage is sound, that he and Alice are unflinchingly devoted to one another. But Alice was ready to give up her entire life—her marriage, her financial security, her daughter—for a one night stand.

And as Bill will soon find out, he’s more that willing to become adulterous purely out of jealousy. His wife never even cheated on him, but the fact that she thought about it is enough for him to go against his seeming virtues. Bill thought he saw he and his wife a certain way—until Alice forced his eyes open. And in a way, Bill has opened Alice’s eyes as well, as she sees how her candidness about her sexual fantasies drives Bill to horrifying lengths.

As David Mikics notes in his biography “ Stanley Kubrick: American Filmmaker, ” the director likely sought to echo Ben Franklin’s famous quote with the title Eyes Wide Shut : “Keep your eyes wide open before marriage, half shut afterwards.” This statement implies that people are always changing. You, of course, want to be sure about the person you’re marrying; you want to see them for who they are and what they can add to your life. But you must also understand that everybody goes through both minimal and monumental changes. Humans are complicated creatures, and our path towards fulfillment and catharsis is ever-changing. To make a marriage last, to extract as much as you can from your partner, you need to be accepting of your partner’s ebbs and flows—all their whims, all their flaws.

After Bill’s eyes have been opened to the emptiness of sexual escapades, and after Alice’s eyes have been open to what pain she caused her husband, they’re able to see one another for who they truly are. Bill, a successful and rich doctor who thinks of himself as an important figure, is emasculated by both his wife and the people in power, destroying his perception of both his personal life and the larger world around him; and Alice is able to recognize that Bill’s tenderness brings comfort that a one-night stand could never fulfill, that his undying devotion can become fragile without love in return. After they open their eyes and see themselves in a new light, they’re able to recognize the next step their relationship desperately require to move forward, to gain new meaning and clarity after years of marriage.

Two models in dresses hold each arm of Bill Harford as they walk through a party

Bill Harford is a man who thinks he’s much bigger than he is. A large part of this movie deals with his emasculation, at the hands of both his wife and the powerful men at the orgy. Bill, who flashes his doctor’s license like it’s a police badge, constantly tries to prop his ego and imply importance. But it’s all a facade. He might as well be wearing a costume, a mask—which is exactly what he wears at the orgy to convey that he belongs with this crowd.

As we’ve discussed throughout this guide, much of Bill’s Odyssean adventure has a dream-like feel. And that’s because the movie explores the fantasies and desires we often reflect upon during a marriage, but rarely ever act upon. In this strange world, Bill is never himself. He’s trying to be someone he’s not—someone vengeful, someone commanding. But the powerful men at the orgy hold the true power when they threaten to strip him naked. And Alice holds the true power when she reveals herself after Bill casts an idyllic obedient-wife persona upon her. In both cases, Bill is trying to cast a specific image, to be in control of his surroundings. But, sadly, that isn’t him. He’s merely posing as someone else( which helps explain the symbolic shot of Bill’s mask resting on the pillow next to Alice). And the entire movie serves to unveil his mask and open his eyes— wide open .

Powerful men

An important theme in Eyes Wide Shut is the futility of rebellion. A common trope in Kubrick’s movies, including A Clockwork Orange , Dr. Strangelove , and Lolita , a character’s “master plan” almost always fails, or is sidetracked by the greater powers that be. An inverse of the typical hero’s journey, Kubrick’s films aim to reveal the cold, stark reality of living. We often feel like we’re in control, would like to believe we’re in control, but deep down know that we have no control over what happens to us. The universe is too random, too cruel to allow for a carefree existence.

In Eyes Wide Shut , Bill learns this the hard way through the powerful men who run an orgy. Bill, who believes himself to be a rich and important man, shows up to the orgy with the password “fidelio” like he belongs there. But he is instantly spotted. He showed up in a taxi while everyone else came in a limo. His energy is awkward, and his responses are forced. Immediately, these powerful men—who are much more rich and important than Bill will probably every be—can suss him out.

Essentially, these powerful men, who for the most part remain nameless and hidden, serve as powerful forces in the universe. Bill’s night has dream-like qualities and never quite feels like reality. He wants to believe he’s part of this crowd…but really, he doesn’t belong here at all. These are the men who make decisions, who decide your fate. They are pulling the strings behind the curtain. And you’re just a pawn in their game.

Bill Harford kisses his wife Alice's cheek in their bedroom

Who is the man in the red cloak?

Seemingly, the answer to this one lies in the credits: the actor Leon Vitali is listed as the man in the read cloak. This is somebody we never see in the movie. Which means we never know who the man in the red cloak actually is.

As Rob Ager points out in his video , we see Vitali’s name in the newspaper article about the prostitute that died of a drug overdose that Zeigler shows to Bill at his mansion. At the end of the article about the dead hooker, it details that the hooker had an affair with a London fashion designed named Leon Vitali. So, essentially, Vitali—who was Kubrick’s personal assistant for years—is playing a much more powerful version of himself (this could be viewed as a bit of an inside joke on Kubrick’s part). This implies that the woman who saved Bill had an intimate relationship with the man in the red cloak, which may have been why Bill was singled out in the first place.

So, question answered. Right?

Well, as with any Kubrick film, the answer may not be that simple. Vitali the actor may have very well been the physical presence underneath the cloak, which is why he’d get the credit. But that doesn’t mean his character was underneath the cloak. Many believe that all signs, in fact, point to Ziegler.

One point in this theory’s favor is Mandy, the woman who almost overdosed in the bathroom at Ziegler’s house. While this woman is played by a different actress (Julienne Davis) than the one credited to the masked prostitute (Abigail Good), the woman in the mask who saves Bill, that doesn’t necessarily mean—as would have been the case with Ziegler/Vitali—that it’s the same character . But, in my opinion, that requires you to do too much stretching to make this theory work.

The other points of this theory are in this vein. For instance, people believe Ziegler’s red pool table is meant to convey he’s the man in the read cloak—which, if you ask me, feels too simplistic for someone like Kubrick. The man in the red cloak had an English accent, while Ziegler does not. Perhaps he was concealing his voice, but once again, this requires you to invent reasons to make a theory work.

Basically, I think Leon Vitali is the fashion designer. Ziegler tells Bill that if he “knew half the people who were there, he wouldn’t sleep so good,” which means these are powerful men with intense connections. Give how famous Vitali is as a fashion designer in the world of Eyes Wide Shut , it signals that this society of men is very powerful and well established. It would be in Kubrick’s best interest to just let us know Vitali was the man in the red cloak because it helps clarify the themes and motifs of the movie. To me, it’s that simple.

Who is the masked girl that saved Bill?

Many people theorize that Mandy, the prostitute who almost overdosed in Ziegler’s bathroom, is actually the woman in the mask. This is conflicting, because the actress credited as the woman in the mask, Abigail Good, is different than the actress who played Mandy, Julienne Davis. As we discussed in the red cloak section , this theory requires us to believe that different actresses could be playing the same woman just to throw us off.

I personally don’t buy this theory. It’s fun to play detective with Eyes Wide Shut , a movie that has so much going on. People do the same thing with movies like The Shining . But as a big Kubrick fan who’s read a lot about him, he’s never struck me as someone who hides a bunch of clues and misleads an audience. His movies are more visual-heavy, yes, and don’t rely upon dialogue to convey ideas. So I don’t think it’s much worth reading into this one.

I think it’s more prudent to consider the masked woman’s symbolic presence, as she represents Bill’s inner-conscious during his night out. Out of spite and jealousy, Bill is desperate to turn his wife’s fantasy about the naval officer into a reality. Bill weasels his way into the orgy and pretends that he belongs here—but we all know he doesn’t. He is a small man trying to re-masculate himself after hearing his wife’s fantasy. The masked woman only temporarily satisfies his ego, only to once again emasculate him and send Bill back home where the real work needs to be done.

What does Milich’s daughter whisper to Bill?

If you turn the subtitles on, you can actually find the answer to this question. At the Rainbow costume shop, Milich’s daughter whispers, “You should have a cloak lined with ermine.” Ermine fur comes from a weasel, and that statement has a double meaning.

On a literal plot level, it’s a fancy material for coats, which would help Bill blend in at the orgy scene filled with powerful men (since he himself is not a very powerful man). But on a symbolic level, this labels Bill as a weasel—an impostor who sly sneaks into an event in order to prop up his ego.

Well done, Kubrick. Well done.

Now it’s your turn

Have more unanswered questions about Eyes Wide Shut ? Are there themes or motifs we missed? Is there more to explain about the ending? Please post your questions and thoughts in the comments section! We’ll do our best to address every one of them. If we like what you have to say, you could become part of our movie guide!

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Travis is co-founder of Colossus. He writes about the impact of art on his life and the world around us.

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Reader Interactions

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August 18, 2023

I have always thought “Eyes Wide Shut” has a structure similar to that of “A Clockwork Orange”. Both movies have a first part that shows the main character interacting with other characters – then a transformative event – then a second part where the main character meets all the same characters under different circumstances.

In the former, Bill meets Mandy, Ziegler, a female patient who tries to seduce him, a street hooker, Milich and his daughter, and his old friend, the piano player. Then he goes through the trauma of the orgy. After that, he tries to relocate the piano player (but can’t), tries to revisit the street hooker (but finds out that she now has AIDS), revisits Milich and his daughter (but it’s now apparent that Milich is pimping her out) revisits the female patient (who treats him differently because her husband is now present), revisits Ziegler (who reveals himself to be one of the powerful men at the orgy), and possibly revisits Mandy (who may be the dead girl at the morgue).

In the latter, Alex already knows his droogs, who beat up an old bum, fight a rival gang, and rape a writer’s wife. Then goes through the trauma of prison and the experimental mind control treatment. After being released, he encounters the same bum (who now beats him up), a pair of cops (who are one of his old droogs and one of the rival gang members) and the writer (who’s wife died from the rape and is now out for revenge).

Did you ever notice this structural similarity?

August 23, 2023

Great point! The more and more I read and write about Kubrick, the more I see these kinds of similarities across his work. He seems obsessed with demystifying the human experience–breaking us simple humans down to our fragile, mortal core. The structure you’ve noted speaks to that, I believe. Our characters experience something surreal, otherworldly. They feel big and powerful. And then reality comes crashing back.

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December 1, 2023

Something I noticed immediately when I watched the movie is that when Bill walks in to a character named Marion’s house, he makes his way to Marion’s room, and before he does, there is a greeter, and he shows the card and asks how things are going and walks inside. Later, Marion’s husband, who I think also might be a doctor or something else, walks in to the house the exact way Bill did. Same walk, same greeting, pretty much the same everything. Which also further proves that Bill isn’t as important as he thinks he is because there are others just like him.

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March 31, 2024

This isn’t a response but a question as well. In movies, we all know that the camera always shows us what we need in order to understand everything….even if shot in a way that may not seem important at the time we are watching. I have never gotten a real response to what kind of ritual was being performed when Bill enters the so-called party that required a password. A ritual held on an important holiday (at least in America ), and seemed rather dark and what was the man in the middle of the circle with the censor chanting? What was the circle of nude maidens representative of as they were chosen, then the man performing said ritual stomps his sword once on the floor. It just seems like there is more meaning to it than the answers or lack of explanations I have gotten up to this point.

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Where to buy Tom Cruise's iconic aviator sunglasses from Top Gun: Maverick

By Allie Johnson

What sunglasses does Tom Cruise wear in Top Gun: Maverick?

In the 2022 movie "Top Gun: Maverick," Tom Cruise's fighter pilot character wears Ray-Ban Aviator Classics (model 3025), also known as the Ray-Ban original. He wears gold frames with green lenses, an iconic color combination that has become known as "Top Gun sunglasses."

History of Top Gun and Ray-Ban Aviators

Ray-Ban Aviators were created in the 1930s as pilot sunglasses to help shield aviators' eyes from the glare of the sun above the clouds. Over the years, Ray-Ban Aviators became an American icon, often spotted on celebrities from Audrey Hepburn and James Dean to Michael Jackson and Madonna.

tom cruise brown eyes

Tom Cruise in Top Gun (Image credit: Luxottica)

So Ray-Ban Aviators were a natural fit for a movie about fighter pilots. In the 1986 blockbuster movie "Top Gun," Tom Cruise wore the same style of aviators that he wears in the 2022 movie "Top Gun: Maverick." Thanks to the popularity of the original "Top Gun" movie, both sunglasses sales and interest in military aviation took off. 

The movie "Top Gun" is based on the U.S. Navy's Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor Course, also known as TOPGUN, at the Navy Fighter Weapons School. The school opened in California in 1969 to better train fighter pilots for combat in the Vietnam War. It became famous thanks to "Top Gun," and Ray-Ban Aviators also got their moment in the sun. 

READ MORE: Can Pilots Wear Glasses?

Tom Cruise, “Top Gun” and Ray-Ban

Before starring in "Top Gun," Tom Cruise already had ties with Ray-Ban. He wore a pair of classic Ray-Ban Wayfarers in "Risky Business," the racy teen comedy that came out three years earlier in 1983. 

In "Top Gun," Ray-Ban Aviators played a key part in Tom Cruise's style. His look was cool, tough and edgy. In addition to Cruise's Maverick, these other "Top Gun" characters also wore Ray-Ban Aviators:

"Top Gun sunglasses" — Ray-Ban Aviators with gold frames and green lenses.

Tom "Iceman" Kazansky, played by Val Kilmer ( Ray-Ban Shooter 3138 )

Nicholas "Goose" Bradshaw, played by Anthony Edwards ( Ray-Ban Caravan 3136 )

Marcus "Sundown" Williams, played by Clarence Gilyard (Ray-Ban Aviator 3513)

Ron "Slider" Kerner, played by Rick Rossovich ( Ray-Ban Aviator 3025 )

Air Boss Johnson, played by Duke Stroud (Ray-Ban Outdoorsman 3030)

The original "Top Gun" movie sent sales of Ray-Ban Aviators soaring. The brand reportedly saw sales skyrocket by 40% after the movie’s release — higher than an F-14 fighter jet with Maverick in the cockpit.

Who is Tom Cruise's Maverick?

In the 2022 movie "Top Gun: Maverick" and in the original 1986 movie "Top Gun," iconic American actor Tom Cruise plays Pete "Maverick" Mitchell. So, who is Maverick? He's a fictional lieutenant and fighter pilot at the U.S. Navy's "Top Gun" school for pilots. He's brave, charismatic and cocky.

Maverick is known for doing daredevil stunts in the air, playing volleyball in his free time, and for wearing Ray-Ban sunglasses . In the 1986 movie, his wingman is Nicholas "Goose" Bradshaw, a fellow fighter pilot who also wears aviators .

In the new Top Gun movie, Maverick returns to the Top Gun school as a flight instructor, still sporting his iconic aviators and the same edgy style from the original "Top Gun" movie.

Tom Cruise sunglasses: Where to buy

The best place to buy Tom Cruise's "Top Gun" aviators is the Ray-Ban website . They offer a huge selection of aviators, including the style and color combination Tom Cruise wears in "Top Gun: Maverick" and in the original .

The Aviator Classic sunglasses, sometimes known as "Tom Cruise aviators," come in 12 frame-and-lens combinations, including: 

Gold frames with green lenses

Black frames with black lenses

Silver frames with gray mirror lenses

Gunmetal frames with green lenses

Gold frames with blue lenses 

Gold frames with violet lenses

Ray-Ban also sells a variety of other styles of sunglasses, including the ones worn by other characters in "Top Gun: Maverick." For example, you can buy Ray-Ban Shooters or Ray-Ban Caravan Aviators. 

If you normally wear glasses for vision correction, you can also get Ray-Ban prescription sunglasses . In fact, you can buy Ray-Ban Aviator Classics with prescription lenses.

READ MORE: Aviator sunglasses: How do you wear them?

The importance of UV protection and quality sunglasses

Wearing quality sunglasses is just as important for you as it is for a fighter pilot.

That's because the ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun can hurt your eyes and the surrounding skin, possibly leading to cataracts, eye growths and skin cancer around the eyes. Wearing a pair of quality sunglasses, even on cloudy days, can help keep your eyes healthy.

Choose sunglasses that offer 100% protection from the sun's UVA and UVB rays. To cut down on glare, look for sunglasses with polarized lenses . Much like the glare pilots face while in the cockpit, glare reflected off water and other surfaces can make it hard to see clearly.

If you want prescription sunglasses , ask your optician what lenses and lens coatings will work best for your needs. No matter what sunglasses you get, make sure they will protect your eyes anytime you're in the sun, whether you're flying, driving or just lounging by the pool.

Notes and References

Ray-Ban: The history of the top-selling eyewear brand worldwide . EssilorLuxottica. Accessed April 2022.

It started in a parking lot: TOPGUN's history revealed . U.S. Department of Defense. January 2022.

How a pants-free Tom Cruise rescued Ray-Ban . CBC Radio. April 2018.

Top Gun (1986) plot . IMDB. Accessed April 2022.

Top Gun . Top Gun Official Website. Accessed April 2022.

Aviator Classic . Ray-Ban. Accessed April 2022.

The sun, UV light and your eyes . American Academy of Ophthalmology. June 2020.

Page published on Tuesday, May 3, 2022

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Mission: Impossible's Tom Cruise Addresses The Rumored No Eye-Contact On-Set Rule

Tom Cruise smiling

Odd rumors are bound to follow you around when you're as big a star as Tom Cruise . But the actor and those around him are proud to report that the strangest rumor attached to his name is completely false.

Speaking with The Times in July 2023, "Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part 1" director Chris McQuarrie explained that the first time they met, he asked Cruise what the strangest bit of scuttlebutt Cruise had ever heard about himself was. Cruise declared that it was the ongoing story that he bars people who work on his sets from looking him in the eye. The long-held falsehood about his behavior reportedly mystified the actor.

Since Cruise himself seems to find the notion pretty darned absurd, that rumor's pretty solidly debunked as wholly untrue. The tall tale about Cruise is over a decade old and goes back to shooting for the film 1999 film "Magnolia." In the film, Cruise plays Frank, an intense motivational speaker who has been bitterly estranged from his father, who abandoned him to care for his dying mother but is now dying himself. That's the kind of role that'd make anyone look inward for personal guidance.

In any event, Cruise's co-stars are willing to back up his behavior on the record as wholly human and not diva-like in the least.

Simon Pegg also reports Tom Cruise is a perfectly normal guy on the set

A number of Tom Cruise's co-stars have spoken up about his on-set behavior. Simon Pegg, who's appeared in a number of "Mission Impossible" films as Benji Dunn, spoke up for Cruise in the same The Times roundtable. 

Explaining that he's spent happy social time off the set with the actor on numerous occasions, including ziplining and other activities with the "Dead Reckoning" crew, Pegg said, "I've been able to hack my way through all the bizarre mythology that surrounds him. On one side he's Cruise – this enigmatic film star everyone wants to know about. And on the other, he's just a guy. I like being normal with him." 

Pegg also defended Cruise's filmed outburst on the "Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning Part 1" set , where he lost it on a crew member who was alleged to have broken COVID-19 protocols. "Everything that Tom cares about, in terms of his job, was at stake due to the pandemic. For him, there was a danger this virus could wipe cinema off the face of this earth," Pegg explained. 

But while some of Cruise's co-stars are willing to back up his nice guy behavior, at least one other co-star swears an on-set legend about him is true.

Other rumors have surrounded Tom Cruise's stardom

All held gazes aside, at least one co-star has declared that Tom Cruise refuses to do one more thing on the set of his films — run beside them. Co-star Annabelle Wallis, who worked with Cruise in "The Mummy," told The Hollywood Reporter in 2020 that she had to coax the megastar into sprinting at her side. 

"I got to run on screen with him, but he told me no at first. He said, 'Nobody runs on screen [with me],' and I said, 'But I'm a really good runner.' So, I would time my treadmill so that he'd walk in and see me run. And then he added all these running scenes," Wallis said.

While the actor might have indeed been initially reluctant to run beside Wallis on that particular shoot, all one has to do is take a look at Cruise's filmography to see that he's been willing to sprint beside previous co-stars.  For example: in recent years, Cruise can be seen running side-by-side with Cobie Smulders in 2016's "Jack Reacher: Never Go Back." The moment occurs early into the movie. Smulders even told the press she had to learn how to match Cruise's pace and speed, copying his signature style. In any event, it seems the actor is much more approachable than rumors would have it.

20 Years Ago, Tom Cruise Reinvented Himself As An Actor With 'Eyes Wide Shut' And 'Magnolia'

tom cruise brown eyes

Tom Cruise has always been a risk-taker on the big screen, for good and ill. Lately, the risks he takes center around the physical — the ever-expanding Mission: Impossible franchise is now focused on the question of how far Cruise can push his body for the sake of entertaining the masses. Those risks feel all the more remarkable as Cruise approaches his 60th birthday. (He just turned 57 two weeks ago, a fact that seems...well, impossible.)  But the more Tom Cruise pushes his body, the further he moves away from the time when his risks were ballsier in spite of not being remotely physical. Just as it's hard to imagine that Tom Cruise is pushing 60, it's hard to believe that we're now 20 years removed from a time when he worked on two massively risky projects that required his mental and emotional chops more than the physical: Stanley Kubrick's Eyes Wide Shut and Paul Thomas Anderson's Magnolia .

If Warner Bros. Pictures' executives had their druthers, of course, Eyes Wide Shut might not be celebrating its 20th anniversary, because the film would have opened well before the summer of 1999. But Kubrick, the immensely brilliant perfectionist, was precise on every detail in what would be his final film, released posthumously. He died on March 7, 1999, just six days after showing a first full cut of the film to Cruise, his then-wife and co-star Nicole Kidman, and WB executive Terry Semel. The film would be released four months later. Eyes Wide Shut was a multi-year production, and the impact was clear. If you look at Cruise's body of work, you'll notice a 3-year gap between his work as the title character in Cameron Crowe's Jerry Maguire and playing the avatar in Kubrick's exploration of sexual mores in New York City. It's because Eyes Wide Shut started filming in November 1996 and didn't end until June of 1998. During that time, Cruise was visited on the set by a young Turk who would direct the movie star's next project. Cruise didn't need much convincing to work on Eyes Wide Shut , if only because Stanley Kubrick was Stanley Kubrick, and his space epic 2001: A Space Odyssey was the star's favorite film. Cruise needed a bit more cajoling with Paul Thomas Anderson, even though the A-Lister had greatly enjoyed the writer/director's previous effort. The sprawling 1997 film Boogie Nights had managed to both ring up a great debt to filmmakers like Martin Scorsese and Robert Altman while feeling distinctly fresh and original. 

The Past Ain’t Through With Us

That paean to the world of pornography was a blast of fresh air to many cinephiles, and did well enough that New Line Cinema gave the director a blank check, the likes of which Anderson knew he wouldn't get again. So he wrote an even longer film with even more characters, a three-hour-plus epic set in the San Fernando Valley, focusing on a group whose interconnections are revealed over time, before a literally biblical, inexplicable act unites them all on a dark night of the soul. One of the many characters, a misogynistic lothario who preached sexual self-help tips to faux-macho guys, was who Anderson wanted Cruise to play. The timing wound up being serendipitous, as a representation of the polar opposite of what Cruise was doing with Kubrick. It's not just that Eyes Wide Shut and Magnolia vastly different from each other — on the whole and within Cruise's performances — but they're radically different from the rest of Tom Cruise's filmography of the last 20 years. For Eyes Wide Shut , Cruise allowed himself to be at the mercy of one of the most famous perfectionists in the business. And unlike many of the A-lister's future roles, his lead character is the total inverse of the cocksure hero of films like Risky Business , Top Gun , and Jerry Maguire . Dr. Bill Harford looks as debonair as Cruise, but it's all on the surface of an otherwise helplessly neutered individual.  He's married to a gorgeous woman (Kidman, natch), but Harford drifts through his life in New York City with such naivete that his entire life feels upended when, early on in the story, his wife Alice reveals a sexual fantasy inspired by a passing encounter with a stranger, so intense that she imagined leaving her family behind. Harford's response is that of flight: he comes close to sleeping with a number of other women over a long emotional journey, without ever actually consummating any of the trysts. The culmination of his exploration of the seedier side of his swanky life is a baroque orgy that he crashes, before being humiliated in front of the invitees for having essentially broken in. Bill is a profoundly ineffectual character – he's warned by various characters, from an old friend (Todd Field) to an overly obsequious desk clerk (Alan Cumming), about the underbelly he's trying to investigate, but doesn't actually change much in his life. Both in the opening and closing of the film, Alice is a much more impactful part of their marriage, with a killer last line that cements who holds the power in their relationship. It's both ironic and weirdly appropriate that, for all the marketing about Eyes Wide Shut relating to its sexual content, its orgy sequence, and the Cruise/Kidman dynamic, that characters talk a lot about sex without ever having sex. It serves as a perfect way to neuter Cruise's inherent charisma.

I Will Not Apologize For What I Want

Similarly, in Magnolia , we never see Cruise's character, Frank T.J. Mackey, do the deed. With Frank, though, there's a lot of talk about sex, about the female mind, and about how any man can get into a women's undergarments simply by playing the right series of mind games. While Frank T.J. Mackey never is depicted having sex, there's never really any doubt that he's likely been with a few women in his time. (Or, if you like, he's a lot better at acting like it than Harford ever could be.)  By the end of the film, it's painfully clear that Mackey's intensely misogynistic view of men and women is a darkly cynical mindset instilled in him by his gruffly absentee father. That would be the now-dying TV producer Earl Partridge (Jason Robards), who left Frank's birth mother behind and is currently in the throes of incomprehensible regret at such actions. As gruff as Earl once was, his barely coherent wish to his nurse (a beatific Philip Seymour Hoffman) is to reconnect with his son, which leads to Frank, a motivational speaker of sorts. At the start of a very eventful day documented in Anderson's sprawling Southern California opus, Frank is introduced to a series of largely faceless, cheering dudes in a hotel conference room. (It's all too fitting that Frank is brought on stage with the pomp and circumstance that could only be provided by the bombastic Richard Strauss piece of classical music "Thus Sprach Zarathustra", famously associated with Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey .) His first words set the tone for Cruise's blustering, swaggering performance: "Respect the c**k...and tame the c**t!" It's an almost jarringly profane version of Tom Cruise, the pure-id version of his prior heroes, the same ones being almost laughably shunned in Eyes Wide Shut . But Frank is cut down to size over the course of the three-hour-plus running time – after we see his first presentation, a kind of version of the infamous The Game (not the David Fincher film), in which men act cruelly to women to get the fairer sex to give them their prurient desires, he's interviewed by a female journalist (April Grace). All seems well at first, until Frank realizes (and tries to hide this awareness) that she's uncovered his true history, the reality behind his bluster. Frank veers from his initial charm to grouchy pouting (as he icily states, "I'm quietly judging you" to one of her questions) to actively attempting to attack her. And then Frank learns that his father is on death's door.

These Strange Things

Cruise's performances in these films run the gamut, from the internal to the external. His work in Magnolia is more mature and adult than his action-movie fare, but more in line with starring roles in The Firm or A Few Good Men than his henpecked husband in Eyes Wide Shut . If you look at Cruise's filmography in the subsequent 20 years, you'll mostly just find a lot of genre fare. Notably, Cruise has doubled down on his action-hero status since these films opened – five of the six Mission: Impossible films have been released in that period, including the 2006 entry where Hoffman played a terrifying villain.  Cruise has also limited the directors with whom he works, relying on a few favorites such as Joseph Kosinski, Christopher McQuarrie, and Doug Liman. (Kosinski is behind the camera for Top Gun: Maverick , taking over for the late Tony Scott.) Though he's worked with more iconic, auteurist directors too, it's been in more straightforward, action-heavy titles like Minority Report and Collateral . It's not that these films are bad – those two specifically are excellent. But the challenges of movies like these or the Mission: Impossible series or Edge of Tomorrow is that Tom Cruise puts his body through the ringer.  It's exhilarating to watch Tom Cruise dangle off a building or a plane. But as he reaches his sixties, it's just as exhilarating to imagine what it might be like when he eases into an era during which his body just won't let him keep destroying itself. We're a long way removed from films like Eyes Wide Shut and Magnolia , but they both prove that there was once a time when Cruise was willing to push himself, both with established and up-and-coming directors, and to do so mentally as opposed to physically. We can only hope he returns to this mindset soon.

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Slightly Blue

9 Famous Celebrities Who Have Blue Eyes

by Johnny McAwley September 20, 2020, 6:00 am

tom cruise brown eyes

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Everyone is obsessed with the eye color blue. What is so distinctive about blue eyes? Eye color in human beings is determined by gene variations and hereditary characteristics. Physically speaking, it is the color of the pigment that is present in the iris of the human eye. The pigment present in the iris ranges from light brown to black. This is because of the amount of melanin present in a part of the back of the iris. In a person with hazel, blue and green eyes, the distribution of light in a part of the eye called the stroma accounts for eye color. Actually, there are no blue or green pigments in the iris or any fluid in the eye representing color. “Color” manifests itself only due to the scattering of light combined with the amount of melanin present in a person’s eye.

In the human eye, color is more the result of structure rather than hue. Researchers have postulated that around fifteen genes are responsible, in some way, for the inheritance of eye color in humans. Some eye colors are more sought-after than others. Lighter shades are almost always more prevalent in Caucasians. Overall, the most commonly loved shade is blue.

As with all things beautiful, blue is a color that represents “pretty blue things “. So it is with eye color too. Celebrities and stars are famous already, but with blue eyes, they tend to have more of a fan following than others. We often remember stars like Brad Pitt more fondly than Johnny Depp. Of course, some of us may love Depp’s acting skills a lot more, in the looks department, Pitt wins. Generally, the color of the star’s eyes (and more when it’s combined with blonde hair) will stick with you. This is irrespective of the other great traits that he or she exhibits.

An interesting study showed that when brown eyes were “positioned” on blue-eyed celebrities’ photos, people didn’t even bother to look at them. With most people agreeing that their favorite color is blue, and studies confirming that everyone likes pretty blue things , having blue eyes is an advantage for any celebrity. What follows is a list of ten famous celebrities who are blue-eyed and happier for it!

The first thing you will notice, whether you see him on the cover of a magazine or in a movie clip, are his piercing blue eyes. Yes, Brad Pitt’s eyes certainly have it! At the age of 52, his eyes are his best asset. In a role where he sports a full head of silver hair, he completely rocks the image with his blue eyes taking center stage. In a cover for GQ Style (2017), with white sand strategically thrown over his face, his blue eyes pop out right at you. More than his undeniably good looks, it’s his eyes that get you every time!

Angelina Jolie

Angelina Jolie, an award-winning actress, philanthropist, and leader in all things humanitarian, has a beautiful head of dark hair, and gorgeous blue eyes. She is not just famous for being the ex-wife of Brad Pitt, but was the UNHCR ambassador for refugees the world over. She has worked tirelessly, and her popularity stretches beyond the frame of a camera. In April 2012, she was named Special Envoy and continues to work for the cause of children and refugees on a global scale. She is currently involved in finding solutions for displaced people in developing countries.

Paul Newman, the star known for his wonderful blue eyes, once remarked that if his eyes ever turned brown, his career would end. Megan Fox prides her appeal on her eyes. The model and actor, with a dark head of hair and the loveliest almond-shaped blue eyes, is known for those pretty blue things . In every photo shoot, the celebrity’s eyes stand out the most. They are a lighter shade of blue, and though they don’t climb out at you, they are soft and smoky. Her eye shade gives her a quality of mystery and can be addictive and hypnotizing.

David Beckham

You can’t miss this former footballer’s eyes even if you tried! His eyes, in a roundish shape, are distinctly blue with a tinge of green. Once dubbed the “Sexiest Man Alive”, by People Magazine, is in no way outshined by his equally famous once-singer wife, Victoria Beckham. His eyes are compelling in every picture you see of him.

Justin Timberlake

This singer, songwriter and actor seems to be famous for a lot more than just his singing ability. He is a talented actor as well. His uniqueness lies in the fact that he alters his look year in and year out, but his lovable blue eyes remain constant. His eyes are compact, yet draw you in. With fans like Taylor Swift, Timberlake is one of the more fortunate stars around. He is known to be unassuming and friendly, and this adds to his appeal.

Charlize Theron

Charlize Theron is a South African actor who climbed the charts of Hollywood in the nineties. She is a profoundly prolific actor, having won many a coveted award. Formerly a fashion model, she has the most mesmerizing blue eyes, expressive and setting her a class apart from the rest of Hollywood. Her eyes convey more than words can ever express and her most memorable role for which she won an Academy Award was in the title role in the film, Monster.

James Martin

Celebrity chef James Martin has a large fan following, primarily and understandably, female in nature. No surprise there – he has the most riveting pair of sparkling blue eyes. He is not only proficient with a ladle and pan, but very attractive, with a taut physique. Though considered a heartthrob by many, he himself doesn’t think about the  title much. He is more interested in being recognized for his prowess in the kitchen. By his own admission, he claims that he spends a mere thirty seconds to prepare for a television appearance.

tom cruise brown eyes

Chris Hemsworth

If you’ve seen him as “Thor”, you’ll notice that his prosthetic eye is brown. The actor has the bluest eyes in Hollywood, and on days when he casually dons those pretty blue things called jeans, you’ll see how his eyes match the bluest of blues. Known as one of the hottest actors around, this Australian has all the attention he needs, and more, to be on the top of any celebrity list.

Adriana Lima

Stunning to look at, on and off the catwalk, Lima is a Victoria’s Secret model and angel. At the age of 36, she gives younger models a run for their money. She has brilliant blue eyes and believes that smoky eye make up enhances their enchantment. An eternal beauty, this Brazilian will turn heads for years to come

There are so many more stars that could have been added to the list above. Chris Pine and Tom Cruise, to name a few, besides actors of yesteryear, like “old blue eyes” Frank Sinatra. Sean Connery also comes to mind for his Bond blues. If you aren’t blessed with the blue hue as your eye color, the only solution is colored contact lenses, which many people sport.

tom cruise brown eyes

Written by Johnny McAwley

Johnny is a writer who has been in the industry for more than 7 years. He has written for a number of well-known companies and publishers during the span of his career. He believes he is a happy-go-lucky guy who always makes the most of every opportunity that is presented to him. He believes laugher is the best medicine, and more often than not, if you hear a loud laugh in the room coming straight from the belly, you can bet that’s Johnny. He loves his dog, Flash, an energetic Golden Retriever, and often goes hiking with him on the weekends.

tom cruise brown eyes

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tom cruise brown eyes

tom cruise brown eyes

Tom Cruise Has A Strict Rule Regarding His Look During Public Events

A t 61, Tom Cruise continues to dazzle fans with his youthful looks. It could be a side effect of doing all those dangerous stunts , something to do with the adrenaline rush. Still, this man once said that he barely sleeps because of his busy career .

One thing's for sure: the Mission Impossible star takes care of himself more than he'd like to admit. Just look at his hair, which he has strict rules for. Here are some interesting facts about his crowning glory.

Do Nicole Kidman's Adopted Kids Refuse To See Her Because Of Tom Cruise?

Tom cruise doesn't want people touching his hair.

In 2017, while Cruise was promoting The Mummy in Australia's The Project , a hair and makeup artist was told to "step away" from him. The show's employee "attempted to tame" one of the actor's messy strands when his assistant said, "No, no, no, no." The incident later revealed that the actor's staff members are "never allowed" to touch his hair except if he's "in privacy," like when his own glam team does his hair.

It seems like Cruise hates being touched by strangers in general. One time, he snapped at an exec of an Australian media corporation after the latter approached the Top Gun star on the red carpet. "Get your effing hands off me," the actor allegedly told the big boss. His house is also designed to avoid run-ins with his helpers .

"Tom runs his household staff with absolute military precision and with the utmost attention paid to security," a source revealed. "His Bel Air mansion is divided into zones, meaning that housekeepers and other support staff that work in the kitchen and food preparation area, aren’t permitted to go into another area of the house that falls outside of their allocated zone."

A nanny even said before that "if [Cruise] went on camera and said how he didn't have any help raising his children, [we nannies] couldn't say anything." The Golden Globe winner notably gets defensive in interviews , especially when asked about personal questions like his Scientology involvement and his past marriage to Nicole Kidman .

In 2005, Tom Cruise had a heated interview with 60 Minutes ' Peter Overton. "Put your manners back in," he told the journalist who kept asking him about Nicole Kidman.

Leah Remini Had To Step In At Tom Cruise And Katie Holmes' Wedding After Nobody Was Addressing Suri's Moment Of Distress

Tom cruise dyes his hair.

It's no secret that Cruise has been dyeing his hair to hide those silver strands natural to his age. Nothing wrong about that. If anything, whoever's doing his hair is doing a great job. In fact, Michael White, who's done the Risky Business alum's hair in multiple movies, revealed that he had a specific job to keep the actor's hair intact during action scenes. "So let's say, Tom goes over to hit the sky, and comes back, and his hair is in his face, but in the master the hairs not in the face," he explained.

"So, the what your job really is, is to go right there and say to the director in the script supervisor that, that's not going to cut to the master? Are you going to use that cut that he just did? Oh, yes, we are?" he continued. "Well, we have to do it again. Because you won't, I'm sure you've been to films where you go, and then they cut back and forth."

Here are Cruise's most iconic hairstyles:

Does Tom Cruise Speak To His First Wife After Scientology Tore Their Marriage Apart?

Tom cruise is accused of getting a hair transplant.

Like David Beckham who's known for his luscious hair, Cruise has also been rumored to have had a hair transplant . It's a common procedure among men in Hollywood. Some of those who've reportedly had it are Elton John, John Travolta, Jude Law, and Mel Gibson. His Hair Clinic once claimed: "It appears Tom's been getting transplants along his hairline for quite a while. I see clear signs that his hairline has been peppered with hair grafts every couple of years."

But according to Hair of Instanbul , Cruise's consistent hairline is likely all-natural . Explaining how the actor has managed to keep his hair that way, the clinic wrote that "being an A-list actor under constant scrutiny, it's conceivable that Cruise invests heavily in premium hair care routines, ensuring his hair stays in prime condition."

They added that "these factors combined likely contribute to the actor's enviable hair density." Neither Cruise nor his hairstylist also confirmed any of these transplant speculations. And even if it were true, the authograph-avoiding movie star would have probably kept it a secret like what that nanny once said about his interviews.

Tom Cruise had a wig on in Interview with the Vampire but Brad Pitt refused to wear one, so his hair had to be done every day by Cruise's hairstylist Michael White.

Tom Cruise Has A Strict Rule Regarding His Look During Public Events

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COMMENTS

  1. Behind Tom Cruise's Changing Eye Color and Transformation

    Upon closer examination of his photos, Cruise's eyes can be described as blueish green with a yellow ring around the pupil, known as central heterochromia. Most green eyes are a combination of blue and yellow, causing them to appear differently under varying lighting conditions. Tom Cruise has blueish-green eyes with a yellow ring around the ...

  2. What Color Eyes Does Tom Cruise Have

    Tom Cruise's eye color is a mesmerizing shade of blue. His intense and piercing blue eyes have become one of his defining features and have undoubtedly contributed to his on-screen charisma. 2. Natural Blue. Contrary to popular belief, Tom Cruise was not born with brown eyes. His natural eye color has always been blue.

  3. Using pictures to debunk the myth that hunter eyes are based on

    This is tom cruise in both pictures. he clearly has the same browbone in both pictures, yet he immediately ceases to have hunter eyes after being photoshopped with double eyelid exposure and lighter coloured eyebrows despite no change to his browbones: ... I HIGHLY doubt the bug-eyed man's brown ridge is even REMOTELY close to his like you ...

  4. Tom Cruise Reacts to Rumor His Co-Stars 'Couldn't Look Him in the Eye'

    McQ says that Cruise laughed and said the strangest rumor was that people on set "were not allowed to look me in the eye." In 2020, Cruise's rant against a crew member who was not following COVID ...

  5. Tom Cruise then and now: His face transformation in photos

    Published Oct. 11, 2021, 5:18 p.m. ET. 1 of 16. Tom Cruise has noticeably changed up his hair and wardrobe throughout the years, but there have also been subtle facial changes. See his face ...

  6. Vanilla Sky

    Vanilla Sky is a 2001 American science fiction psychological thriller film directed, written, and co-produced by Cameron Crowe.It is an English-language remake of Alejandro Amenábar's 1997 Spanish film Open Your Eyes, which was written by Amenábar and Mateo Gil.The film stars Tom Cruise, Penélope Cruz, Cameron Diaz, Jason Lee, and Kurt Russell.It follows a magazine publisher who begins to ...

  7. You are, in fact, allowed to look Tom Cruise in the eye

    Photo: Theo Wargo ( Getty Images) Look, Tom Cruise is a weird guy. This shouldn't be news to anyone. He's famously a Scientologist, does all of his own insane, mind-numbingly dangerous stunts ...

  8. Eyes Wide Shut (1999)

    Eyes Wide Shut: Directed by Stanley Kubrick. With Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, Madison Eginton, Jackie Sawiris. A Manhattan doctor embarks on a bizarre, night-long odyssey after his wife's admission of unfulfilled longing.

  9. Eyes Wide Shut

    Eyes Wide Shut is a 1999 American erotic mystery psychological drama film directed, produced, and co-written by Stanley Kubrick.It is based on the 1926 novella Traumnovelle (Dream Story) by Arthur Schnitzler, transferring the story's setting from early twentieth-century Vienna to 1990s New York City.The plot centers on a physician who is shocked when his wife (Nicole Kidman) reveals that she ...

  10. Tom Cruise got weird at the millennium with Eyes Wide Shut and M:I 2

    Eyes Wide Shut. and. Mission: Impossible 2. In his strangest and silliest roles, the star at his apex explored the outer limits of his image. Celebrating today's release of Top Gun: Maverick, our ...

  11. Tom Cruise Debunks Myth That Co-Stars Can't Look Him in the Eyes

    According to Tom Cruise 's frequent "Mission: Impossible" director Christopher McQuarrie, the mega-star actor once told him that the "weirdest story" he ever heard about himself was that ...

  12. 20 Years Ago Stanley Kubrick Tormented Tom Cruise to Create a Strange

    Tom Cruise signed on to work with Kubrick instantly, being a fan of Kubrick's work. Having his wife Nicole Kidman play his wife in the movie was Cruise's idea. ... The Eyes Wide Shut party scene is one of the most enduring elements of the movie, but it's worth thinking back on the fact that a movie with this massively strange orgy at its center ...

  13. Tom Cruise: Bio, Height, Weight, Measurements

    Tom Cruise is an American film actor and producer. He is best known for playing the role of IMF agent Ethan Hunt in the Mission: Impossible film series since 1996. ... Hair Color: Dark Brown Eye Color: Green Sexual Orientation: Straight. Tom Cruise Body Statistics: Weight in Pounds: 150 lbs Weight in Kilogram: 68 kg

  14. Tom Cruise

    Thomas Cruise Mapother IV (born July 3, 1962) is an American actor and producer. Regarded as a Hollywood icon, he has received various accolades, including an Honorary Palme d'Or and three Golden Globe Awards, in addition to nominations for four Academy Awards. His films have grossed over $4 billion in North America and over $11.5 billion worldwide, making him one of the highest-grossing box ...

  15. Tom Cruise Comments On The 'Weirdest' On Set 'Mission ...

    There are major movie stars, and then there's Tom Cruise. The 61 year-old A-lister is showing no signs of slowing down. Cruise recently commented on the "weirdest" rumor about his behavior ...

  16. Eyes Wide Shut (1999)

    Tom Cruise - Dr. William "Bill" Harford ; Nicole Kidman - Alice Harford ; Sydney Pollack - Victor Ziegler ; ... He became incredibly intimate with Cruise and Kidman over the course of Eyes Wide Shut's insanely long 16-month shooting schedule. "[Kubrick] knew us and our relationship as no one else does," said Kidman, and that, he ...

  17. What sunglasses does Tom Cruise wear in Top Gun: Maverick?

    The best place to buy Tom Cruise's "Top Gun" aviators is the Ray-Ban website. They offer a huge selection of aviators, including the style and color combination Tom Cruise wears in "Top Gun: Maverick" and in the original . The Aviator Classic sunglasses, sometimes known as "Tom Cruise aviators," come in 12 frame-and-lens combinations, including:

  18. Mission: Impossible's Tom Cruise Addresses The Rumored No Eye ...

    Smulders even told the press she had to learn how to match Cruise's pace and speed, copying his signature style. In any event, it seems the actor is much more approachable than rumors would have ...

  19. 20 Years Ago, Tom Cruise Reinvented Himself As An Actor With 'Eyes Wide

    Cruise didn't need much convincing to work on Eyes Wide Shut, if only because Stanley Kubrick was Stanley Kubrick, and his space epic 2001: A Space Odyssey was the star's favorite film. Cruise ...

  20. Henry Cavill on His 'Eye-Opening' Friendship With Tom Cruise (Exclusive)

    Henry Cavill chats with ET about his 'eye-opening' experience spending time with Tom Cruise in London. 'Argylle' hits theaters Feb. 2.

  21. 9 Famous Celebrities Who Have Blue Eyes

    Paul Newman, the star known for his wonderful blue eyes, once remarked that if his eyes ever turned brown, his career would end. Megan Fox prides her appeal on her eyes. The model and actor, ... Chris Pine and Tom Cruise, to name a few, besides actors of yesteryear, like "old blue eyes" Frank Sinatra. Sean Connery also comes to mind for his ...

  22. Tom Cruise Has A Strict Rule Regarding His Look During Public Events

    In 2017, while Cruise was promoting The Mummy in Australia's The Project, a hair and makeup artist was told to "step away" from him.The show's employee "attempted to tame" one of the actor's messy ...

  23. Are those hooded eyes? Also what eye color is this? : r/HoodedEyes

    A lighter shade of brown is still just technically brown. I also saw the resemblance to Tom Cruise! Me too! No way OP isn't Tom Cruise. Hooded and deep set, hazel coloured. Envious of your eyelid shape. 39K subscribers in the HoodedEyes community. Subreddit for hooded eyed people to find and share makeup tips and tricks.