Tom Cruise: All the World's a Stage author chronicles Cruise's film career, including his first role in "Endless Love" in 1981, his breakthrough in "Risky Business", and other popular films such as "Top Gun", "Jerry Maguire" and the "" films. He cites Cruise's role as "Frank Mackey" in the film "Magnolia" as one of his best performances. Johnstone also writes about Cruise's relationships with Mimi Rogers and Nicole Kidman, and the luxurious lifestyle maintained by Cruise and Kidman during their relationship. Johnstone puts Kidman in a sympathetic light regarding their 2001 divorce. The book discusses Cruise's relationship with Scientology, and controversy in the media, including his public
Born on the Fourth of July (film) by Stone to portray Kovic. In 1987, Stone's agent Paula Wagner had shown "Platoon" to Tom Cruise, after he had expressed interest in working with the director. Cruise met with Stone to discuss the role in January 1988. The studio was concerned over the prospects of Cruise appearing as a dramatic film lead. Stone, in particular, had dismissed his previous film "Top Gun" (1986) as a "fascist movie", but expressed that he was drawn to the actor's "Golden Boy" image. "I saw this kid who has everything," he stated. "And I wondered what would happen if tragedy strikes, if fortune