Tom Cruise: An Unauthorized Biography by Andrew Morton Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Tom Cruise: An Unauthorized Biography
Book Review: Tom Cruise: An Unauthorized Biography
Summary: 4 Stars
The Author has the knack of delving into the subjects personal life and extracting the skeltons in the closet. Tom is a nice guy, knowing his background helps the reader to have an informed opinion of him. I am left feeling that we fear what we do not understand. Scientolgy like Freemasonary is reviled due to its secrecy.Book Review: Almost unbelievable!
Summary: 5 Stars
If one has the slightest interest in Tom Cruise and/or Scientology, then this book is for you. Yes, he's an above-average actor with an ever-ready smile, but the flip-side, unfortuntly, is he's also a perfect example of a
ultra-anal control freak like nobody's business! A boderline sociopath like we use to study and talk about when I was in college.
An interesting and amusing biography of one of the most powerful men in
Hollywood.
Book Review: Yup, he's not gay...
Summary: 4 Stars
Andrew Morton's "Tom Cruise: An Unauthorized Biography" will put to rest a lot of rumors, both about Tom Cruise and about Scientology. Much as been made (by way of discrediting the book) of the author not interviewing those closest to Cruise. That may be true, but his research about Scientology is considerable, and he does interview many close to the religion. He also looks closely at the career of Cruise, and offers a version of the Tom/Nicole breakup that is both credible and surprising.
This may be remembered as the book that puts to rest, finally, the "Tom is gay" rumors. According to the author, the buzz began when Tom's first agent, trying to find some niche for Tom before he made it big, pitched his appeal to some gay rags in New York. Later, when "Top Gun" was a smash and a gay cult hit, some made the connection between the film's subtext and those early ties between Cruise and the gay world. There wasn't much fire behind the smoke, as it turns out. I finished the book convinced that Morton had made his case. Tom is not gay.
Also of interest is Morton's expose of the history of Scientology. Mimi Rodgers' father was a higher up in the religion, responsible for spreading it (traveling salesman style) and for, inadvertantly, selling it to Cruise through his daughter. The book offers insight into the theology of the faith, including the enigmatic "auditing process." Morton is a critic of the religion, and of Cruise's ties to it. Morton details "gulags" where pledged Scientologists toil for slave wages, and details death threats waged against critics. There were also criminal charges brought in the 1970s against higher up in the organization (including L. Ron Hubbard's wife). He concludes by stating a public concern that an "all-American" guy like Cruise could uncritically accept a corrupt faith that is causing harm to people by bilking money out of them and waging campaigns of harassment against those who leave. Although I can understand a need to defend one's religion against spurious attacks, I see no reason behind the hyper vigilant protection of Scientology. All systems of thought, religious or otherwise, are subject to regulation and scrutiny.
The most revealing part of the book details Tom's divorce from Nicole Kidman. The book offers a transcript of a cell phone call between Tom and Nicole that reveals their misery and manipulations long before the breakup. When the breakup came, Tom Cruise coldly cut Nicole out of his life, but it's not entirely clear why. The author posits that Nicole moved on, getting interested in theater and more cerebral pursuits. In short, she got bored with him. It's harder to tell what Tom's issues were, although he did meet Penelope Cruz while still married to Nicole. It's possible they both moved on, albeit in different ways, before the breakup heard 'round the world.
Andrew Morton does a credible job with all of the above topics, and his book is a good read. I got a little bored with all the talk of Tom's movie roles, but came away overall with a sense that the author knows his subject.
Book Review: An interesting read
Summary: 4 Stars
Am a fan of Andrew Morton and this book doesn't disappoint. I am, however, disappointed that I had to get it shipped in from the US as it's unavailable to buy in the UK due to libel laws but I guess that's a whole other subject.Book Review: Tom Cruise: An Unauthorized Biography
Summary: 5 Stars
Andrew Morton has depicted Cruise in exactly the light I expected him to be. Thoroughly enjoyed each page. I'm not a fan of Tom Cruise, so if you are maybe you shouldn't read it!