By Chad Jarrah
I used to think Tom Cruise went insane because of his increasing fame and successful Scientologist brainwashing. When I saw him jump on Oprah’s couch in unrestrained (and unwarranted) joy, or laugh menacingly at reporters’ questions, I’d automatically think, “Man, this guy is nuts. What the hell happened to him?” But after re-watching Cocktail, one of Cruise’s classics, filmed before the time of his blatant L. Ron Hubbard worshipping and Katie Holmes obsession, I now know that he didn’t become crazy - he always was.
Although Cruise doesn’t display anywhere near the level of insanity in Cocktail that he is now well known for, the temperament is definitely there. The first time Cruise, playing Brian Flanagan the young and ambitious upstart, is seen in the film, he is joyriding with a bunch of army buddies trying to hail down a Greyhound bus. He is screaming and hooting as the testosterone flows freely amongst his friends while Starship’s ‘Wild Again’ plays in the background. I have to admit, though, that if I had to hear that song, I would scream too. However, as much as the role he is playing may warrant that level of rambunctiousness, good acting can only take you so far. I maintain that the familiar and eerie ‘Woohoo’ is, and always was, Tom Cruise’s trademark. Brian Flanagan just happened to be the particular vessel in this instance.
Later, as the money-obsessed Flanagan gets rejected from a series of job interviews, he finds himself behind a bar being trained by his mentor in the film, Doug Coughlin, played by the ever Australian Bryan Brown. Sure enough, it doesn’t take long before Cruise is happily dancing for the patrons as he serves their drinks. Cruise moves robotically and uses the ‘spin’ move entirely too much. More hints more to that ever present insanity: his laugh. Cruise seems to laugh in a way that makes you think, “What can possibly make you that happy and scary at the same time?”
Flanagan and Coughlin continue their bonding as they travel from various parts of New York, to Jamaica, and back to New York, laughing, fighting and drinking as they go. Interspersed throughout the scenes Cruise continues to be Cruise as he yells at rich ho’s, drunkenly sings “Chantilly Lace” (more spin moves), and yes, pulls out his famous ‘Woohoo’, this time as he goes horseback riding on a beach.
In spite of Cruise’s disconcerting behavior, the movie did what it set out to do - it managed to entertain me. It also taught me a valuable lesson: Alcohol is fun! It makes you cool and happy all the time. No wait…Coughlin does kill himself in the end with a broken bottle of expensive scotch, so maybe alcohol isn’t that cool. Now I’m confused, and although I’m unsure about the message this movie sends, I am sure of one thing - Tom Cruise is craaaz-SCIENTOLOGY IS THE HIGHER RELIGION!
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