Nothing Cruise has done earlier will prepare you for what he does in Born on the Fourth of July. He has been hailed for years now as a great young American actor, but only his first film, Risky Business, found a perfect match between actor and role. Top Gun overwhelmed him with a special-effects display, The Color of Money didn’t explain his behavior in crucial final scenes, Cocktail was a cynical attempt to exploit his attractive image. Almost always he seemed to be holding something in reserve, standing back from his own presence. In Born on the Fourth of July, his performance is so good
...more
