New at BOP: Review: Matrix Resurrections Movie Review: Moonfall Movie Reviews: Scream The #1 Movie in America November Forecast The Many Saints of Newark October Forecast New Trivia Question All site updates Share & Save   Tweet Print this column

Matthew Huntley: I agree it would do worse, and here's why - Angelina Jolie has a cross-gender appeal and fans easily buy her in this type of role (and many other roles). In fact, I can't think of any other mainstream Hollywood actress who could pull this off like she can, at least not in 2010. With Jolie, it just fits and feels appropriate.

We all know the Tom Cruise of 2010 (perhaps ever since 2005) doesn't have as much clout or appeal, both with men and women. If Cruise was in the Salt trailer instead of Jolie, I'd imagine most moviegoers would either chuckle or mutter "meh" under their breath. That's been the general response for Cruise's Knight and Day, and after that film's box-office performance, I think Sony is breathing a sigh of relief they went with their formidable female lead.

Josh Spiegel: I feel like it's negligible. The script had to be completely revised, because Cruise bailed after the movie was written, a story about Edwin Salt, not Evelyn. I'm guessing it didn't take too long for the writers to switch Edwin to Evelyn throughout the entire Final Draft document, and for there to be a husband, not a wife. Cruise might have worked here just as much, but I don't think the result would've been markedly different, one way or the other.

Tom Houseman: The proof is in the pudding on this one. Knight and Day had better marketing than Salt, and had Cameron Diaz helping Cruise, but it didn't come close to Salt's number, and isn't going to break triple digits, which Salt has a legitimate shot at. Cruise isn't a liability to the movies he stars in, but he isn't close to the draw that Angelina Jolie is. Plus, ya know... boobs.

Tim Briody: Cruise would do worse and I would say that even if Knight and Day never existed. He got his code red from audiences years ago and he'll never be taken seriously in an, um, serious film again.

Shalimar Sahota: I guess some would make fun of Tom Cruise for turning this down, but he knew it would just look too similar to his role as Ethan Hunt, and I feel he did the right thing by backing out. If he was still attached we'd be looking at a lower opening weekend.

Reagen Sulewski: I think there's two things here: If Cruise had taken this film, Brad Bird would now be directing Mission: Impossible V. Which is to say that I think it would have done slightly better better. But it would have been an odd career move in that it would still seem to be aping Bourne, and would have seemed like a step down for him in trying to follow Damon, whereas there isn't a similar problem for Jolie to do so.

David Mumpower: In addition to the other comments here, I would add that Salt would lose a competitive advantage with Cruise in the lead. As has been indicated, Cruise in this role is not only unoriginal but in fact as derivative as possible. He's not even Jack Ryan, much less Jason Bourne. Cast the lead as a woman, however, and the movie has an entirely new marketing strength. There simply are not enough Women Kicking Ass movies, something we harp upon a lot here that never seems to change. Salt without that selling point is not even Knight & Day.

Continued:       1       2       3