Beauty and the beast?

“Top Gun: Maverick”, the mind-blowing sequel to the eighties’ heart-pounding movie, with the same nail-biting aeronautics and emotional sucker punches, has taken the world by storm.  This exciting spectacle has come to remind us all why a trip to the cinema beats Netflix.

I have always loved Tom Cruise, with his classic good looks, and boyish heart-melting smile.  It’s almost unthinkable that now, almost 35 years after his first appearance in Top Gun, he is back in the danger zone, still feeling the need for speed in an F-18 fighter jet.  He hasn’t lost any of his charisma flashing that mesmerizing, superstar smile, and flexing his bizarrely ageless body.

The movie is the highest-grossing debut in Tom Cruise’s 40-year career, and his first to surpass $100 million on opening weekend.  Why have I found it necessary to devote my Blog to this? 

Is it because of the inspirational example of Tom Cruise, who turns 60 on July 3, and who shows little evidence of slowing down?  Is it because of the testimonial of Maverick’s director, Joseph Kosinski, who says that Cruise still approaches each movie with the same enthusiasm as if it’s his first, that he constantly pushes the crew and himself to achieve excellence, and that he still passionately loves what he does?  Or is it the way in which he recruited the young actors to acclimate to the G-forces, and all the time and effort he put into guiding them through scenes, sharing his work ethic and dedication?

Maybe it’s a combination of all of the above, but there’s something else that caught my attention…

…We are all familiar with “Beauty and the Beast”, the famous Disney story of the prince who is transformed into an ugly Beast and the beautiful young woman, Belle, whom he imprisons in his castle.  To become a prince again, the Beast must win Belle’s love before the last petals fall from an Enchanted Rose, or he will remain a Beast forever…

Well, for the past few weeks it has almost seemed as if the roles of Beasts and Beauties have been reversed…Social media propaganda has warned all of us, way in advance, that Kelly McGillis, who played Cruise’s love interest in the 1986 original, wasn’t asked to join the film.  We all saw this picture on Facebook…

It all seemed to make perfect sense, especially after McGillis matter-of-factly told “Entertainment Tonight”: “I’m old and I’m fat and I look age-appropriate, and that is not what that whole movie is about…”

I was just wondering – wouldn’t we feel a bit more sympathetic towards Kelly McGillis if THESE photos were used, instead…?

Yes, it’s still McGillis and still Tom Cruise…And these pictures were taken last year.  On September 9, 2021, Cruise attended a baseball game with his 26-year-old son Connor, with this puffy face…

Okay, sure, it makes sense that Kelly McGillis might still not be a good choice to continue her role as the love in the 2022 Maverick’s life, but it’s shocking to see how the way in which stars are depicted by the media, can influence our mindsets!

It’s also sad to see how easily Hollywood passes over age-appropriate actresses for much younger ones.  McGillis is not the first!  Emma Thompson, Anne Hathaway and even our own Charlize Theron have addressed the problematic issue of age.  In a recent interview Theron said:

“The pressure to look a certain way for older women is unreal, and this is a defect in society rather than Hollywood…” 

A 2019 study, titled The Ageless Test, confirmed that women over 50 are regularly side-lined to supporting roles…

Look, we all know that it’s not a secret that women live longer than men, but, while this seems like good news for the ladies, it turns out that women age faster than men, especially when women hit 50.  Then the female trajectory turns sharply, basically because of the drop in oestrogen which then cuts the production of collagen.  Sigh.

Obviously, we all accept that as a fact of life – women wilt and men age like fine wine🙄…No, seriously, it’s okay that the “Top Gun” producers chose the 49-year-old Jennifer Connolly to be McGillis’ successor.  She’s stunning!  I’m just saying…It seems so unfair that when a woman reaches the age of 50, she suddenly turns into the Beast, while the men remain “Beauties” in the eyes of all the beholders!

…We all seem to wonder about Tom Cruise’s agelessness in “Maverick”.  I have seen so many articles and have watched hundreds of YouTube videos in the past few days, all speculating whether Cruise has indeed had plastic surgery of some sort…So what, if he has?  So what, if he had previously stated that he would never have Botox…  The man’s estimate net worth is $600 million…Let him!

What I would like to say today is that maybe Steve Hofmeyr touched on a bigger truth last week when he remarked:

“As celebrity het ek hoë agting vir uitblinkers in enige veld, maar die vergoddelliking van akteurs gaan my verstand te bowe. Ons vestig “hegte” bande met mense wat ons geensins ken nie, omdat hulle betaal word om NIE hulself te wees nie!

While we all LOVE Tom Cruise, have the greatest respect for what he has achieved despite the fact that he is dyslexic, admire the fact that he performs most of his stunts himself, and can’t get enough of his dazzling smile, shouldn’t we maybe be more concerned with the fact that he is not a Christian?  Shouldn’t we rather question the fact that he practises Scientology, and therefore believes that individuals are immortal spiritual beings with unlimited capabilities, and experiences above and beyond a single lifetime…?  Jeepers!

In Scientology, number 33 is apparently called the “Master Teacher”, and regarded as a representation of spiritual progress.  Is it then just a coincidence, that Tom Cruise divorced all three his wives when they were 33 years old…?  Creepers!

I guess we’ll never know, and it’s really none of our business!  One thing Tom Cruise HAS proven is that 50, or 60, is indeed not 30, it’s much better!  And all I really know is that you HAVE to watch “Top Gun: Maverick” on the big screen.  You owe it to yourself!  From the moment you hear the instantly recognizable tolling of the synth bell in Harold Faltermeyer’s stirring Top Gun Anthem, you’ll be on the edge of your seat.

Tom Cruise still has got the jacket, the bike, the aviator shades, and that sexy, white navy uniform.  He will still, undoubtedly, take your breath away!  Dammit!

And it will be like the past 36 years never happened!

Yours in fitness

Mirna

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