How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Like (The Old) Tom Cruise

Tom Cruise in Mission: Impossible:: Rogue Nation

Here's the general truth: I do not care about Tom Cruise nowadays. It is very likely that I will never see Mission: Impossible:: Rogue Nation. His recent string of action movies are the kind that don't appeal to me, even causing a trip to see Oblivion to leave me wondering if the movie was just bad or I had undiagnosed A.D.D. that made staring at the ceiling all the more interesting. Yet there is something that a more recent audience must accept that isn't entirely represented by his recent output: Cruise was actually a pretty good actor when he had subject matter that challenged him. True, these films challenge him to scale skyscrapers and dangle from planes, but what I mean is that Cruise is actually secretly good.

A Look at 20 of Rick Baker's Noteworthy Achievements in Film

Center: Rick Baker as Dino the Gorilla in Kentucky Fried Movie

Yesterday marked the announcement of legendary makeup artist Rick Baker's retirement from film. While there's a chance you are likely wondering who he is, there's a strong chance that you have seen his work in some of the most iconic films of the past 40 years. With seven Academy Award wins (and 12 nominations total), he is one of the most recognized artists in Oscars history. While he has done great work in blockbusters, he's also integral in revolutionizing and even creating an identity for various actors' careers, including Eddie Murphy. For those who still don't know who he is, here is a brief look at 20 times you have seen his work without realizing it.