Few Hollywood stars have exemplified the complete package of good looks, superstardom, and memorable acting performances like Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise. While the Cocktail star courted action by becoming the face of an iconic franchise like Mission: Impossible, Pitt went on to gain recognition by taking on challenging roles that showcased his acting talent.
Both stars are two of Hollywood’s biggest draws, but when it comes to performing one’s own death-defying stunts even after so many years, Cruise takes the honors. Pitt meanwhile, openly confessed while accepting an award a few years ago, that doing his own stunts did not come naturally to him with age.
Brad Pitt Got Real About Action And Stunts
A defining part of being an action star has to do with the stunts involved in the films. While many actors have body doubles to substitute them during these moments, Tom Cruise has been an exception to the rule by defying logic and daring to do his own dangerous action sequences even more enthusiastically as age caught up with him. While the Minority Report star is truly unique in this sense, his Hollywood compatriot Brad Pitt is more realistic about his body.
The Oscar winner openly spoke about his future in the industry a few years ago when he was presented with the Maltin Modern Masters award in Santa Barbara for his contribution to cinema. Expressing his gratitude on receiving the honor, Pitt gave a relatable speech that featured in the YouTube channel of Associated Press, and elaborated on what had changed for him as an actor.
”It’s nights like these that tell me that I’m old, been around a while, been doing this a bit, I mean, I can’t stand night shoots anymore. I’ll gladly hand a stunt over to a stuntman. I no longer remember the first rule of Fight Club”
While the journeys of both superstars in Hollywood have been different, the fact remains that both Cruise and Pitt will go down in history as two of the industry’s most influential actors.
The Legendary Rivalry Of Brad Pitt And Tom Cruise
Being famous contemporaries in Hollywood, Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise have had a very colorful rivalry. While the two celebrities were allegedly reported to have not seen eye to eye in the 1994 horror flick Interview with a Vampire, both actors have also crossed paths regularly as competitors when their films have been pitted together for awards and recognitions.
The two stars went head to head in 2009 in a battle of World War dramas, Inglorious Basterds and Valkyrie. Brad Pitt’s film won this bout easily with Inglorious Basterds becoming a runaway hit. Cut to 2022, the Twelve Monkeys actor once again rubbed salt into Cruise’s wound when he was nominated for Best Actor at the Golden Globes for Babylon while the Mission: Impossible star failed to receive one for Top Gun: Maverick.
This snub for Cruise was more significant considering the fact that he created quite a few talking points by being referred to as the ‘savior’ of Hollywood after the success of Top Gun 2. Nevertheless, the fact remains that no one can quite replace the Jerry Maguire actor in his niche field, just like Brad Pitt cannot be denied credit for the decisions he has made in his career.
