THE FIRM (1993)

Law student Tom Cruise is a big ol’ dummy.  He might be smart enough to graduate from Harvard Law School, but he must have just got off last night’s bus from Stupidsville when he decided to take a job at an evil law firm populated by “all white, all male, all married” nerds who look like they just stepped out of THE STEPFORD WIVES.  Things go peachy for a few days, but then before you can say “I wish a hyped-up black church choir would cover Boston’s ‘Let Me Take You Home Tonight’.” ol’ Tommy Cruise is running super fast all over the joint, sweatin’ up a storm, with none other than a long-haired, albino Jigsaw economically jogging behind him with a surprisingly smooth gait.

I’m by no means an expert (on anything) on legal thrillers from the 1990’s, but THE FIRM seemed fine to me.  The 154-minute runtime passed by quickly enough and I was entertained from beginning to end.  Also, the cast was very impressive!  If I had to make some complaints, it would be that the evil law firm wasn’t evil enough.  Also, the Memphis setting was dull and unattractive to look at.  And that piano-heavy soundtrack!  Oh my god, I love the piano, but that was too goddamn much!

Overall, THE FIRM is too safe for its own good, but still watchable thanks to an outstanding cast.

EDGE OF TOMORROW (2014)

GROUNDHOG DAY meets Gears of War (with a dash of STARSHIP TROOPERS) and it's pretty fucking badass.  Military officer Tom Cruise wants no part in actual fighting, but one day he finds himself on the front line of a D-Day style beach invasion of humans (in battle suits) versus some awesome looking aliens called Mimics.  Things happen and Cruise is killed, but not before being bathed in weird alien goo.  (Kinky.)  Then...Cruise wakes up the previous day.  He's forced into battle again and dies again...only to wake up in the same time and place as he did before.  What the Hell is going on here?

I really, really enjoyed EDGE OF TOMORROW.  The video game feel to it, the time travel aspect with a strong story, awesome looking alien invaders that have a terrifying fighting style, very impressive editing, beautiful photography, the light humor that's not forced and actually funny, tons and tons of action.  EDGE OF TOMORROW is a blast!  I've always been a fan of Tom Cruise, but he's really been upping his game lately with films like this and OBLIVION. 

Highly recommended and the less said the better.  Just watch it.