Tom Cruise's Dark, Twisted Journey to Scientology's Top Gun

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14. Cruise is a competent actor who invests himself in his film projects

I know it's not popular to say this in some circles, but Cruise makes pretty good movies, partly because he's good at picking projects that showcase his abilities well. (In this manner he's a lot like Sylvester Stallone, Arnold Schwarzenegger, or Dwayne Johnson, none of whom seems like acting talent at first glance.) Edge of Tomorrow is one of the best movies made in recent years, and I'll be seeing TG:M today partly because it's getting very good reviews.

This of course has nothing to do with his personal or religious life. One can be a great actor or an inspirational public personality while being an absolute shit in private. And Scientology treats its celebrity members very differently from the cog-level schmoos who basically end up enslaved as they try to pay for auditing and other procedures.