Tom Cruise gets a lot of flak. The man has been making hit movies for decades, and has found a solid niche playing characters who are intense, charming, conflicted heroes. Did I mention intense? He occupies an enviable position in Hollywood among the thousands of would-be actors hoping for a walk-on role in anything Marvel Studios does, and barely dare to dream of a career like Tom’s.

As we have gotten to know Tom (I say this knowing full well none of us really knows Tom) there have been headlines and gossip columns and photos and more headlines telling us he’s a little bit off-balance; that maybe his Scientology beliefs and general Intensity have gotten the best of him.

But guess what? WHO CARES??

Tom is not the first actor who got rich portraying characters in films basically the same way he lives his every day life. In fact, I would say this is what makes him a helluva lot more interesting than most actors acting today. (Marvel Studios productions casts excepted.) Every role he has ever played has been Intense. Even when things weren’t blowing up and he wasn’t driving motorcycles without a helmet.

So, let me share with you my favorite new Tom Cruise moment. This video from The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon perfectly demonstrates the Intensity that inhabits Thomas Cruise Mapother IV, and does not inhabit the rest of us.

Highlights (and Evidence of Intensity)

1. At 2:00 he sighs in perfect timing with the singer… obviously, he approached this lip sync battle just as seriously as EVERY OTHER PERFORMANCE HE’S EVER OFFERED.
2. At 4:57 takes off his jacket. You know why? Because he’s INTENSE. And, he’s charming too, remember? *wink*
3. He laughs self-deprecatingly as if he doesn’t actually believe himself that’s he’s Perfectly Intense. But I bet he knows. How could he not know??
4. He runs a hand through his hair four times. He has Intense hair in every film, AND in real life.
5. His every move is perfectly choreographed with the camera crew. (See #1)

Truly, Jimmy didn’t stand a chance on this one. The movie that made Tom famous featured him lip syncing in his tighty-whities forcryingoutloud… he strokes his hair while singing along with “Werewolves of London” in The Color of Money… and then he actually sang You’ve Lost that Lovin’ Feeling” in Top Gun! I mean. Do you smell a set up? I think Tom’s Intensity is rubbing off on his publicist.

Love you Tom. Keep on being Intense. I’ll keep watching.