Good film spoiled by Tom Cruise

Rating: 5/10 (13 October 2014)

I enjoyed this film in some ways. It had an intelligent premise, a good script, very good special effects, a story, and generally good acting.
However, why is it that whenever I see Tom Cruise in a film he always reminds me of Tom Cruise and never of the character he is meant to be portraying? I just don't get the Tom Cruise appeal.
His acting is wooden.
Is "method acting" an alternative to "can't act"? Judging by Cruise's efforts in this film it could be.
Why did the whole film seem to be based around him? He was in virtually every scene to the point where his absence was welcomed. And why so many close ups? It was like watching a vain Hollywood starlet from the golden age, best typified by Gloria Swanson acting the role of Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard. "Are you ready for my close up?". Even Norma Desmond understood that a close up was something special. Unfortunately, Tom Cruise has this still to learn.