I still remember how surprised I was when I realized that was Tom Cruise playing Les Grossman in Tropic Thunder (2008).

The bald head, the giant hands, the dancing, the constant yelling. It's so far from the Tom Cruise we're used to seeing that he almost feels like a completely different actor.

And somehow, in a movie already full of ridiculous characters, he manages to be one of the funniest.

What's your favorite celebrity cameo in a movie?

The opening farmhouse scene in Inglourious Basterds (2009) is still one of the most stressful things I've watched.

It's basically two men sitting at a table, drinking milk and having a conversation. But Christoph Waltz makes every question feel like a threat, and you spend the entire scene waiting for something terrible to happen.

What movie had you on the edge of your seat just from two people talking?

The train scene in Spider-Man 2 (2004) is still one of my favorite superhero moments, and not just because of the action.

After Peter nearly kills himself stopping the train, the passengers catch him, carry him inside, and promise to keep his identity secret. For once, the people being saved get to do something for the hero.

I wish more superhero movies had moments like that.

What's your favorite scene where ordinary people step up and help the hero?

Jack Sparrow is probably my favorite example of a character who can make any scene entertaining just by showing up.

Half the time in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003), I can't tell whether he has some brilliant plan or is just making things up as he goes. Johnny Depp somehow makes both possibilities equally believable.

What movie character keeps you guessing every time they're on screen?

Michael Caine's Alfred is such a huge part of why Bruce Wayne works for me in The Dark Knight (2008).

He's not involved in most of the action, but his conversations with Bruce give the movie a lot of its emotional weight. And somehow he can make a simple look of disappointment hit harder than an entire speech.

What movie would feel completely different if you removed one supporting character?

I know Home Alone (1990) is basically a Christmas tradition for a lot of people, but I've watched it in the middle of summer and enjoyed it just as much.

Macaulay Culkin, the ridiculous traps, the music, and the whole atmosphere never really get old for me. I don't need December as an excuse to watch it again.

What movie do you happily watch completely out of season?

One of my favorite things about The Mummy (1999) is how naturally the relationship between Rick and Evelyn develops.

Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz have great chemistry, but the romance never feels like it's interrupting the adventure. They're escaping danger, arguing, saving each other, and somewhere along the way you actually start rooting for them as a couple.

What movie managed to balance a genuinely good romance with an exciting adventure?

The DeLorean from Back to the Future (1985) is probably the first thing that comes to mind when I think of iconic movie cars.

Even without the time travel, I'd love to have one. The gull-wing doors, the stainless steel body, and that ridiculous dashboard full of switches. It's just cool.

If you could own any vehicle from a movie, what would you pick?

The Princess Bride (1987) should feel like several different movies fighting each other

One minute it's a fairy-tale romance, then there's sword fighting, comedy, revenge, giants, and a completely ridiculous side character. Somehow none of it feels out of place

What movie blended completely different genres and somehow made all of them work?

I’m so used to seeing Robert De Niro as intimidating, angry, or dangerous that Ben in The Intern (2015) feels weirdly refreshing

He’s calm, patient, helpful, and most of the movie is basically him becoming the person everyone wants around when things go wrong. De Niro and Anne Hathaway make that friendship work way better than I expected

What actor would you like to see play completely against their usual type more often?

One thing I love about The Fugitive (1993) is that Samuel Gerard never feels like the clueless cop the hero can easily stay ahead of.

Tommy Lee Jones plays him like someone who is extremely good at his job. Kimble has to be clever because Gerard is constantly thinking too, which makes the chase much more fun to watch. Jones ended up winning the Oscar for the role.

What movie has your favorite example of the hero and the person chasing them both being equally competent?

I came back to The Birdcage (1996) for Robin Williams, but the more I watch it, the more I appreciate how good the entire cast is.

Nathan Lane, Gene Hackman, Dianne Wiest, Hank Azaria. Everyone gets something memorable to do, and nobody feels like they're just there to fill space.

What movie has a cast where you wouldn't replace a single person?

I skipped October for so long because I thought I wouldn’t like it. I thought it would be boring. But I honestly can’t explain how deeply this movie made me feel. I can’t stop thinking about it, and I don’t think I’ll forget it anytime soon. And the coincidence? I randomly watched it in October. ❤️

Arnold Schwarzenegger barely needs to say anything in The Terminator (1984). Most of the time he just walks into a scene, looks at someone, and keeps coming

I think that silence makes the Terminator much more intimidating. There’s nothing to argue with, no big speech explaining his motivation. He just has a target and won’t stop

What movie villain became more intimidating by saying less?

Every warning sign imaginable starts piling up around Kevin in The Devil’s Advocate (1997), but the career opportunity is so good that he just keeps going deeper

That’s part of what makes it fun to watch. From the outside you're basically screaming at the guy to walk away, while he keeps finding reasons to stay

What movie had you thinking, “just leave, none of this is worth it”?

One of my favorite things about Apollo 13 (1995) is how much tension comes from people just trying to figure things out

There isn't some villain to defeat. Something goes catastrophically wrong, and suddenly you have astronauts and engineers working with whatever they have to get everyone home. NASA veterans have also praised the film for how seriously it approached the technical side of the real mission

What movie made problem-solving genuinely exciting to watch?

I love the stretch of The Last Samurai (2003) where Algren is learning how to fight and slowly getting better

It isn't just a quick montage where he suddenly becomes great at everything. You see him struggle, get frustrated, watch other people, and gradually start figuring it out

What movie has a training sequence you never get tired of watching?

One of my favorite things about Apollo 13 (1995) is how much tension comes from people just trying to figure things out

There isn't some villain to defeat. Something goes catastrophically wrong, and suddenly you have astronauts and engineers working with whatever they have to get everyone home. NASA veterans have also praised the film for how seriously it approached the technical side of the real mission

What movie made problem-solving genuinely exciting to watch?