That's the buzz out here in Hollywood as Cruise's
embarrassing and unconvincing
public-romance campaign continues to bubble along
on all fronts.
The campaign has two "hit" dates: this Friday,
when Holmes' "Batman
Begins" opens, and next Friday, when Cruise's
"War of the Worlds" debuts.
The Garner plan began last summer, I'm told, when
Cruise was first talking
to "Alias" creator J.J. Abrams about directing
"Mission: Impossible 3."
"That's when Cruise had a meeting with Garner,"
my source says, "just
like he eventually had a meeting with Holmes."
The meeting was inconsequential, I'm told, but
what followed was
memorable: a "bombardment" of phone calls from
Cruise, who was
determined to make Garner his arm candy and possible
"M:I3" co-star.
Only one problem: Garner was in the process of
getting back on track
with "Daredevil" co-star Ben Affleck in a real
way.
"When Jennifer moved into her new home, Tom starting
sending her gifts,"
my source says. "That's when she called him and
said, 'It has to stop.'
She told him she was with Ben. That's when the
Katie plan took hold."
Cruise and the inventors of this odd plan must
believe Romance 2005
will work to their benefit.
It has certainly has worked for the folks behind
Brad Pitt and Angelina
Jolie's "Mr. and Mrs. Smith." The movie got lukewarm
reviews, as
predicted, but still managed to score a $51 million
opening weekend.
That should do a lot to offset its $130 million
budget.
"War of the Worlds," directed by Steven Spielberg,
and "Batman Begins,"
from "Memento" director Christopher Nolan, have
similar nuts to crack.
Meantime, the whole Cruise-Holmes fiasco - including
Cruise's several
public statements that "Katie Digs Scientology"
- is reflecting more
poorly on one person, and it isn't either of
the main players.
People are starting to wonder what the heck has
happened to the usually
savvy Oprah Winfrey, who hosted the couple's
now infamous public
display of cynicism on her show.