The Real Cruise Persona

The speaker believes that the most captivating Tom Cruise characters are those who outwardly appear to have everything but are struggling internally. Unlike the typical action hero roles, the speaker's favorite Cruise roles are the ones where he portrays characters who seem to be dying inside, such as in 'Magnolia', 'Eyes Wide Shut', 'Risky Business', 'Minority Report', 'The Color of Money', 'The Firm', and 'Rock of Ages'. The speaker appreciates Cruise's performances where there is a sense of unfulfillment and inner turmoil, making these characters more relatable and intriguing to the audience.