Oakley, renowned for its performance-minded eyewear, took on the challenge of creating glasses that could withstand the extreme conditions of Cruise’s motorcycle jump and skydiving combination. Safety and performance were the top priorities during the design process, ensuring that the eyewear would seamlessly integrate into Cruise’s persona while delivering optimal functionality.
Nick Garfias, Oakley’s VP of Design and the mastermind behind the project, emphasized the importance of maintaining Cruise’s image. The final result is a pair of goggles that are minimalistic and practically invisible. The thin, seamless frame exudes a lightweight appearance and feel, adding to Cruise’s overall badassery during the stunt.
The Rise of Tom Cruise
Tom Cruise is an actor and producer who is based in America. He is the recipient of many valuable awards like Golden and Honorary Palme d’Or and Academy Awards. His movies have crossed billion dollar club several times.
Tom Cruise was born in Syracuse, New York, America, on 3rd July 1962. Tom Cruise was born to Mary Lee, who worked as a teacher for special education, and Thomas Cruise Mapother III, who was an electrical engineer. Most of Tom’s childhood was spent in Canada and other times traveling from places; Tom changed 15 years in just 14 years of his life.
Just after graduating from high school, Tom moved to New York to begin his career in acting and later moved to Los Angeles in search of roles in movies or television series.
His first ever movie was ‘Endless Love’ in which he appeared for just a small part in the year 1981. Later he got a major supporting role in the movie ‘Taps’ in the same year, 1981. He also played roles in the movies like ‘The Outsiders, ‘All the Right Moves’, and ‘Risky Business’; these movies marked the initial success of Tom Cruise.
In the year 1985, Tom Cruise got his first male lead role in a movie which was ‘Legend’ directed by Ridley Scott. In the year 1986, Tom Cruise gave his first superhit movie ‘Top Gun’ and appeared as a superstar.
Later after the Top Gun movie, Tom starred in ‘The Color of Money,’ which was directed by Martin Scorsese and was released in the year 1986, Tom was paired with Paul Newman in the movie, and their chemistry was praised by many. Tom Cruise’s first Golden Globe Award for Best Actor came in 1989 with the movie ‘Born on the Fourth of July’, which was directed by Oliver Stone, the maker of Scarface.
Later over several years, Tom gave many hits like ‘Vanilla Sky’ in the year 2001, ‘The Last Samurai’ in the year 2003, ‘War of the Worlds’ in the year 2005, ‘Knight and Day’ in the year 2010, and many more. Tom Cruise highest grossing film in his entire career till date came in the year 2022, was ‘Top Gun: Maverick,’ the movie made a revenue of $1 billion worldwide.
Also Read: Vietnam Government Bans Controversial Element in Warner Bros ‘Barbie’ Movie
The Beginning of the Mission Impossible Franchise
The year 1996 was the start of the Mission Impossible franchise, as the first movie was released in 1996 featuring Tom Cruise, which still continues with Tom playing the character of a spy named Ethan Hunt.
Mission: Impossible is a popular adventure series of action spy films based on the 1966 TV series created by Bruce Geller from America. The series is primarily produced by Tom Cruise, who also acted in the series as Ethan Hunt, an agent of the Impossible Missions Force (IMF).
There are many films in the franchise that have been directed, written, and scored by various filmmakers and crew. However, the musical themes from the original series by Lalo Schifrin are incorporated into all of them.
The films were started in 1996(six years after the previous TV sequel series) and follow the missions of the IMF’s central field team, with Hunt as the team’s leader, to stop an enemy force and prevent an impending global disaster.
The series centers around Hunt’s character and is complemented by an ensemble cast, such as Ving Rhames, who played the character Luther Stickell, and Simon Pegg, who played the role of Benji Dunn, who have recurring roles.
Positive reactions were received from critics and audiences. It soon rose to popularity by becoming the 18th-highest-grossing film series of all time. Its collection was over $3.8 billion around the world and is often described as one of the best action franchises.
Epic Missions Unleashed: A Recap of the Mission: Impossible Film Series
- Mission: Impossible (1996): Ethan Hunt, framed for his team’s murder, uncovers a traitor while on the run.
- Mission: Impossible 2 (2000): Ethan teams up with thief Nyah to stop an ex-agent from unleashing a deadly virus.
- Mission: Impossible III (2006): Ethan faces arms dealer Owen Davian to protect his fiancée and recover a dangerous object.
- Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (2011): Ethan and his team must clear their names after being framed for a Kremlin bombing.
- Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation (2015): Ethan exposes the Syndicate, a dangerous organization, while defending the IMF’s existence.
- Mission: Impossible – Fallout (2018): Ethan battles the Apostles, a terrorist group seeking to unleash chaos with stolen plutonium.
- Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One (2023): The latest installment follows Ethan’s daring missions and high-stakes adventures.
Unmasking the Insanity: Tom Cruise’s Death-Defying Motorcycle Stunt Trumps Custom Oakleys
As the latest installment of the Mission: Impossible franchise, “Dead Reckoning Part I,” hits theatres this week, audiences are in for a jaw-dropping spectacle of death-defying stunts. Among these adrenaline-pumping feats is Tom Cruise’s incredible motorcycle cliff jump in Norway.
While much has been said about the meticulous planning and intense preparation behind the scenes, one element has remained largely under the radar: Cruise’s custom Oakley glasses. Designed specifically for this daring stunt, these specialized eyewear pieces bring a touch of functionality and style to the heart-pounding action.
Collaboration and Iteration: Perfecting the Performance
Cruise’s longstanding relationship with Oakley, dating back to their collaboration on previous Mission: Impossible films, played a crucial role in bringing these custom glasses to life.
The movie’s prop master, Barry Gibbs, along with Oakley’s film and TV placement team, worked closely to ensure the glasses met the unique demands of the stunt. This wasn’t merely about selecting existing styles; it required a bespoke frame capable of withstanding the high-stakes challenges Cruise would face.
The design process commenced during the pandemic, necessitating virtual collaboration and a full head scan of Cruise to achieve an impeccable fit. Oakley’s cutting-edge 3D printing capabilities proved invaluable, enabling the team to create rapid mock-ups that were sent to Cruise and Gibbs for testing.
Iterations were meticulously cataloged, constantly focusing on maintaining optimal optics, fit, fogging prevention, and retention. Cruise’s invaluable insights and feedback were the guiding force behind each modification, ensuring the glasses could perform flawlessly during the most intense moments of filming.
The Result: A Seamless Blend of Performance and Style
The collaboration between Oakley and Cruise yielded exceptional results. The meticulously crafted glasses seamlessly melded into Cruise’s daring performance, ensuring he could rely on them in the most treacherous situations.
While the details of the glasses have been kept relatively low-key, the emphasis on safety, performance, and style is evident. These custom Oakleys provide the necessary protection and clarity and elevate Cruise’s on-screen persona, adding a touch of sophistication to his death-defying feats.
With the success of this collaboration, Oakley hinted at the possibility of a consumer-ready version of these remarkable glasses hitting the stores. As fans eagerly await the release of “Dead Reckoning Part II” next year, whispers of yet another custom pair being designed for Cruise in the film ignite anticipation.
Oakley’s continuous innovation and Cruise’s unwavering commitment to pushing the boundaries of action cinema ensure that future installments of Mission: Impossible will feature more mind-boggling stunts complemented by cutting-edge eyewear.
While Tom Cruise’s custom Oakley glasses may have remained under the radar amidst the buzz surrounding his breathtaking motorcycle cliff jump, they play a crucial role in enhancing both his performance and on-screen persona.
Oakley’s dedication to safety, performance, and seamless design resulted in a pair of eyewear that effortlessly blends into the heart-pounding action while ensuring Cruise looks like the epitome of a total badass. As the Mission: Impossible franchise continues to captivate audiences, the collaboration between Cruise and Oakley promises even more awe-inspiring stunts and remarkable eyewear in the years to come.
