Tom Cruise is once again embroiled in controversy...this time over publicity photos released to promote his forthcoming film Valkyrie.
The photos, which purport to show a side-by-side comparison of Cruise and the man he portrays in Valkyrie, would-be Hitler assassin Claus von Stauffenberg, were apparently put out in response to contentions that Cruise was miscast. Indeed, the photos seem to show a superficial physical resemblance between the real von Stauffenberg (left) and Cruise (right):
Unfortunately, the picture of "von Stauffenberg" appears to have been doctored. An untouched image of von Stauffenberg (the leftmost in the trio below) shows less of a resemblance to Cruise.
Slate took up the case, sending the pictures to a pair of photographic experts. The experts' opinion...somebody perpetrated some funny-business on the pictures.
"Look at the nose, mouth, and chin. Definite (but slight) altering. Also, the head's width is squeezed slightly," said Jim Fesante. And Holly Allen said: "To me, the nose looks different and definitely the eyebrows. Cheekbones and angle of the chin, too."
You don't really need to be an expert to see that someone took a picture of Cruise and married it to the picture of von Stauffenberg. And this bit of photographic trickery is supposed to reassure us that Cruise was actually a good choice for the role? Even if Cruise did bear a resemblance to von Stauffenberg, what would that have to do with his ability to play the part?
This is another example of how little respect Cruise and his people have for our intelligence. They regard us as peasants who will swallow just about anything. And even if it doesn't work? They'll just deny it, then sue anyone who presses them on the issue.
