The color scheme of a film can act like an uncredited character, influencing the vibe of each scene. Movie LUTs, a popular platform on social media, assists filmmakers with color design and also features games where players guess movies based on color palettes. Some celebrities have participated in these games, with varying levels of success. For instance, Robert De Niro got a few answers right but seemed hesitant. In contrast, Tom Cruise seemed very sure of himself, almost as if he wasn’t guessing at all.
In a clip shared online, Cruise teamed up with Alejandro G. Iñárritu, who wrote and directed the film Digger, which Cruise produced and starred in. They were both excited to start the game, which had five levels, similar to the structure used in the Hot Ones YouTube series. The first color palette displayed deep blues, tans, browns, and creams. They were given three movie options: the original Top Gun from 1986, the sequel Top Gun: Maverick from 2022, or Edge of Tomorrow. All three films featured Cruise, and he quickly identified the palette as belonging to Top Gun: Maverick, stating he recognized the color differences.
Next, it was Iñárritu’s turn, and he was shown a color profile with more blues and browns. He had to choose from three of his own films: Amores Perros, The Revenant, and Babel. Both he and Cruise agreed that the correct answer was The Revenant, which was confirmed as right.
Then, Cruise faced a palette with more purples. His options were Minority Report, Magnolia, and Eyes Wide Shut. He confidently selected Eyes Wide Shut, identifying the purple hue. The host remarked that the answers seemed too easy for them. Cruise laughed and mentioned that they spend a lot of time analyzing their films.
In the next round, Iñárritu mistakenly picked 21 Grams instead of Birdman, surprising both men. Cruise leaned closer to the screen, pointing out details in the colors. At level five, the palette featured brown, blue, and white. Once again, Cruise was confident, declaring it was from the original Mission Impossible. When asked if it was the first film, he confirmed it was and explained his thoughts on a sequence he remembered working on with director Brian De Palma.
As a perfectionist, Cruise expressed disbelief that they missed Birdman. Iñárritu clarified that Birdman has many corridors and a more red theme, while he thought 21 Grams had a lot of yellow and green, which led him to his answer. Cruise humorously suggested Iñárritu shouldn’t make excuses since he had gotten all his answers right. The two shared a laugh and took the moment lightly. The clip received a lot of attention, with many comments praising Cruise’s enthusiasm and the way the game naturally led to discussions about specific film scenes. What do you think about the impact of color in movies?
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Source: Upworthy, by Cecily Knobler