Take 161: Body of Lies & Legend. Cruise Vs. DiCaprio: A Hollywood Legacy Pt. 3

In this week’s Mostly Film, we're pitting two Hollywood heavyweights against each other in a cinematic showdown: Tom Cruise in Legend (1985) vs. Leonardo DiCaprio in Body of Lies (2008).

First up, we go deep into The Casting of Legend—a pre-Top Gun Cruise donning long locks and fairy-tale armor in Ridley Scott’s surreal fantasy epic. We’ll talk about how he nearly passed on the role, the version of the film he actually preferred, and how Legend gave us a rare look at Cruise in the fantasy genre—though Tim Curry’s devilish performance may have stolen the spotlight.

Then we shift gears into the gritty world of Body of Lies, where DiCaprio goes full-on CIA in Ridley Scott’s modern spy thriller. From gaining 25 pounds to demanding on-location shooting in Morocco, Leo’s dedication was real—and so was the intensity. We’ll cover how this film fits into his “gritty realism” era and why his performance is considered one of his most underrated.

Plus, we’re breaking down The Performances, The Direction, and The Critical Reception—how both actors were shaped (or overshadowed) by their directors, the worlds they stepped into, and the legacies these films left behind.

Is Cruise’s ethereal Jack a forgotten fantasy prince? Does DiCaprio’s Roger Ferris deserve more love in the spy thriller pantheon? You decide.

It’s fairytale forests vs. Middle Eastern war zones. Light vs. Lies. Cruise vs. DiCaprio.