demanding stunts.

Respectfully, tblue37, you have no idea what took place on the set with Mr. Cruise. Making such a declarative statement based on a Hollywood Reporter/TMZ article seems to be rather facile.

Having worked in entertainment for 40 years, I can tell you unequivocally that directors and producers go to extraordinary lengths to protect their actors (and crews), whether or not they are superstars. I've seen scenes restructured and rewritten because the actors were being put into precarious situations. And certainly with big stars, they don't want injuries because of the extraordinarily high costs associated with such mishaps.

Further, the ability to use CGI and other techniques to enhance scenarios makes it possible to have stunts that are far more fantastical than actual. It can be difficult to judge how something was accomplished if you only see the finished film.

Lastly, actors, techs and others do get injured on sets and stages. Similarly, people also get hurt on assembly lines, driving trucks, fighting fires and many other work places. Are those individuals getting too old to perform their functions?

While I agree with your critique that Mr. Cruise is getting a little old for some of the characters he chooses to play, TMZ is sensationalizing what was probably a minor accident.

the fact that Cruise insists on performing so many of his own stunts. He IS getting to the age where that is not wise. The body slows down, reflexes slow down, no matter how physically fit one is. Certainly he is in incredibly good shape, but he is not that young anymore.

And his casting as Jack Reacher is quite a reach. (Sorry!)

Alas, we're all getting older...