Tom Cruise (The Last Samurai) stars in one of his finest Academy Award® nominated roles in "Jerry Maguire," which stands out as one of the better pictures of 1996. In a year when movies made in foreign countries were the best pictures distributors had to work with, this Cameron Crowe written and directed work was the best America could put together that year.

"Jerry Maguire" is about a high end sports agent who has an epiphany and soon finds himself self-employed because of it. The picture focuses on his choices when dealing with his last and only client Rod Tidwell, a receiver for the Arizona Cardinals, as well as his only employee, turned love of his life, Dorothy Boyd.

Tidwell is played famously by Cuba Gooding Jr. (Boat Trip), whose performance brought him a supporting actor Academy Award® that year. His take on a highly egotistical professional athlete who feels he should be viewed as a marquee player is masterful.

Academy Award® winner, not for "Jerry Maguire," Renée Zellweger offers her performance in the role of Dorothy, which illuminates the film's darkest scenes. Although her character does not come off as deep as others, like Maguire and Tidwell, what Zellweger did with her material was unforgettable.

Another spicy performance came from, one of my favorite mature actresses, Bonnie Hunt (The Green Mile) as Dorothy's sister Laurel Boyd. Plenty of laughs were created by Hunt, playing a bitter divorcé, who is skeptical of Dorothy's involvement with Maguire both professionally and personally from the very beginning.

Writer/director Cameron Crowe secured his career with this picture after only having "Singles" and the late '80s classic "Say Anything" to brag about. Of course, let's not forget his largest claim to fame until that point, "Fast Times at Ridgemont High."

After "Maguire" landed Crowe an Academy Award® nomination in the Best Original Screenplay category, his work did not return to the big screen until four years later with his semi-autobiographical "Almost Famous."

Crowe's choices on "Maguire" stood out from the Hollywood look of movies in its class, while still maintaining a Hollywood polish. I have much respect for his efforts on this one, since the freedom of his on screen talent was very apparent.

"Jerry Maguire" has been a favorite of mine for quite some time, and man or woman, if you have not already seen it, it's time you do.

Benn - Where's the Humanity?