Director Brad Bird Praises Tom Cruise At Tribeca Film Festival; Janeane Garofalo Jokes About Scientology

One of the final conversations in the Tribeca Talks: Directors Series at the 2015 Tribeca Film Festival brought together comedian Janeane Garofalo and “Tomorrowland” director Brad Bird. The two previously collaborated on Bird’s 2007 Pixar film “Ratatouille,” in which Garofalo voiced the role of Colette. Here though, Garofalo was given the task of interviewer for a candid conversation about Bird’s career.

An interesting moment came when the pair was discussing the elaborate stunts in Bird’s “Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol.” Bird spoke at length about franchise star Tom Cruise’s high level of commitment to physical fitness in order to deliver for the movie.

“Those [stunts] are like Olympic events and Tom especially, because his stuff is so physical, trains for each stunt so that he is peaking with what that particular stunt needs on that particular day. He takes it really seriously, which is why he can do things like climb the Burj Khalifa and do it and look effortless about it."

Garofalo, though, could not resist making a jab at Cruise’s Scientology background, especially only one month after the release of “Going Clear,” HBO’s documentary on the controversial religion.

“Thank you, L.R.H. [For Tom Cruise],” joked Garofalo, in reference to Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard.

“That’s a very inside reference,” Bird responded.

However, Garofalo disagreed that Scientology gossip was Hollywood insider material at this point.

“Not really, that documentary … Woo! ‘Going Clear’ -- We could talk about that all day,” Garofalo said.

Bird and Garofalo moved on to other subjects, but the comedic moment suggests that “Going Clear” has put criticisms of Scientology in the public eye.

Bird’s “Tomorrowland,” starring George Clooney, opens in theaters nationwide May 22. The Tribeca Film Festival, meanwhile, will end April 26.