The Best of Tony Scott — Vol 5.
Tom Cruise completists such as myself will forever proclaim that they saw Risky Business on the day of release and are therefore THE authority on all matters pertaining to the cinematic career of Thomas Cruise Mapother IV but like me, they’d be lying. No-one saw Risky Business in 1983 let alone the other six films at the beginning of the career of Hollywood’s star man. But we all saw Top Gun in that epochal year of 1986 and the reason why I’m writing this ode to Tom Cruise directly to you dear reader, as though we are one and the same age, it’s because we are. Whilst I try desperately to shake from the bonds of my incredulity at Tom Cruise’s adoration for the religion of Scientology, I still end up watching every one of his films like a 14 year old teenager with far, far too much to say for himself.
The follow up to 1986’s love letter to American exceptionalism and “Playing With The Boys” with Kenny Loggins, was this year’s exceptional Top Gun: Maverick in itself both a love letter to the original and believe it or not, only Tom Cruise’s 46th all time credited cinematic performance. For he seems to be both looking younger the older he gets as well as figuring in my entire cinema going life and he must surely have starred in more films than 46? (Please stop calling me Shirley, Aeronautics Editor). But 46 it is according to www.imdb.com and I’ve seen every blooming one of them.
We all play our Shakespearian parts in this upside down world of ours and Tom Cruise plays his part of superstar film actor like few others can. He’s a film star, a stratospheric otherworldly one for over three decades in which he’s built and curated two separate and well loved “franchises” as well as being the star attraction and the film star needed for the cinematic visions of Steven Spielberg, Barry Levinson, Martin Scorsese, Oliver Stone, Brian De Palma, Cameron Crowe and, very pleasingly for me, both Paul Thomas Anderson and Stanley Kubrick, all before the turn of a century in which he’d then team up with Christopher McQuarrie and reinvent the Mission: Impossible franchise and work with Steven Spielberg twice more as well as putting in a performance for the ages for Michael Mann in 2004’s Collateral.
Of the 39 credited roles since our main event under discussion, Top Gun, I’ve written reviews for ten of them, despise two and obsess over one to the point of absurdity, both for the masterpiece that is the film, and Tom Cruise’s incredible performance. You have 39 to choose from if you wish to guess which film I’m referring to, so choose wisely!
But we return to where it all began in 1986 and under the watchful eye of the one and only Tony Scott. The spoiler free review itself is reproduced in full below but can also be found in my opus blog article on the entire cinematic career of that lover of life, Tony Scott. I’ve also linked a spoiler free review of this year’s Top Gun follow up beneath my behemoth article on Tony Scott, and I hope you have a need for speed and you enjoy this article I originally penned a decade ago.
Tony Scott (1944–2012). A Cinematic Legend.
All 16 films. All lovingly appreciated. All spoiler free.medium.com
Top Gun: Maverick (2022)
A love letter to the original that’s an absolute joy.medium.com
“I feel the need. The need for Speed!”
For those unfamiliar with this eponymous mid 1980’s blockbuster, a very brief premise: Top Gun is a flight school for the USA Navy, the “best of the best”, “the elite”, a tough training school for ACM (Air Combat Manoeuvres) or air combat dog fighting. The front line of attack and defence for the USA Navy.
A stereotypical 1980’s film production from Jerry Bruckheimer and Don Simpson, this second film from Tony Scott remains a personal favourite from my teenage childhood. A film I still love and a film that never fails to make me smile 26 years since it’s original release, it has dated a little but to associate a film of this age as dating a little is barely a criticism. It’s not perfect by any means, with the main criticism residing in a stale, sometimes lame screenplay which, when viewed now retrospectively, stunts some of the performances. A film definitely of it’s time, but one that still holds it’s own and a benchmark of the 1980’s blockbuster genre.
Backed by the excellent musical score from Harold Faltermeyer, the soundtrack of which is highly recommended for those of a 40 years old plus vintage! Spawning numerous hits, the two most famous of which litter the film in varying guises. The film opens with “Danger Zone” by Kenny Loggins and this is splintered throughout the film, as is both an instrumental version and full version of Berlin’s eponymous hit “Take my Breath Away”. The soundtrack as a whole is superb, with two further world famous songs noted below. In addition to the soundtrack is a stellar cast, the majority of whom have become household acting names since release. But none more so than Tom Cruise, who plays “Maverick”. His duel and indeed dual scenes with Val Kilmer’s “Ice Man” is the centre of the film, two ace pilots determined to outdo the other, to prove they’re the “best of the best”, one of the film’s many taglines. Anthony Edwards is on star form as “Goose” Maverick’s co-pilot, similarly Rick Rossovich as “Slider” co-pilot to Ice Man. Michael Ironside plays “Jester” brilliantly, as does Tom Skerritt, in a stand out performance as the older, more experienced and looked up to leader “Viper”. I could mention many more performances but will end by confirming a small cameo role for Tim Robbins as “Merlin”.
With a typical three act structure, we follow Maverick’s life, his troubles, his duality and the loveable core to his being. Fiercely defensive of his Partner Goose and of his own abilities, this leads to the other key central strand of the film and his developing friendship and love interest with “Charlie” (Kelly McGillis). Two short scenes develop this perfectly.
Late for their “classified” date, Maverick, his motorcycle and Berlin’s instrumental “Take my Breath Away” leads to the sweetest scene of the film. Playful banter leads Maverick to reminisce about his parents, as “Sitting on the dock of the Bay” plays in the apartment.
“Maverick” — “You are direct, aren’t you?”
“Charlie” — “This is gonna be complicated”
Following a high speed chase, Berlin’s instrumental version of “Take my Breath Away” still playing, an angry confrontation leads Charlie to confess:
“But I held something back. I see some real genius in your flying Maverick, but I can’t say that in there”.
There are many more notable scenes in this benchmark 1980’s blockbuster, the highlights being Viper reassuring Maverick of his Father’s brilliance during a beach side walk and the continual butting of heads between Maverick and Ice Man. But the gem scenes are reserved for the laughter and smiles that will break out every time you see this film.
The beach volleyball game for the utter 1980’s “feel” (and the accompanying song!), the Tower Flyby’s or “buzzing the Tower”, Goose’s young son sitting atop a piano as his Dad plays “Great Balls of Fire!” which leads to Meg Ryan’s small cameo as “Carole” and her fantastic “Hey Goose, you big STUD! Take me to bed or lose me forever!” line. Which is my personal favourite of the entire film. Or indeed Maverick and Goose with their “You’ve lost that loving feeling” bar routine.
Yes the film has aged a little and I’m probably a little biased, but it’s still a wonderful film and brilliantly directed by Tony Scott.
Thanks for reading. Just for larks as always, and always a human reaction rather than spoilers galore. My three most recently published film articles are linked below or there’s well over 100 blog articles (with 300+ individual film reviews) within my archives from which to choose:
“Edward Scissorhands” (1990)
The Best of Tim Burton — Vol 1.medium.com
“Down Terrace” (2009)
Ben Wheatley’s disturbing and blackly comedic cinematic debut.medium.com
“Biutiful” (2010)
Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu and his fourth in a “Quadrilogy of Death”.medium.com