Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman and Robert Duvall in the Tony Scott movie ‘Days of Thunder’

2022 was a summer of revisiting a 20th century adrenaline-infused collaboration of director Tony Scott and actor Tom Cruise. With this film review, we look into the other adrenaline-infused need for speed with the movie Days of Thunder (1990).

(From left, Nicole Kidman as Dr. Claire Lewicki and Tom Cruise as Cole Trickle in the Tony Scott movie Days of Thunder).

The movie Days of Thunder introduces us to young racer Cole Trickle of the Eagle Rock community of Los Angeles County, California. Trickle, as portrayed by Tom Cruise, had success on the World of Outlaws circuit of racing. Realizing that he wouldn’t be able to rise to the level of financial backing to compete at the Indianapolis 500, Cole Trickle’s fortunes took a turn for the better when Chevrolet dealership tycoon Tim Daland, as portrayed by Randy Quaid, recruited him to race on what in 1990 was called the NASCAR Winston Cup Series.

(From left, Robert Duvall as Harry Hogge and John C. Reilly as Buck Bretherton in the Tony Scott movie Days of Thunder).

Daland had recruited crew chief and car builder Harry Hogge, as portrayed by Robert Duvall, out of retirement to lead Cole’s pit crew. Hogge had retired so as to avoid a NASCAR investigation of Hogge’s role in the death of driver Buddy Bretherton. The introduction of personalities and histories weren’t completely smooth, as Buck Bretherton became Cole Trickle’s car chief with this deal. John C. Reilly portrayed Buck Bretherton.

(From left, Randy Quaid as Tim Daland and Michael Rooker as Rowdy Burns in the Tony Scott movie Days of Thunder).

The transition to the NASCAR racing style began for Trickle with the race in Phoenix Raceway in Avondale, Arizona. Besides the intimating style of racing by Winston Cup champion and dirty driver Rowdy Burns, as portrayed by Michael Rooker, communicating with his crew and the aerodynamics of NASCAR racing were a challenge. Races at Bristol Motor Speedway in Bristol, Tennesse, Dover Motor Speedway in Dover, Delaware and Rockingham Speedway in Rockingham, North Carolina led to further communication difficulty.

(From left, Cary Elwes as Russ Wheeler and Fred Thompson as Big John in the Tony Scott movie Days of Thunder).

Things would begin to turn the corner at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, South Carolina. Things between Burns and Trickle as competitors take a dangerous turn at the Firecracker 400 at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. Cole Trickle develops a romantic relationship with neurosurgeon Dr. Claire Lewicki, as portrayed by Nicole Kidman, in the aftermath. NASCAR President Big John, as portrayed by Fred Thompson, intervenes between Trickle and Burns after their incident, though as interesting exchange involving rental cars occurs before the heat of this latter relationship diminishes. Meanwhile, Russ Wheeler, as portrayed by Cary Elwes, races in Burns’ place as the two recover.

(From left, actor Tom Cruise and director Tony Scott during the filming of the Tony Scott movie Days of Thunder).

The drama that climbs to the surface at the Daytona 500 to start the next racing season, with many strings of story coming to a head with how the race resolves itself, were satisfying if a bit predictable. The racing scenes themselves were more realistic than I’ve seen in other racing films. The extreme sense of wills clashing seems legitimate to the sport of auto racing, however. It is in this space that my regard for the film improves. Overall, I give Days of Thunder as directed by Tony Scott and co-produced by Jerry Bruckheimer 3.75-stars on a scale of 1-to-5.

Matt – Saturday, August 20, 2022

Tom Cruise, Kelly McGillis, Val Kilmer and the Tony Scott movie ‘Top Gun’

Better received by audiences than critics with its sequel due to be released on Tuesday, the Tony Scott movie Top Gun (1986) has entered our scopes and been picked up on our radar. This action drama of elite naval aviators brings us questions of love, loyalty and coming-of-age that make for some high-octane speed and aerial daring.

(John Stockwell as Lieutenant Bill ‘Cougar’ Cortell in the Tony Scott movie Top Gun).

Top Gun opens with United States Navy aviators Lieutenant Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell and Lieutenant Junior Grade Nick ‘Goose’ Bradshaw flying an F-14A Tomcat from the USS Enterprise above the Indian Ocean. The aviators engage two hostile (and fictional) MiG-28 aircraft, with Mitchell and Bradshaw gaining missile lock on one of the two combat aircraft. The other MiG-28 locks onto the F-14A Tomcat flown by wingmen Lieutenant Bill ‘Cougar’ Cortell and Lieutenant Junior Grade Sam ‘Merlin’ Wells, which scares Cortell into never flying again. Mitchell, Bradshaw, Cortell and Wells were portrayed, respectively, by Tom Cruise, Anthony Edwards, John Stockwell and Tim Robbins.

(Back row from left, Rick Rossovich as Lieutenant Junior Grade Ron ‘Slider’ Kerner and Anthony Edwards as Lieutenant Junior Grade Nick ‘Goose’ Bradshaw. Front row from left, Val Kilmer as Lieutenant Tom ‘Iceman’ Kazansky and Tom Cruise as Lieutenant Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell in the Tony Scott movie Top Gun).

The above incident follows Bradshaw and Mitchell to TOPGUN, aka Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor program, who get to attend the program for elite Naval combat airmen. It’s at a bar outside the TOPGUN facility before the training begins, Bradshaw helps Mitchell embarrassingly attempt to attract a woman at a bar. We later learn that the woman in question is civilian TOPGUN instructor Charlotte ‘Charlie’ Blackwood, as portrayed by Kelly McGillis. The awkwardness increases as it’s learned that Blackwood is investigating the incident from the Indian Ocean.

(Back row from left, Tom Cruise as Lieutenant Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell and Kelly McGillis as Charlotte ‘Charlie’ Blackwood. Front row from left, Meg Ryan as Carole Bradshaw and Anthony Edwards as Lieutenant Junior Grade Nick ‘Goose’ Bradshaw in the Tony Scott movie Top Gun).

The way TOPGUN works is that a class of elite naval aviators compete in increasingly difficult scenarios to train them to improve their tactics in combat. The teams are graded at each step in a competitive process that brings Bradshaw and Mitchell into conflict with Lieutenant Tom ‘Iceman’ Kazansky and Lieutenant Junior Grade Ron ‘Slider’ Kerner, portrayed by Val Kilmer and Rick Rossovich, respectively.

(From left, Michael Ironside as Lieutenant Commander Rick ‘Jester’ Heatherly and Tom Skerritt as Commander Mike ‘Viper’ Metcalf in the Tony Scott movie Top Gun).

Commander Mike ‘Viper’ Metcalf and Lieutenant Commander Rick ‘Jester’ Heatherly, as portrayed by Tom Skerritt and Michael Ironside, respectively, lead the TOPGUN program. It is Metcalf and Heatherly that combine to teach a lesson in teamwork over individual flying ability that develops into a lesson that truly hits home. As the tensions ratchet up from this lesson, back to the opening notion of a lack of teamwork with Lieutenant Cortell followed by another incident, questions of aerial grit, romantic grit and the question of who these aviators really are ruled the Tony Scott movie, Top Gun.

(From left, actor Tom Cruise and director Tony Scott in service of the Tony Scott movie Top Gun).

The action sequences definitely ruled the day with the initial movie installment of Top Gun. I give Top Gun as directed by Tony Scott 3.75-stars on a scale of 1-to-5.

Matt – Saturday, May 21, 2022

Al Pacino, Sean Penn and Penelope Ann Miller in the Brian De Palma movie ‘Carlito’s Way’

The pairing of Al Pacino and Brian De Palma in the movie Carlito’s Way (1993) brings the second movie review we’ve taken with the duo at Matt Lynn Digital, following Scarface (1983). Carlito’s Way brings into view the novels Carlito’s Way: Rise to Power and After Hours by Edwin Torres, with the latter being the bigger focus of the film while the title is drawn from the first.

(From left, Sean Penn as David Kleinfeld and Al Pacino as Carlito Brigante in the Brian De Palma movie Carlito’s Way).

Al Pacino portrayed Carlito Brigante in the movie Carlito’s Way. Brigante gains his freedom from jail thanks to an issue in the trial that had put him behind bars. David Kleinfeld, as portrayed by Sean Penn, serves as Brigante’s friend and attorney. Carlito, of Puerto Rican descent, is back on the streets of the boroughs of New York City, New York following his release, aiming to keep his nose clean. Carlito is persuaded to accompany his young cousin, Guajiro, on a drug deal that goes south. John Ortiz portrayed Guajiro.

(From left, Al Pacino as Carlito Brigante and Jorge Porcel as Reinaldo ‘Ron’ Saso in the Brian De Palma movie Carlito’s Way).

Carlito takes Guajiro’s $30,000 from the botched deal and buys into a nightclub operated by gambling addict Reinaldo ‘Ron’ Saso, as portrayed by Jorge Porcel. It is at this bar that Benny Blanco, as portrayed by John Leguizamo, makes multiple rejected overtures to Carlito Brigante to go into business together. Brigante, who dreams of retiring to the Caribbean once he can save sufficient money, looks to rekindle a relationship with Gail that he had prior to release from jail. Penelope Ann Miller portrays Gail.

(From left, John Leguizamo as Benny Blanco, Luis Guzmán as Pachanga and Al Pacino as Carlito Brigante in the Brian De Palma movie Carlito’s Way).

While the romance is pursued, Pachanga serves as Carlito’s right hand man in the mission to grow what enterprise the two pursue following Carlito’s release from prison. Pachanga, as portrayed by Luis Guzmán, becomes frustrated following an incident between David Kleinfeld and Benny Blanco’s girlfriend, Steffie, who is a waitress at the club. The incident with Steffie, Blanco and Kleinfeld, with Ingrid Rogers portraying Steffie, alienatates Pachanga and Carlito.

(From left, Al Pacino as Carlito Brigante and Penelope Ann Miller as Gail in the Brian De Palma movie Carlito’s Way).

Kleinfeld meanwhile escalates things for Carlito Brigante further with a separate client, Anthony Taglialucci. This raises stakes for Brigante between Kleinfeld, Gail, Pachanga and the conflicting questions of loyalty, friendship and his own ambitions for the course of his life. How things work themselves out brings successfully gets achieved in a sequence perhaps less memorable than with Scarface, yet compelling still.

(From left, actor Al Pacino and director Brian De Palma on set of the Brian De Palma movie Carlito’s Way).

Carlito’s Way feels a bit like a redemption tale for the character Al Pacino portrayed in the Brian De Palma directed movie Scarface. Carlito’s Way draws Carlito Brigante with a much clearer moral, and arguably ethical center than was the case with Tony Montana in Scarface. When taken with the storylines of Benny Blanco, Pachanga and David Kleinfeld, I found the full exposition satisfying. Carlito’s Way perhaps does not live up to Scarface, though I enjoyed this movie experience enough to rate Carlito’s Way as directed by Brian De Palma 3.75-stars on a scale of 1-to-5.

Matt – Saturday, October 2, 2021