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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Matt Lynn Digital 