Director: Tony Scott
Starring: Tom Cruise, Kelly McGillis and Val Kilmer
‘A Captivating Classic’
Few actors whose movies make headline news are as celebrated as Tom Cruise. Following his rise to stardom in the 1980’s, Cruise has built a lasting legacy in the film industry. Whether it’s hunted spies seeking to achieve an impossible mission, brothers taking care of autistic savants or teenagers engaging in risky business, Cruise has proven he can play roles in various genres. Through his capability to play action heroes, the actor has created a strong legacy in the film industry. His extraordinary commitment towards performing his own stunts regardless of risks involved has made him an admirable icon in the world of entertainment. The actor has always poured his heart and soul into every stunt regardless of whether it puts his life in danger. Today, it’s safe to say that the beloved movie-star hasn’t lost his abilities to take audiences breath away.
I’m a huge fan of Tom Cruise and appreciate all of his movies. However, “Top Gun” stands out the most. Released in 1986, Tony Scott’s movie found the famous actor piloting planes in aviation. Boasting breathtaking production-design, stunning action and timeless acting, “Top Gun” has stood the test of time as an iconic classic in the action genre. At the centre of the movie is Tom Cruise, giving one of his greatest career performances as Maverick. For a movie made in the 1980’s, “Top Gun” has aged incredibly over time. Although “Top Gun” is undeniably riveting, it isn’t flawless. It lacks strong female characters, building towards a formulaic conclusion. Nevertheless, it offers exhilarating entertainment that fans of Tom Cruise won’t be able to resist.
Set in a Naval fighter school, “Top Gun” tells the story of an aviator embarking on a mission. Tom Cruise embodies Pete Maverick, an enthusiastic aviator pilot with a love for flying planes that are realistic. Assisted by his longtime companion Goose (Anthony Edwards), he has always enjoyed flying planes in aviation. However, Maverick’s lifelong commitment to aviation is tested when he witnesses a tragic accident. Haunted by the traumatic incident, Maverick questions whether he has what it takes to become a pilot that’s celebrated.
Director Tony Scott is a newcomer to aviator movies. Before making “Top Gun”, Scott had never made a big-budget blockbuster about aviation before. It was the filmmaker’s first attempt to produce a blockbuster capturing lives of aviators, but he succeeded. Using captivating cinematography, Scott captures a fantastic aviator pilot’s journey flying planes that pose catastrophe. Visually, the film is a feast for the eyes as gorgeous as planes that Maverick flies in the skies. Scott expertly uses point-of-view shots to capture hardships that aviator pilots go through. Scott expertly uses point of view shots to capture the tense perspectives of pilots flying planes. It gives viewers strong sensations of being stuck in planes with pilots on dangerous missions. For a film made in the 1980’s, “Top Gun” is packed with stunning visuals that were way ahead of their time. Scott captures the beauty of the aviator flying, creating theatrical viewing.
Another admirable aspect of “Top Gun” which deserves praise is the action. From a technical perspective, it’s the most impressive film made during the 1980’s. A stunning technical achievement for its time. The blockbuster is packed with thrilling aviation sequences which have aged incredibly over time. Scott expertly uses strong practical effects to stage breathtaking actions scenes capturing the beauty of aviation. For instance, stunning practical effects elevate the opening aviation scene. During this tense flying scene, Maverick and Goose engage in nerve-wracking pilot naval warfare. One appreciates real-life planes bringing to life aviation. Moreover, the musical score is another aspect of “Top Gun” that I absolutely adore. Harold Faltermeyer’s score captures the breathtaking emotions of aviation. The music is inspirational, gripping and unforgettable. Through awe-inspiring action sequences, Scott honours the profession of aviation.
Amidst the thrilling action, it’s a shame that “Top Gun” finds little time to tell a compelling story. One area where the film falls short is the storytelling. Scott pays so much attention to the action that he loses sight of telling engaging story. While the film has aged pretty well over the years, one aspect sticking out like a sore thumb is the negative depiction of female characters. The women in the film are treated as nothing more than sexual objects to be ogled by the aviator pilots. For instance, Charlotte is a one-dimensional female character who exists for the sole reason of being a love interest. To be fair, “Top Gun” is a movie about strong men flying planes. It’s always been a male-dominated masculine movie. Nevertheless, it may have really benefitted from stronger female characters. For comparison purposes, the latest reboot “Top Gun: Maverick” did a far better job of creating realistic female characters serving the narrative without being sexual objects. In this regard, female characters is one aspect where “Top Gun” hasn’t aged so well. Due to its poorly written screenplay, “Top Gun” is one of those blockbusters that won’t take everyone’s breath away.
Thankfully, though, the fantastic acting from the cast keeps the film from falling apart. In a star-studded ensemble, every actor gets the chance to shine.
Tom Cruise delivers one of his greatest career performances as Maverick. Cruise achieved appreciation for playing rebellious teenagers that are involved in risky business. With “Top Gun”, however, the actor took on his first action role. It isn’t simple to embody personality of a pilot with love for aviation but Cruse succeeded. With mesmerizing expressions, he captures the angst, courage and determination of an aviator pilot embarking on a mission. It’s an iconic performance that launched the strong career of one of the world’s most celebrated movie-stars today.
The supporting cast is spectacular, and also worthy of appreciation. Anthony Edwards is excellent, bringing humanity to a loyal friend which assists Maverick in his journey to be a successful aviator with bravery. Val Kilmer is fantastic, capturing the short tempers of a pilot that creates barriers against Maverick due to his tendency to put lives in danger. Lastly, Kelly McGillis merits appreciations. As Maverick’s love interest, she brings sexual tension to the movie.
Despite its powerful performances, however, “Top Gun” can’t quite achieve the impossible mission of celebrating aviators in the top gun profession. If there’s a minor shortcoming to the movie, it lacks a compelling ending. It’s a conventional conclusion that’s typical of movies made during the 1980’s without a satisfying resolution. While this kind fo ending may have worked back in the 1980’s, it comes across as very outdated today. At worst, it perpetuates the misleading message that aviator pilots can overcome trauma without experiencing damage. Tom Cruise’s movies have always thrived based on their memorable conclusions, and in this regard “Top Gun” is a blockbuster that falls short of movie-goers’ expectations.
In the end, “Top Gun” is a fun but formulaic blockbuster about the lives of aviators. An iconic blockbuster about aviation, it honours an actor pulling off an impossible mission.
Nearly 40 years following release of an iconic movie about enthusiastic Maverick pilots that love feeling the need for speed drawn to the danger zone of aviation that’s catastrophic, it’s a fantastic tribute to a timeless movie-star that hasn’t lost his abilities to take audiences’ breath away by putting his life in grave danger to perform awe-inspiring stunts that are realistic whose sheer commitment towards his craft has resulted in memorable movies that are iconic leaving behind a soaring legacy that deserves to be celebrated by the general public.
3.5/5 stars
The Film Buff 
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