In the May 1983 issue of California, Ehud Yonay wrote an article about an elite school for jet fighter pilots. The article caught the attention of producers Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer, who previously made Flashdance and Beverly Hills Cop. They hired writers Jim Cash and Jack Epps Jr, who previously wrote the 1985 made-for-TV movie Izzy and Moe. After seeing his commercial work, the producers picked Tony Scott, brother of Alien director Ridley Scott, for the director’s chair. Initially, the filmmakers considered Matthew Modine for the lead role, which eventually went to an up-and-coming Tom Cruise. Paramount Pictures greenlit the project for a $15 million budget, and the producers got the Navy to offer their assistance. Filming commenced in 1985 aboard actual aircraft carriers and the Kansas City Barbecue restaurant in San Diego. After some brief reshoots, Top Gun landed in theaters in May 1986.
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Synopsis
Aboard the USS Enterprise, pilots Pete “Maverick” Mitchell (Tom Cruise) and Nick “Goose” Bradshaw (Anthony Edwards) fly an F-14A Tomcat. During a mission, Maverick defies orders to help his wingman Bill “Cougar” Cortell (John Stockwell) land amidst a panic attack. Cougar quits, forcing commander Tom “Stinger” Jardian (James Tolkan) to send Maverick and Goose to TOPGUN Naval Fighter Weapons School. Upon arriving, Maverick catches the eye of civilian instructor Charlotte “Charlie” Blackwood (Kelly McGillis) after learning of his inverted maneuver. He also draws the ire of fellow student Tom “Iceman” Kazansky (Val Kilmer), who becomes Maverick’s rival. As the two compete for the top spot at TOPGUN, Maverick develops a relationship with Charlie despite her reluctance. Unfortunately, things go south when Goose dies in a crash after Maverick and Iceman pursue an enemy jet. With his best friend gone, Maverick has to tackle flight school all by himself.
Review
Alongside Ghostbusters and Back to the Future, Top Gun is considered one of the most iconic movies of the 1980s. Like those movies, this one has some iconic one-liners, a memorable soundtrack, and eye-catching visuals that stick with you. Unfortunately, for as much style as this movie has, it’s also one of the more forgettable movies from the decade. While the visuals and cinematography are phenomenal, there’s not much substance to the characters and the story. We remember names like Maverick, Iceman, and Goose, but they’re more like character archetypes than actual characters. Maverick’s the typical hot-headed and arrogant hero, Iceman’s the rival, and Goose is the comic relief. It doesn’t help either that the story is more like a series of events than a cohesive narrative. Things happen, but it’s never clear how one scene ties into another, and it feels like a narrative mess.
That said, there are a lot of elements that make this movie as memorable as it is. First, Tom Cruise still brings all the energy and charisma he usually brings to his 80s films. Anthony Edwards is likable as a good-hearted goofball, and the scenes of him and his family are endearing. Val Kilmer makes for a solid rival, though there’s not much interaction between him and Cruise. Kelly McGillis does the best she can with the material given, and she has decent enough chemistry with Cruise. Plus, it’s great to see character actors like James Tolkan, Tom Skerrit, and Michael Ironside show up. The action sequences are spectacular, and Tony Scott’s use of the magic hour makes the scenes much more dynamic. Overall, Top Gun is a flawed but fun 80s action movie that’s a good time despite its outdatedness.
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