Many years ago the author of this review joined the group of journalists visiting the ship that had played part in some of the important historical events in last half a century or so. The ship in question – aircraft carrier USS Enterprise - also played part in cinema history, by serving both as a set and part of plot setting in Top Gun, 1986 action spectacle directed by Tony Scott, known as one of the most iconic films of its time, but also often blamed as the source of many things that are wrong with today’s Hollywood.
Protagonist, played by Tom Cruise, is US Navy Lt. Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, naval aviator who flies F-14A fighter aircraft from aircraft carrier together with his radar interceptor officer Nick “Goose” Bradshaw (played by Anthony Edwards). Maverick is very reckless and prone to getting into disciplinary trouble, but his talent as pilot is such that he is accepted into elite Strike Fighters Training program a.k.a. “Top Gun”. During the training in San Diego base, he quickly develops rivalry with much calmer Lt. Tom “Iceman” Kazansky (played by Val Kilmer), but also notices Charlotte “Charlie” Blackwood (played by Kelly McGillis), civilian contractor and Soviet aviation expert who serves as one of the instructors. Since Maverick made close contacts with MiG-28s during his service in Indian Ocean, he becomes object of professional interest for Charlie, but their relationship gradually turns into romance. Maverick’s training will, however, be marred by tragedy, but escalating incident in Indian Ocean would ultimately give him opportunity to show his superb dogfighting skills in real air combat.
Whenever 1980s Hollywood or popular culture in general is discussed, it is simply impossible not to mention Top Gun. This film, despite mixed and hostile reception by critics, was absolute champion at the box-office. The latter can be best explained by great effort and creative talents by its producers Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimmer who would soon enter the ranks of most powerful and successful persons in Hollywood. They tailored this film for the younger audience trying their best to make film sound and look “cool”. This can be heard in “cool” syntesisers soundtrack by Harold Faltermeyer, accompanied by many pop songs like “Danger Zone” by Kenny Loggins and “Take My Breath Away” by Berlin (which would ultimately win Oscar for the Best Original Song) that would become big hits. This emphasis on soundtrack served this film well during promotion which has relied on music videos. Tony Scott, director best known for music videos and commercials, looked perfect for this kind of project and made Top Gun in impeccable 1980s style with many quick cuts and great effort to make every image look “cool”. That included “cool” red sky that appears whenever action doesn’t take place in air, “cool” fighter aircraft, “cool” motorcycle driven by protagonist, “cool” bomber jackets and aviator sunglasses (that would become popular fashion items thanks to this film) and, of course, “cool” young men in their prime often appearing shirtless (which would later lead many critics to characterise this film as homoerotic and later inspire popular scene with Quentin Tarantino’s character explaining this view in 1994 film Sleep with Me).
So, Top Gun looks and sounds “cool”, but is it actually good? The answer to this question isn’t that simple. The best parts of the film happen at the very beginning and the end, when Scott created some great and exciting action scenes that work even to the audience not that familiar with air combat and military technology. Those scenes, made in time before CGI, for the most part featured real thing, in other words real life US Navy jets piloted by real life pilots, and they look as impressive now as they were three and half decades ago. However, in the middle, when the plot deals with training, huge flaws in script by Jim Cash and Jack Epps Jr. become obvious, most notably in huge amount of cliches and lack of depth of characterisation. Many characters are one-dimensional and that includes protagonist, which is given some kind of lame back story about his father disappearing during Vietnam War. Only immense charisma and talent of Tom Cruise, who does best what he can do with subpar material manage to make Maverick likeable. However, even Cruise can’t help with uninspired romantic subplot, which isn’t helped with lack of chemistry with miscast Kelly McGillis. Among the rest of the cast only Anthony Edwards leaves good impression in the role of protagonist’s sidekick.
Success of Top Gun could also be explained by very fortunate time in which it was made. By mid 1980s, under Reagan’s leadership, USA not only became more willing to intensify Cold War but actually more confident that it would win it. Made with unprecedented co-operation of US Navy and military establishment, which in return, influenced the actual script, Top Gun was often accused as piece of propaganda. Some of this arguments are valid, but the film is also an expression of a newly confident superpower on the way to undisputed global hegemony based on its military and technological supremacy. Although Vietnam War is mentioned, the demons of that fiasco have been finally exercised and, unlike Rambo 2 with old traumatised protagonist in dirty jungles, featured young dashing hero fighting the clean war in blue skies. Film in which US naval aviators make short of work of unnamed enemy (presumed to be Soviets) coincided with recent US military actions against Lybia in which US military, almost with impunity, inflicted crippling damage to Khadaffi’s Soviet-equipped naval and air forces. This was the first of many events that would show new levels of American military proficiency and create perception of American omnipotence, that would dominate the world until 21st Century quagmires in Iraq and Afghanistan. In time of Top Gun was winning Cold War and, just as new military technologies, Hollywood played its parts with “cool” films like this. Unfortunately, it was that very “coolness” that would establish formula of soulless summer blockbusters based on style over substance and heavy promotion instead of actual content. Viewers who are nostalgic towards 1980s, on the other hand, might find reasons to forgive Top Gun for setting the path towards less glorious Hollywood future.
RATING: 5/10 (++)
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Movie URL: https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/744-top-gun
Critic: AA
