Review of Top Gun (1955) by Stuart K — 23 Apr 2012

Directed by Tony Scott, and produced by Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer, and inspired by an article in California magazine, this is a cheesy, macho action drama set in the high stakes world of Naval aviators, something that hadn't been on film until now, it became the biggest film of 1986, putting Scott on the map as an A-list director.

US Naval Aviator LT Pete "Maverick" Mitchell (Tom Cruise) who works on board the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise, doing flying exercises, and his offbeat and dangerous maneuvers why flying is why Maverick has earned his nickname.

After one very dangerous operation, Maverick and his Radar Intercept Officer Nick "Goose" Bradshaw (Anthony Edwards) are given the offer of a life time, the chance to train with the best of the best at the prestigious Top Gun school at NAS Miramar near San Diego, where he finds himself being taught by Charlotte "Charlie" Blackwood (Kelly McGillis), and Maverick's style of flying annoys Lieutenant Commander Rick "Jester" Heatherly (Michael Ironside), and Maverick has competition from star pupil Tom "Iceman" Kasansky (Val Kilmer).

It's a loud film, but it has excellent cinematography from the points of view of the jets, and the glossy, sunkissed cinematography Jeffrey L. Kimball adds to the films unashamedly macho feel, it also has a great soundtrack, including Berlin's Take My Breath Away and Kenny Loggin's Danger Zone, plus a supporting cast including Tim Robbins, Meg Ryan and Tom Skerritt.

It's a film of the 1980's, and all the better for it.