D.J. Haza presents the final entry in his series of films to watch before you die…
Top Gun, 1986.
Directed by Tony Scott.
Starring Tom Cruise, Kelly McGillis, Val Kilmer, Anthony Edwards, Tom Skerritt, Michael Ironside and Meg Ryan.
Top Gun is possibly the coolest film ever made. It has the coolest characters – fighter pilots, wearing cool clothes, leather jackets and aviator glasses, saying cool things, “I Feel the need the need for speed” – and has the coolest soundtrack – kick-ass rock anthems from the 80’s. Oh and it’s also got a pretty girl in there with a blokes name – Charlie.
The films follows the story of a young naval aviator with an attitude problem, Lieutenant Pete “Maverick” Mitchell (Cruise), as he aims to become the best of the best at the Top Gun training camp. Aided by his Radar Intercept Officer Goose (Edwards) the pair enjoy flying their plane, having a few beers and some tomfoolery with their fellow aviators. Maverick instantly falls for one of his Top Gun trainers Charlie (McGillis), but when an accident in mid air leads to the death of Goose his confidence takes a big hit.
As he takes out his frustrations on Charlie their relationship hits a rocky patch and Maverick has to do some soul searching before returning to his duties. When an emergency call sees Maverick on stand by after an incident near enemy lines has seen a few US planes deployed he waits nervously. Can Maverick overcome his recent tragedy to be the best of the best as he always wanted?
Top Gun oozes cool and masculinity from start to finish as Cruise puts in a great performance at a time when his face on a film screen was still bearable and he hadn’t yet fallen of a sofa on national TV. The film is packed full of dog fights, aerobatics and manliness from start to finish as the pilots all battle to prove their abilities and to outdo each other in the air and on the ground.
Tony Scott had reportedly gone way over budget and against orders whilst making the film and came close to being fired several times. He also supposedly paid $25,000 to turn the USS Enterprise so it faced another direction whilst he was filming aircrafts taking off and landing during sunset. The film also suffered several tragic setbacks including the death of aerobatic pilot Art Scholl as he attempted to create the flat spin that killed Goose. Scholl’s plane crashed into the Pacific Ocean and was never recovered.
Top Gun is a film you must see before you die as bomber jackets and Ray-Ban Aviator sunglasses sales went up by 40% after the films release and the US Air Force and Navy recruitment numbers also shot up as they put recruitment booths in some cinemas. The film won an Oscar for Best Original Song and it will make you want to buy a jacket, stick on your shades and fly a plane while listening to rock anthems from the 1980s. It may even take your breath away!
D.J. Haza
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Originally published May 4, 2012. Updated April 10, 2018.
