Yesterday's Hits: Top Gun (1986, Tony Scott)

re: Yesterday's Hits: Top Gun (1986, Tony Scott)

Janet — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 15:48:29 GMT

The Hunger is definitely worth seeing, one of only a handful of vampire films that really are. I haven't seen the other two, or Top Gun for that matter. That's not a confession I feel guilty about, either. I've spent a lifetime avoiding cultural marker movies and I don't plan to change now. I feel more embarrassed that I actually did see Titanic than I do about any of the blockbusters that I've missed.

re: Yesterday's Hits: Top Gun (1986, Tony Scott)

Krauthammer — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 02:52:55 GMT

I came to this movie cautious, but not with contempt. Tony Scott is often criticized for his hyper-kinetic style, but at least it's a STYLE (note, I have never seen any other Tony Scott movie). But when I finished the movie I felt the same way as you, kinda boring, cardboard. The flight scenes weren't even that exiting to me, and not just because they were training missions, but the all important style wasn't there really.

I saw a career-spanning interview with Tony Scott on the TV, and he seemed almost embarrassed by this movie. He spoke down to it, saying that he's happy for its success, but he feels like he was basically a hired gun. He was much more exited talking about his lesbian vampire movie (The Hunger), Revenge, and Domino. Are any of those worth seeing? Does anyone know?

re: Yesterday's Hits: Top Gun (1986, Tony Scott)

borstalboy — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 19:49:04 GMT

Actually, it was Pauline Kael who originally floated the idea of TOP GUN as homoerotica, comparing the film to gay porn. Her review contained virtually all of the criticisms you brought up but she also noticed that Kelly McGillis "keeps slouching so as not to overpower the diminuitive Tom Cruise". Its true: throughout the movie McGillis is tilting her head, conversationally sprawling chest down on a bar, and yes actually slouching as much as she can so she will appear more petite than her costar. I can only imagine what Tony Scott must have been saying to her, "Lower, Kelly dear, just go a little lower, your hairline still meets his eyebrow..."