Days of Thunder
Yes, Robert Towne’s screenplay is simply a “Top Gun” retread set in the world of NASCAR, but what makes it such an effective film is how it also hits every beat of the underdog sports drama. Or maybe that’s baked into “Top Gun” as well. Nobody’s going to mistake Towne’s work for “Days of Thunder” for a classic piece of writing like “Chinatown,” but it shows an understanding of genre expectations that comes from being a great writer.
Even though I’ll recognize that “Top Gun” is the better film from director Tony Scott, producers Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer and star Tom Cruise, this is the one I gravitate towards more. Just taken in isolation (ie, not putting “Top Gun: Maverick” into the equation), I think Cole Trickle is the more sympathetic between he and Pete Mitchell in Cruise’s gallery of cocky individuals capable of pushing vehicles to the limits. He seems to understand his limitations as a driver more than Maverick is a pilot, and you can see the lack of confidence that his father’s past deeds much more in his desire to prove himself than you can in Maverick. Also, I think the surrogate father figure he has here in Harry Hogge (Robert Duvall) is a key part of the equation; one scene of Viper explaining things to Maverick doesn’t equal the arc we get between Cole and Harry in this film. Cruise and Duvall do a wonderful job with this dynamic.
This was Nicole Kidman’s breakthrough performance, and where she met Cruise. I’ll admit that I had a crush on her after Dr. Claire Lewicki; as an adult, even though it’s a thin role, I admire her work in the film in how she brings some warmth and professionalism to a character who- like Kelly McGillis- is asked to do somewhat unethical things to be a romantic lead to someone who’s supposed to have a boundary between them and Cruise’s character. Once she comes into play in the second half of the film, the emotional arc for Cole becomes stronger.
The film follows the formula so strongly that Scott’s skills at shooting the NASCAR action, and creating tension in the editing, can be undervalued. Yes, there are some race scenes played for laughs like Cole’s beginnings on the circuit, but watch the races at Darlington- Cole’s first win- and the Daytona 500 at the end, and there’s a deliberate precision to the editing and the shots he uses that, when coupled with Hans Zimmer’s score, makes for as exciting a set piece as the dogfighting scenes in “Top Gun.” Or maybe I’m just a sucker for a good underdog story.
“Days of Thunder” is not great sports movie filmmaking, but it’s a greatly entertaining film. Seeing Randy Quaid as a quick-talking car salesman who is the owner of Cole’s initial car, and later that of Cole’s replacement, Russ Wheeler (Cary Elwes), is always fun. As Cole’s rivals on the race track, Michael Rooker (in the “Iceman” role of Rowdy Burns) and Elwes just ooze contempt for the arrogant hot shot who is struggling with his confidence. And John C. Reilly (as one of the pit crew) and Fred Thompson (as the head of NASCAR) add great flavor to this silly film, which gets me every time by the time Cruise and Duvall are racing towards victory lane. “Days of Thunder” has always been a winner for me.
