Lights Camera ACTION: TOP GUN MAVERICK
A spoiler-free review of Top Gun: Maverick, the last-standing movie star, an upcoming release radar, and a weekend streaming recommendation
They don’t make them like this anymore
Top Gun: Maverick, Tom Cruise’s sequel to the 1986 classic Top Gun, is a roaring good time. After more than thirty years as one of the Navy's top aviators, Captain Pete Mitchell is called back to the Top Gun academy to train recruits for a seemingly-impossible mission.
As an action movie, Top Gun: Maverick sets the standard. Tom Cruise is a devotee to the cinema experience, pushing himself and his crew to the edge to create the most immersive experience possible. In case you couldn’t tell, that’s really Cruise flying those jets. He put the entire cast through months of extensive flight training to really pilot F-18s for the movie.
I wrote 2 weeks ago about the idea of The Legacy Sequel, defining three categories: the misfire, the overshadowed, and the surpasser. This is a definitive example of a ‘surpasser’, a legacy sequel that is a resounding success and offers something new from its predecessor.
Whether or not you think it’s better than the original (I do), it’s certainly a resounding success. Everything, from its exploration of Maverick and other characters, to the hugely improved action and flight sequences, proves this. Perhaps the biggest indicator of a successful legacy sequel is whether it has reason to exist beyond profits. Top Gun: Maverick certainly does.
The Man, The Myth
In many ways, this movie shines a light into the psyche of Tom Cruise. In December 2020, leaked audio from the Mission Impossible set revealed Cruise screaming at crew members who had violated the COVID protocols that were allowing the studio to continue work during the peak of the pandemic.
“We are the gold standard. They’re back there in Hollywood making movies right now because of us. We are creating thousands of jobs, you motherfuckers!”
“You can tell it to the people who are losing their fucking homes because the industry is shut down. It’s not going to put food on their table or pay for their college education. That’s what I sleep with every night — the future of this fucking industry!”
At the time it might have seemed haughty and self-obsessed, especially coming from eccentric, scientologist, larger-than-life, Hollywood big-name Tom Cruise. But after watching Top Gun: Maverick, it’s hard not to believe him. Tom Cruise believes in Hollywood. He believes in what movies can be. And he’s devoted to preserving that.
The Legend
In a time where action movies are more green screen than anything else, when movie characters have more charisma than the actors playing them, Top Gun: Maverick is groundbreaking in what it offers audiences. I wonder if we’ll ever get another star like Tom Cruise. What happens when we lose the few remaining movie stars like him?
In the meantime, Top Gun: Maverick is taking over the box office. Even after 2+ years of postponements, the movie has opened with a massive domestic $160.5 million, the biggest opening of all time for Memorial Weekend. The main reason? It got older viewers to show out, especially those over 35 (a notably absent demographic for years). And the way word of mouth is going, it’s going to rocket even higher. (Just wait till the post-Father’s Day boost too).
Watch this on the biggest screen possible and with a packed audience. It’s unforgettable.
Release Radar:
It’s summer blockbuster season, so be sure to check out these upcoming June releases:
Crimes of the Future – June 3: The newest work from the twisted mind of David Cronenberg. In a world where human surgical transformation becomes avant-garde. Dozens of people walked out of this at the Cannes Film Festival showing. I can’t wait.
Jurassic World Dominion – June 10: The final installment of the new Jurassic Park trilogy, bringing back the original trio of actors alongside Chris Pratt.
Lightyear – June 17: Disney’s newest addition to the Toy Story franchise, this is a spinoff story about Buzz Lightyear, voiced by Chris Evans. To infinity and beyond!
Elvis – June 24: A look at the life of the legendary rock and roll star, Elvis Presley, played by Austin Butler. This looks so ridiculous, it might just work.
Marcel the Shell with Shoes On – June 24: A24’s upcoming feature adaptation of the animated short film interviewing a mollusk named Marcel. Adorable all-around.
Weekend Streaming Recommendation
Collateral (2004) Dir. Michael Mann. Available on HBO Max
A cab driver (Jamie Foxx) finds himself the hostage of an engaging contract killer (Tom Cruise) as he makes his rounds from hit to hit during one night in Los Angeles. After watching Top Gun, I’ve been on a bit of a Tom Cruise kick. This is a great movie that keeps you on the edge of your seat the entire time. I especially loved the dialogue between Cruise and Foxx on their taxi rides throughout nighttime LA.
That’s all for today! See you all again next week. Until then, please get in touch if you have any thoughts or suggestions you’d like to share. If you want to keep up with what I’m watching, follow me on Letterboxd @atharv_gupta.
You can follow The Kinosexual on Twitter @kinosexual and on Instagram @thekinosexual