27/May/2022. Watched. IMAX.
My rating: 8.9/10.
Top Gun: Maverick has to be my most anticipated film of the year 2022. And its all because of Tom Cruise and his unparalleled commitment to performing stunts practically.
I watched the original Top Gun (1986) on the 31st of August, 2019 after I had sent a shockwave down my friend Kanha's spine by admitting I had never watched it. It was a pretty cool movie, but I haven't rewatched it since. And here's another shockwave for you: I enjoyed this more than the original. I feel feverish today and I don't wanna write.
This is the best nostalgia-bait sequel that Hollywood has produced so far as it very easily maneuvers itself around the "bait" part. The story, although filled with quite expository dialogues, felt like a worthy continuation of the classic. The whole narrative hinges on Goose's death from the first film and the emotional scenes almost got me. Almost.
In the first 15 to 20 minutes, the film, much like its lead actor, charms you. It opens as you expect it to, on a deck of an aircraft carrier with the warm palette of colours, silhouettes of fighter jets and the deck crew hurrying about, looking cool and sending the flying machines blasting off the runway as Kenny Loggin's iconic track, "Highway to the Danger Zone" booms as if from the sky itself.
It dips in and out of the references to the original and thankfully never gets into it's shadow and the Claudio Miranda 's (Tron Legacy, Life of Pi) cinematography and Joseph Kosinski's (Tron Legacy, Oblivion) direction begins to imprint their own sense of identity on it. If you watch the two films back to back, you'll witness a gradual shift into it's tone which makes it feel like the perfect second half of a single story instead of being a cash-grab sequel. I love Tron Legacy, I think it's among the most original action films of the last twenty years and I'm so excited to see that Joseph and Claudio have finally made another classic of our times. Feels like a comeback.
Tom Cruise is as charismatic as ever and is at the "top" of his game. At three different points in this film it had me actually believe the possibility that Maverick had died. It genuinely felt like the film where Tom Cruise dies, and because of which the sense of danger was always present. The actors who play the next generation of pilots are also fine; the three clear standouts being Miles Teller, Monica Barbaro and Glen Powell. Powell somehow managing to be a douche and fun guy at the same time.
My emotional attachment from this film stems from the fact that whenever I see Maverick, I basically project Kanha Sharma on to him. Because he is a pilot as well. His passion for aviation is contagious and I must say that for the next 24 hours, after talking to him, I get infected as well. I see Tom in his white uniform and aviators, I get reminded of my friend in a similar white uniform and aviators and it fills me with a sense of pride which is only describable as the stupid grin on my face.
But I think my favorite scene of the film is in the beginning, when Ed Harris, the man, the myth, the legend himself shows up in a brief appearance. I lost my shit. And I wanted to hoot and cheer and clap but considering the other 20-25 people sat oblivious to who the man was on the screen, I would've looked like a retard. And I would've ruined their experience. The sad thing is that the guys sitting next to me didn't reciprocate my respect for them as an audience member. The man/boy who sat on my right was on his phone during every scene which didn't involve a plane going woosh. And his group of friends that sat next to him kept making jokes, answering calls, being annoying little brats in general throughout the runtime.
Like, Iceman is trying to muster up all his strength overcome the pain and talk to his friend, and you guys are laughing your ass off. Seriously? And people kept ordering nachos and popcorn and cokes and shit all the time, just grazing away with their buttered fingers. Why do people feel the need to say everything in their hearts and shove down everything they can get their hands on during a movie? Because they're their to have a good time with their buddies, not to pay attention to a piece of art. To such people I say, go to a club!
Wow, I have no idea how I ended up ranting over there. Lets steer back to the topic at hand.
Y'know, sometimes I watch a film like La Haine (1996) or Frances Ha (2012) and I immediately feel like imitating them as a filmmaker. But I can't even imagine to make something like Top Gun 2, even if I have all the money in the world. Think about it. You're filming with actors in real jets zipping around the skyline, whilst having a conversation with each other. You not only have to pay attention and be consistent with the line of sight that each actor will need at that point of time in accordance to their aircraft's position in the sky, you also have to edit it all together in such a way that the conversation and the exterior action shots are comprehensible enough for the narrative to flow with the action.
Its a daunting task. And yet, the action sequences had me flinching.
And of course the sound design. Even during the most chaotic sequences, the dialogues come out as clear as they should (looking at you Nolan). And the needledrops of rock classics such as "Won't be fooled Again" and "Great Balls of Fire" had me in the feels.
Another point to note is that its a film aimed at an adult audience and yet it snugly fits into the PG-13 rating. Not many films manage to achieve that.
Top Gun: Maverick is a very charming, audacious and a wonderfully dangerous ride. Yes it has some weak points in it's script when it comes to economic storytelling, and the supporting characters could've been fleshed a bit more, but hey! that's what an 80s' film is! It actually feels like it's in conversation with the original film without losing it's own individuality and sense of style. Go watch it on the biggest screen you can get your hands on!
