Andrew
Film Review
Tinashe Kusema
IT can be argued that Tom Cruise may well be one of the most underrated movie stars in Hollywood.
Before you take out the pitchforks and come baying for my blood, hear me out!
Yes, Cruise happens to be one of the most recognisable faces in Hollywood, grossing over US$8 billion from 38 movies at the box office.
His “Mission Impossible” films are ranked 25th among the highest-grossing movie franchises of all time, while “Top Gun: Maverick” is ranked 11th.Keep in mind the last part of the above statement, as it is very relevant to today’s installment.
For all the awards, critical acclaim and number of Cruise’s works, the one thing that he is known for is his insistence on performing his own stunts.
Some have even gone to the extent of labelling him a “glorified stuntman” and do not really believe that he is in the same category as famed thespians like Marlon Brando, Robert De Niro, Daniel Day-Lewis, Denzel Washington, Paul Newman, Al Pacino and Laurence Oliver. What he has done with “Top Gun: Maverick” is nothing short of astounding.
I have since made it clear where I stand on the subject of these belated sequels, reboots and prequels. I hate them with a passion!
However, “Top Gun: Maverick” is an exception.
In the film, Cruise’s Pete “Maverick” Mitchell returns to the Top Gun programme as an instructor some 36 years after we saw him as the corky rookie who flies a fighter jet to the sky and back like nobody on this earth.
He is tasked with teaching a select group of Top Gun graduates how to approach a special assignment in which they are supposed to destroy an unsanctioned uranium enrichment plant.
The plant sits in a deep depression at the end of a canyon. Along the way, the class loses hope in the possibility of the assignment, and Maverick appears to be the only person who can lead them. He must then choose who will fly with him on this perilous mission, while facing the demons of his past.
Before we go any further, let us address the huge elephant in the room. When news first broke that Paramount Pictures had sanctioned the sequel to this eighties classic movie, I was shocked. It had been some 36 years since the original was first released and I was two years old then.
This is a sequel no one really wanted or asked for.
It is against this background that the success of “Top Gun: Maverick” has been a surprise.
The movie has grossed over US$1 billion since its release on May 27, 2022.
At the heart of this movie’s success is Cruise, who puts up one of his best performances.
As a more seasoned and mature Maverick, Cruise is more composed and laid back, demonstrating great chemistry with most of his co-stars.
Rather than lean on great visuals and musical scores, as in the original film, conflict drives this movie’s narrative.
The main conflict comes in the form of Maverick and Miles Teller’s character Bradley Rooster Bradshaw.
Bradshaw happens to be the son of Maverick’s former co-pilot and best friend Nick “Goose” Bradshaw from the original film.
When Bradshaw dies, Maverick takes it upon himself to stop his son from following in his father’s footsteps and the two have a fallout.
They meet again, some years later, and watching these move from enemies to a point of respect is a marvel to watch.
Also, Teller does an outstanding job in his performance and stands toe to toe with Cruise, all the while demonstrating great chemistry with his co-star.
Teller and Cruise’s performances are really a standout here.
Much like the original movie, “Top Gun: Maverick” has great visuals, and, at the very least, deserves a shout-out come award season.
No Tom Cruise movie review is complete without references to the stunt work.
For the most part, the cast of “Top Gun: Maverick” sat behind real fighter jet pilots and would be filmed as these professionals actually flew the planes, but not “Mr Cruise”.
In keeping with his reputation, Cruise actually did his own flying and this went a long way towards adding some realism to fighting sequences and visuals.
Online Reporter