Days of Thunder (1990)

 Days of Thunder (1990)

Days of Thunder is not my favorite Jerry Bruckheimer production. It is a slick, fast-moving production that delivers satisfying eye candy, but the story grows stales fast. It also helps that I am decidedly not a fan of auto-racing. I wanted to see the film considering it’s a Tony Scott-directed film starring Tom Cruise, who may have been the biggest name in Hollywood at the time (despite losing the Oscar in Born on the Fourth of July). It just needed a better script. Consider my shock when I discovered who wrote the screenplay. It was Robert Towne…the legend behind films like Chinatown (which most people consider has the best script for any film). This script just seemed by-the-numbers with rote, flat dialogue. The cast was up to the challenge to deliver but ultimately was let down by the script.

In a sense, this movie is very similar to the superior Top Gun, which of course launched the careers of Scott, Cruise, Bruckheimer, and his producing partner Don Simpson. You have the cocky young stud who has the opportunity to be the very best but is let down by his attitude. There is the wise old mentor who has been through the fire. Then there is the older, more responsible love interest that helps our main character become more emotionally stable. Do you know what this sounds like? Any Cruise movie that has been happening since Top Gun. The formula worked for a while. While there are still positive moments, there is enough cracks peeping through. Thankfully, Cruise is a charismatic actor otherwise there could have been major problems.

The film is important in terms of the future of movies in general. Pretty much if your movie bombed or underperformed, you were done for. Now, that was not necessarily the case. Production moved at a glacial pace to the point where the budget increases made it necessary for the film to make $100 million if they just want to break even, which was a rare occurrence for a 1990 production. With global grosses added, the film barely broke even. It did not come close to being the box office success Top Gun was. Yet, Scott and Cruise would go on to have amazing careers. Definitely gave the film industry a more modern way of thinking and careers would not be ruined over one movie.

Set in the fast-paced world of NASCAR, Cole Trickle (Tom Cruise) is recruited by used car salesman Tim Daland (Randy Quaid) to race for him. After showing his worth, he is paired with a mentor, the legendary Harry Hogge (Robert Duvall). The hotheaded Trickle forms a rivalry with veteran driver Rowdy Burns (Michael Rooker). They become friends after a crash left them both seriously injured. He begins a romance with neurosurgeon Dr. Claire Lewicki (Nicole Kidman). With Burns still injured, Trickle uses Burns’s car to race in the Daytona 500 against newcomer Russ Wheeler (Cary Elwes).

Cruise is playing his usual schtick as we seen him do many times before, but he does it very well. Robert Duvall remained a steady presence and proved to be a worthy mentor. Duvall excels at these types of roles. Cruise had great chemistry with Michael Rooker, who always proven himself as an underrated character actor. Most actors got some fine, standout moments. John C. Reilly has a few of those moments. Sadly, Nicole Kidman was underused. I did find her height difference, when compared to Tom Cruise, to be striking and oddly humorous.

Days of Thunder is your typical blockbuster. It relies on visuals and special effects to tell its story. It may have been better to tighten up the script rather than have an overabundance of special effects…something those modern blockbusters have learned nothing from. Tony Scott, at least, knows how to direction action. It’s no Top Gun, but action fans may find enough to be satisfied. Auto racing is not my forte, so it makes sense that I found the film not up to my somewhat low standards. There are good performances throughout to carry the film.

My Grade: C+