Film Review: THE ETERNALS

TOP GUN: MAVERICK
1986 was an absolutely GREAT year for Tom Cruise.

4 STARS

Film Review © 2022 by Trip Reynolds

Drama / Action / Adventure

That's right, 1986 was a great year for Tom Cruise, because he starred to two great films. From 1986, "The Color of Money," was a sequel to the classic 1961 film, "The Hustler," and from 1986, "Top Gun," functioned as a prequel to "Top Gun: Maverick."

Top Gun: Maverick (TGM) is a great film! Frankly, for students of cinema we owe Tom Cruise a very big, "Thank you!" That's right, let's thank Tom Cruise for also being a student of cinema, because it's extremely difficult to make a "relevant" sequel to a truly classic film, "Top Gun," thirty-six-(36) years after the release of the original film. "Top Gun: Maverick" is evidence Cruise was both inspired and guided by another great sequel, "The Color of Money," released twenty-five-(25) years after its legendary predecessor, "The Hustler," which featured his former co-star, the legendary Paul Newman! The aforementioned repetitive use of the word "legendary" is appropriate.

2022 1986 1986 1961

Top Gun The Hustler

Pete "Maverick" Mitchell (Tom Cruise) was an extremely brash,
cocky, insufferable, headstrong, sure-of-himself naval aviator. "Fast" Eddie Felson (Paul Newman) was an extremely brash,
cocky, insufferable, headstrong, sure-of-himself pool shark.

Many if not most sequels rely on the typical "we've saw that before in the first film" tactics (same plot, same cast, similar villian, similar special effects, etc.) that brand most sequels as repeats covering the same monotonous ground. Conversely, TGM, just like "The Color of Money" has a very engaging and believable script, very strong performances by Cruise and an ensemble cast, and great action sequences, sharp direction and slick editing to propel exceptional filmmaking.

THE STORY: As expected, in the wake of the first film, Navy Captain Pete "Maverick" Mitchell (Tom Cruise) became a well-decorated test pilot. Film opens with seasoned test pilot Maverick successfully testing a prototype scramjet-powered hypersonic aircraft to reach its maximum target speed. As expected, Maverick cannot resist pushing the prototype beyond its Mach 10 maximum, which destroys the aircraft. Maverick is appropriately disciplined by being assigned to a "non-aviator" role at the Top Gun school at NAS North Island. Much later in the film we discover Maverick's close friend and rival from the previous film, Admiral Tom "Iceman" Kazansky (actor Val Kilmer), rose to the rank of commander of U.S. Pacific Fleet, and used his influence to salvage Maverick's career by re-assigning him to the Top Gun school.

Given his tendency to be a "maverick," Maverick's weakness is not subject to the temptation of women, but his tendency to embrace "insubordination," which has limited him from reaching higher ranks; and likewise, from sustaining personal relationships with male navy colleagues and with women in his personal life. In this regard, script was wise not to anchor the sequel to Maverick's past relationship with Charlotte "Charlie" Blackwood (actress Kelly McGillis) from the first film, and not because McGillis failed to hold her figure over the past thirty-six-(36) years, but because, again, Maverick's character was not a home-body. Instead, Penelope "Penny" Benjamin (actor Jennifer Connelly), a single mother, a bar owner, and the daughter of an admiral, delivers a very strong performance as Maverick's rekindled love interest. Connelly conveyed strength, class, and femininity in her performance, and she and Cruise really looked great together. The relationship building between Maverick and Penny is important; although Tom Cruise is well-known for doing his own stunts during the past thirty-(30) years for his Mission Impossible film franchise, TGM provides no such opportunities to hang from cliffs, run and jump across rooftops, etc. Except for sitting in the cockpits of various planes, Cruise actually has to act, and he delivers!

At Top Gun, Maverick's initial mindset was to continue his career as a naval aviator, not as an instructor, and of course, he butted heads with his boss, Vice Admiral Beau "Cyclone" Simpson (actor Jon Hamm), who considered Maverick as too risky, uncontrollable, a loose gun. Plus, Maverick also butted heads with Lieutenant Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw (actor Miles Teller), the son of Maverick's late RIO and best friend, LTJG Nick "Goose" (actor Anthony Edwards) and Carole Bradshaw (actor Meg Ryan); Rooster blamed Maverick for his father's death. Script handled the relationship between the protagonist (Maverick) and antagonist (Rooster) with great intensity, and the acting performances by Cruise and Teller are equally intense, even better, the chemistry between the actors was very believable. Likewise, looking back to 1986, the chemistry between Cruise (as the brash upstart) and Paul Newman (as the seasoned pro) was equally compelling. Notably, there was never a lull in the film's pacing, or an absence of continuity, or useless dialogue that worked against the storyline strategically building to the film's climatic action sequences.

THE ACTION: Beyond the "compelling" on-screen chemistry between the actors, and physical naval aviation action was equally if not more exciting. In both "The Hustler" and "The Color of Money" the physical action centered around a stationary pool table: the very loud crack of pool balls breaking; close-ups delivered from different angles via bird's eye view, worm's eye view; sharp and strategic edits pivoting from player to player to supporting cast to smoke-filled pool halls; eyebrows raised; jaws locked; dark, dingy, smoke-filled pool halls versus bright lights when competing in championship settings. Such is the cinematic atmosphere of the anti-hero films, frequently and boldly shot in classic black and white, of the late 1950s and early 1960s [The Man with the Golden Arm (1955); The Hustler (1961); The Magnificent Seven (1960); Hud (1963); The Cincinnati Kid (1965); Clint Eastwood's archetypal antihero films such as, "A Fistful of Dollars (1964)" as the "Man with No Name"]. Although shot in color, "The Color of Money," captured the same dark, dingy, smoke-filled pool hall atmosphere of "The Hustler." In reference to "Fast" Eddie Felson's bravado, Cruise also looked the part, and confidently "ran the table" like a pro!

Audiences have never seen the character and scope of air-to-air action sequences, at such speeds, with such risk taking and camera views and sharp editing as represented in the death-dyfing aerodynamics of 1986's "Top Gun." These action sequences were so damn great that in 2015, the United States Library of Congress selected the film for preservation in the National Film Registry, finding it "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant." Truly, a great technical and artistic accomplishment for a film made back in 1986. Conversely, TGM greatly benefits from the massive changes in aviation technology, and makes the air-to-air sequences filmed for the original 1986 film look like a classic 1953 Corvette speed of zero to 60-mph time of 11 seconds versus a 2025 Corvette speed of zero to 60-mph time of 2.2 seconds! Simply put, TGM reveals the legacy F-14 is not a challenge to the more contemporary F/A-18E or F/A-18F. TGM also greatly benefits from the fact Cruise is actually a very seasoned licensed pilot - translation - Cruise looks like he actually knows what he's doing in the cockpit of a real plane and in the simulators used in the film. The audience, whether sitting in a theatre or at home via the Paramount+ streaming service, is compelled to move their heads and bodies as Maverick moves his head and body trapped in a cramped cockpit while engaged in a juggernaut series of death-dyfing rollercoaster-esque aerodynamics. Re-read the previous sentence. In reference to Maverick's bravado as "the" Top Gun, Cruise looked the part, and confidently "flew the jet" like a pro!

Top Gun: Maverick The Color of Money

Pete "Maverick" Mitchell (Tom Cruise) evolved from being cocky to very confident, a seasoned man with a mature view of life. "Fast" Eddie Felson (Paul Newman) evolved from being cocky to very confident, a seasoned man with a mature view of life.

The following dialogue effectively represents the character, the persona of Navy Captain Pete "Maverick" Mitchell (Tom Cruise):

Rear Admiral Chester "Hammer" Cain (actor Ed Harris)
Maverick's superior and head of the Darkstar program
"The end is inevitable, Maverick. Your kind is headed for extinction."

Maverick (Cruise)
"Maybe so, sir; but not today."

RECOMMENDATION: Do yourself a really big favor, see all four-(4) films, and do so in chronological order. You'll experience great storytelling, great direction, excellent editing, exceptional acting and on-screen chemistry. As expertly portrayed by Paul Newman, "The Color of Money" is an excellent rites of passage film born from "The Hustler." Likewise, "Top Gun: Maverick" is an excellent rites of passage film born from "Top Gun," and you'll see the growth of Tom Cruise as actor and producer. It's your "ideal" motion picture event . . . watching four-(4) of the best films ever made and that you'll ever experience!

Top Gun: Maverick (2022) Top Gun (1986) The Color of Money (1986) The Hustler (1961)

Directed by Joseph Kosinski

Screenplay by Ehren Kruger, EricWarren Singer, Christopher, McQuarrie; Story by Peter Craig, Justin Marks; Based on Characters by Jim Cash, Jack Epps Jr.

Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, Tom Cruise, Christopher McQuarrie, David Ellison

Starring Tom Cruise, Miles Teller, Jennifer Connelly,
Jon Hamm, Glen Powell,
Ed Harris, Val Kilmer

Cinematography Claudio Miranda Edited by Eddie Hamilton

Music by Harold Faltermeyer, Lady Gaga, Hans Zimmer

Production companies
Paramount Pictures,
Skydance, Don Simpson/Jerry Bruckheimer Films

Distributed by Paramount Pictures

Release dates May 27, 2022

Running time 131 minutes

Budget $170–177 million

Box office $1.496 billion

Directed by Tony Scott

Written by Jim Cash, Jack
Epps Jr., Based on "Top Guns" by Ehud Yonay

Produced by Don Simpson, Jerry Bruckheimer

Starring Tom Cruise, Kelly McGillis, Val Kilmer, Anthony Edwards, Tom Skerritt

Cinematography Jeffrey L. Kimball

Edited by Chris Lebenzon,
Billy Weber

Music by Harold Faltermeyer

Production company
Don Simpson/Jerry Bruckheimer Films

Distributed by Paramount Pictures

Release date May 16, 1986

Running time 109 minutes

Budget $15 million

Box office $357.3 million

Directed by Martin Scorsese

Screenplay by Richard Price Based on "The Color of Money" by Walter Tevis

Produced by Irving Axelrad, Barbara De Fina

Starring Paul Newman, Tom Cruise, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Helen Shaver

Cinematography Michael Ballhaus

Edited by Thelma Schoonmaker

Music by Robbie Robertson

Production companies Touchstone Pictures Silver Screen Partners II

Distributed by Buena Vista Distribution Co.

Release date October 17, 1986

Running time 120 minutes

Budget $14.5 million

Box office $52.3 million

Directed by Robert Rossen

Screenplay by Sidney Carroll, Robert Rossen; Based on "The Hustler" by Walter Tevis

Produced by Robert Rossen

Starring Paul Newman, Piper Laurie, George C. Scott, Jackie Gleason, Myron McCormick

Cinematography Eugen Schüfftan (as Eugene Shuftan)

Edited by Dede Allen

Music by Kenyon Hopkins

Production company Rossen Enterprises

Distributed by 20th Century-Fox

Release date September 25, 1961

Running time 135 minutes

Budget $2.1 million

Box office $7.6 million

That's right, 1986 was a great year for Tom Cruise, because he starred to two great films. From 1986, "The Color of Money," was a sequel to the classic 1961 film, "The Hustler," and from 1986, "Top Gun," functioned as a prequel to "Top Gun: Maverick." Top Gun: Maverick (TGM) is a great film! Frankly, for students of cinema we owe Tom Cruise a very big, "Thank you!" That's right, let's thank Tom Cruise for also being a student of cinema, because it's extremely difficult to make a "relevant" sequel to a truly classic film, "Top Gun," thirty-six-(36) years after the release of the original film. "Top Gun: Maverick" is evidence Cruise was both inspired and guided by another great sequel, "The Color of Money," released twenty-five-(25) years after its legendary predecessor, "The Hustler," which featured his former co-star, the legendary Paul Newman! The aforementioned repetitive use of the word "legendary" is appropriate.

2022	1986	1986	1961


Top Gun		The Hustler

Pete "Maverick" Mitchell (Tom Cruise) was an extremely brash, cocky, insufferable, headstrong, sure-of-himself naval aviator.		"Fast" Eddie Felson (Paul Newman) was an extremely brash, cocky, insufferable, headstrong, sure-of-himself pool shark.

Many if not most sequels rely on the typical "we've saw that before in the first film" tactics (same plot, same cast, similar villian, similar special effects, etc.) that brand most sequels as repeats covering the same monotonous ground. Conversely, TGM, just like "The Color of Money" has a very engaging and believable script, very strong performances by Cruise and an ensemble cast, and great action sequences, sharp direction and slick editing to propel exceptional filmmaking. THE STORY: As expected, in the wake of the first film, Navy Captain Pete "Maverick" Mitchell (Tom Cruise) became a well-decorated test pilot. Film opens with seasoned test pilot Maverick successfully testing a prototype scramjet-powered hypersonic aircraft to reach its maximum target speed. As expected, Maverick cannot resist pushing the prototype beyond its Mach 10 maximum, which destroys the aircraft. Maverick is appropriately disciplined by being assigned to a "non-aviator" role at the Top Gun school at NAS North Island. Much later in the film we discover Maverick's close friend and rival from the previous film, Admiral Tom "Iceman" Kazansky (actor Val Kilmer), rose to the rank of commander of U.S. Pacific Fleet, and used his influence to salvage Maverick's career by re-assigning him to the Top Gun school. Given his tendency to be a "maverick," Maverick's weakness is not subject to the temptation of women, but his tendency to embrace "insubordination," which has limited him from reaching higher ranks; and likewise, from sustaining personal relationships with male navy colleagues and with women in his personal life. In this regard, script was wise not to anchor the sequel to Maverick's past relationship with Charlotte "Charlie" Blackwood (actress Kelly McGillis) from the first film, and not because McGillis failed to hold her figure over the past thirty-six-(36) years, but because, again, Maverick's character was not a home-body. Instead, Penelope "Penny" Benjamin (actor Jennifer Connelly), a single mother, a bar owner, and the daughter of an admiral, delivers a very strong performance as Maverick's rekindled love interest. Connelly conveyed strength, class, and femininity in her performance, and she and Cruise really looked great together. The relationship building between Maverick and Penny is important; although Tom Cruise is well-known for doing his own stunts during the past thirty-(30) years for his Mission Impossible film franchise, TGM provides no such opportunities to hang from cliffs, run and jump across rooftops, etc. Except for sitting in the cockpits of various planes, Cruise actually has to act, and he delivers! At Top Gun, Maverick's initial mindset was to continue his career as a naval aviator, not as an instructor, and of course, he butted heads with his boss, Vice Admiral Beau "Cyclone" Simpson (actor Jon Hamm), who considered Maverick as too risky, uncontrollable, a loose gun. Plus, Maverick also butted heads with Lieutenant Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw (actor Miles Teller), the son of Maverick's late RIO and best friend, LTJG Nick "Goose" (actor Anthony Edwards) and Carole Bradshaw (actor Meg Ryan); Rooster blamed Maverick for his father's death. Script handled the relationship between the protagonist (Maverick) and antagonist (Rooster) with great intensity, and the acting performances by Cruise and Teller are equally intense, even better, the chemistry between the actors was very believable. Likewise, looking back to 1986, the chemistry between Cruise (as the brash upstart) and Paul Newman (as the seasoned pro) was equally compelling. Notably, there was never a lull in the film's pacing, or an absence of continuity, or useless dialogue that worked against the storyline strategically building to the film's climatic action sequences. THE ACTION: Beyond the "compelling" on-screen chemistry between the actors, and physical naval aviation action was equally if not more exciting. In both "The Hustler" and "The Color of Money" the physical action centered around a stationary pool table: the very loud crack of pool balls breaking; close-ups delivered from different angles via bird's eye view, worm's eye view; sharp and strategic edits pivoting from player to player to supporting cast to smoke-filled pool halls; eyebrows raised; jaws locked; dark, dingy, smoke-filled pool halls versus bright lights when competing in championship settings. Such is the cinematic atmosphere of the anti-hero films, frequently and boldly shot in classic black and white, of the late 1950s and early 1960s [The Man with the Golden Arm (1955); The Hustler (1961); The Magnificent Seven (1960); Hud (1963); The Cincinnati Kid (1965); Clint Eastwood's archetypal antihero films such as, "A Fistful of Dollars (1964)" as the "Man with No Name"]. Although shot in color, "The Color of Money," captured the same dark, dingy, smoke-filled pool hall atmosphere of "The Hustler." In reference to "Fast" Eddie Felson's bravado, Cruise also looked the part, and confidently "ran the table" like a pro! Audiences have never seen the character and scope of air-to-air action sequences, at such speeds, with such risk taking and camera views and sharp editing as represented in the death-dyfing aerodynamics of 1986's "Top Gun." These action sequences were so damn great that in 2015, the United States Library of Congress selected the film for preservation in the National Film Registry, finding it "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant." Truly, a great technical and artistic accomplishment for a film made back in 1986. Conversely, TGM greatly benefits from the massive changes in aviation technology, and makes the air-to-air sequences filmed for the original 1986 film look like a classic 1953 Corvette speed of zero to 60-mph time of 11 seconds versus a 2025 Corvette speed of zero to 60-mph time of 2.2 seconds! Simply put, TGM reveals the legacy F-14 is not a challenge to the more contemporary F/A-18E or F/A-18F. TGM also greatly benefits from the fact Cruise is actually a very seasoned licensed pilot - translation - Cruise looks like he actually knows what he's doing in the cockpit of a real plane and in the simulators used in the film. The audience, whether sitting in a theatre or at home via the Paramount+ streaming service, is compelled to move their heads and bodies as Maverick moves his head and body trapped in a cramped cockpit while engaged in a juggernaut series of death-dyfing rollercoaster-esque aerodynamics. Re-read the previous sentence. In reference to Maverick's bravado as "the" Top Gun, Cruise looked the part, and confidently "flew the jet" like a pro!

Top Gun: Maverick		The Color of Money

Pete "Maverick" Mitchell (Tom Cruise) evolved from being cocky to very confident, a seasoned man with a mature view of life.		"Fast" Eddie Felson (Paul Newman) evolved from being cocky to very confident, a seasoned man with a mature view of life.

The following dialogue effectively represents the character, the persona of Navy Captain Pete "Maverick" Mitchell (Tom Cruise): Rear Admiral Chester "Hammer" Cain (actor Ed Harris) Maverick's superior and head of the Darkstar program "The end is inevitable, Maverick. Your kind is headed for extinction." Maverick (Cruise) "Maybe so, sir; but not today." RECOMMENDATION: Do yourself a really big favor, see all four-(4) films, and do so in chronological order. You'll experience great storytelling, great direction, excellent editing, exceptional acting and on-screen chemistry. As expertly portrayed by Paul Newman, "The Color of Money" is an excellent rites of passage film born from "The Hustler." Likewise, "Top Gun: Maverick" is an excellent rites of passage film born from "Top Gun," and you'll see the growth of Tom Cruise as actor and producer. It's your "ideal" motion picture event . . . watching four-(4) of the best films ever made and that you'll ever experience!
Top Gun: Maverick (2022)	Top Gun (1986)	The Color of Money (1986)	The Hustler (1961)
Directed by Joseph Kosinski Screenplay by Ehren Kruger, EricWarren Singer, Christopher, McQuarrie; Story by Peter Craig, Justin Marks; Based on Characters by Jim Cash, Jack Epps Jr. Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, Tom Cruise, Christopher McQuarrie, David Ellison Starring Tom Cruise, Miles Teller, Jennifer Connelly, Jon Hamm, Glen Powell, Ed Harris, Val Kilmer Cinematography Claudio Miranda Edited by Eddie Hamilton Music by Harold Faltermeyer, Lady Gaga, Hans Zimmer Production companies Paramount Pictures, Skydance, Don Simpson/Jerry Bruckheimer Films Distributed by Paramount Pictures Release dates May 27, 2022 Running time 131 minutes Budget $170–177 million Box office $1.496 billion	Directed by Tony Scott Written by Jim Cash, Jack Epps Jr., Based on "Top Guns" by Ehud Yonay Produced by Don Simpson, Jerry Bruckheimer Starring Tom Cruise, Kelly McGillis, Val Kilmer, Anthony Edwards, Tom Skerritt Cinematography Jeffrey L. Kimball Edited by Chris Lebenzon, Billy Weber Music by Harold Faltermeyer Production company Don Simpson/Jerry Bruckheimer Films Distributed by Paramount Pictures Release date May 16, 1986 Running time 109 minutes Budget $15 million Box office $357.3 million	Directed by Martin Scorsese Screenplay by Richard Price Based on "The Color of Money" by Walter Tevis Produced by Irving Axelrad, Barbara De Fina Starring Paul Newman, Tom Cruise, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Helen Shaver Cinematography Michael Ballhaus Edited by Thelma Schoonmaker Music by Robbie Robertson Production companies Touchstone Pictures Silver Screen Partners II Distributed by Buena Vista Distribution Co. Release date October 17, 1986 Running time 120 minutes Budget $14.5 million Box office $52.3 million	Directed by Robert Rossen Screenplay by Sidney Carroll, Robert Rossen; Based on "The Hustler" by Walter Tevis Produced by Robert Rossen Starring Paul Newman, Piper Laurie, George C. Scott, Jackie Gleason, Myron McCormick Cinematography Eugen Schüfftan (as Eugene Shuftan) Edited by Dede Allen Music by Kenyon Hopkins Production company Rossen Enterprises Distributed by 20th Century-Fox Release date September 25, 1961 Running time 135 minutes Budget $2.1 million Box office $7.6 million