Top Gun: Maverick Flies High
Since Top Gun, Tom Cruise has arguably become THE number one film star. Much has been made about his all-involved approach to film-making and from the off the film announces itself as a meta-statement on the state of film-making. This is a film that had to be made, a film that Cruise had to deliver to us fans.
When dealing with such loved material there is always a danger of not living up to the standards set previously, but truth be told, I had little doubt that this sequel was in good hands with the likes of Cruise, director Joseph Kosinski and writer/producer Christopher McQuarrie involved.
McQuarrie has established himself as one of the top writer-directors of Hollywood after bursting on to the scene with his Academy Award winning screenplay for The Usual Suspects. With Mission Impossible he helped take a pop culture phenomenon into the modern age, crafting two of the most impressive action films of the 21st century.
Despite Cruise's acting credentials he still in my opinion remains criminally underrated. Often applauded for the incredible nature of his stunts, many seem to dismiss his ability to create mesmerising human characters. Cruise as Frank Mackey in Magnolia might just be my favourite acting performance of all time.
With the movie-going experience damaged and unavailable at times through the last few years due to the turbulence of Covid-19, Maverick represents a welcome return to the summer blockbuster in all its glory. Cruise and co were adamant over securing a proper cinematic release and turned down lucrative deals from various streaming giants who wanted to bring the film to the home screen as quick as possible.
The film delivers as a technical tour-de-force. The stunts and flight sequences are magnificent, the editing and camerawork manage to create a film that feels breath-taking and immersive in its flying sequences, truly getting your body pumping with adrenaline. Kosinski handles the film's most important sequences with great aplomb, bringing an assuredness that feels beyond his years. The film resists falling into the modern day tradition of being unnecessarily overlong and – pardon the pun – flies by. The musical cues combine the iconic sounds of the original with new material that never feels out of place.
The plot combines the right level of nostalgia, calling back to the original characters and mixing footage from the first film, with fantastic performances from perfectly cast new faces. Miles Teller and Monica Barbaro are perfect additions. Original plot-lines are handled with great delicacy in a way that brings emotional depth to what follows, in particular with Val Kilmer reappearing.
Top Gun: Maverick is top class entertainment that delivers on every level. It's the summer blockbuster that we needed, delivering everything that fans would have wanted in a sequel. You'll have a hard task in finding a film this year that gets you feeling as good as this one.
