Top Gun (1986)

My Review

“Top Gun” is an action-adventure film telling the story of two young Naval officers going into training at the U. S. Navy’s Fighter Weapons School in San Diego, with the plot chockfull of personality conflicts, action in the air, drama on the ground, and romance abounding everywhere. Director Tony Scott (“The Hunger” 1983) and screenwriters Jim Cash and Jack Epps Jr. created a top-rate film that does not have a dull moment in the nearly two hour running time.

Tom Cruise is, of course, the star of the show as Lt. Pete Mitchell. This film solidified his superstar status after 1983’s “Risky Business” made him a household name. The supporting cast includes Kelly McGillis, Val Kilmer, Anthony Edwards, Tom Skerritt, Michael Ironside, John Stockwell, Barry Tubb, Tim Robbins, Clarence Gilyard, Meg Ryan, Rick Rossovich, Whip Hubley, James Tolkan, Adrian Pasdar, and Duke Stroud.

The very watchable “Top Gun” was the top-grossing movie of 1986 for Don Simpson/Jerry Bruckheimer Films and Paramount Pictures. It won one Oscar for Best Original Song, “Take My Breath Away” (music by Giorgio Moroder, lyrics by Tom Whitlock, performed by Berlin). Non-winners include editing, sound, and sound effects editing. It was filmed in San Diego, California. A very successful sequel called “Top Gun: Maverick” was released in 2022 starring Cruise and Kilmer.