The Mosley Review: Top Gun: Maverick
Way back when I played so many games on my Playstation 2, I rented one of the greatest games I've ever played. Ace Combat 4: Shattered Skies was the most thrilling experience in aerial dogfighting I've ever had and I fell in love with the franchise. It was the closest I'd ever come to recreating the same since of speed and tension that the original Top Gun gave me as a child. That film is an 80's staple and still one of the best films of all time. The trend to make sequels to classic films 20+ years later has sort of died down a bit which is good. It is truly heartbreaking to add a film that tarnishes the legacy of the original and fortunately, this film adds on and strengthens that legacy. From the opening frames to the last shot, this film captured the magic of the original and seamlessly updates it for todays technology and audience. It was an unfathomable amount of fun and the emotional beats the story had was truly earned. The action was fantastic and real which is hard to say compared to the more CGI led films today. I loved that it was shot for real with minimal CGI. It gave the true feeling of being a Naval Pilot and you feel the amount G's these characters pull in every bank, climb or spiral. The action is always the great, but it would've been nothing without the relatable and excellent character work done by the stellar cast.
Tom Cruise returns as Capt. Pete "Maverick" Mitchell and he hasn't skipped a beat. You can see the amount of care that Tom put into bringing back his career making role and the amount of fun he's genuinely having. I loved that Maverick still has that hotshot edge to him and he continues to push the limits. I loved that he was flawed and still haunted by Goose's death and how much of a burden he carries. Val Kilmer returns as Tom "Iceman" Kazansky in an amazing and heartfelt scene that truly was a highlight. Their bond is so strong and their chemistry has never been better. Jennifer Connelly joins the cast as Penelope Benjamin, the old flame Maverick talked about in the original film. She was as graceful and heavenly as you'd expect and I loved her in the film. Jon Hamm was perfectly stern and powerful as Vice Admiral Beau "Cyclone" Simpson. He may give Maverick a chance, but man does he not like him. It was great to see the two of them battle it out over operational superiority and strategy. Glen Powell as Lt. Jake "Hangman" Seresin was excellent and the ever present arrogant jerk of the new Top Gun mission candidates. He gets under your skin and is almost a complete mirror of what Maverick/Iceman used to be. Monica Barbaro was awesome and strong as Lt. Natasha "Phoenix" Trace. She was quick on her feet and a fierce pilot. I loved Jay Ellis as Lt. Reuben "Payback" Fitch and how even though he had a great personality, he was always ready to learn. He had one of the scariest moments in the film during a training exercise. One of my favorite pilots in the film though was Lt. Robert "Bob" Floyd played by Lewis Pullman. He may be the butt of a few jokes, but he was one of the most valuable members of the team. Miles Teller as Lt. Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw really stole the film as he plays the son of Nick "Goose" Bradshaw. The amount of resentment he carries for Maverick was heartbreaking and understandable. There is so much emotional history there and it easily explored and expertly performed by Teller. The chemistry between him and Tom was electric and fun to watch.
Aside from the action and Tom Cruise's aviator sunglasses, there is nothing more iconic than the score. Harold Faltermeyer, Lady Gaga, Hans Zimmer and Lorne Balfe all got together and crafted a perfect score for this already fantastic film. The "Top Gun Anthem" is placed perfectly throughout the film and it immediately brings back the feeling of joy and sets the epic scope of the story. This film wouldn't be Top Gun without the anthem or Kenny Loggins’ hit song "Danger Zone" and the song returns with the fury of the F/A-18E jet engine roar! Visually this film was stunning and I loved that we are in the cockpit with the characters as they fly. The way the cameras are set up have changed the game in terms of audience immersion. Speaking of immersion, the sound in this film was amazing! I felt ever after burn, turn and jet engine ignition. Director Joseph Kosinski has made yet another amazing film and one of the best sequels of all time. This is one of the best films of the year and genuinely a great film. This is a MUST SEE for all Top Gun fans and in IMAX! Let me know what you thought of the film or my review in the comments below. Thanks for reading!
