Quick Review: Days Of Thunder (1990)

DAYS OF THUNDER

BY CHRISTOPHER HASKELL
NOVEMBER 3, 2013

Capitalizing off the success of “Top Gun,” director Tony Scott and actor Tom Cruise reunite to bring about another strong drama, trading Naval aviators in for stock car racers, in “Days Of Thunder.” Cruise plays Cole Trickle, a nobody racer without a sponsor brought in by Tim Daland (Randy Quaid) to get them into the business of racing. The real star of the show is Robert Duvall as Harry Hogge, the pit crew captain that has all but retired. It’s when Hogee and Trickle work together that they become the unstoppable force in racing. Trickle’s rivalry with Rowdy Burns (Michael Rooker) reaches the highest dynamics of the film, especially when it comes to them racing down the hallways of a hospital after a major crash on the track. Also, Trickle’s blossoming relationship with Dr. Claire Lewicki (Nicole Kidman) takes the front seat towards the second act of the film, in one of Kidman’s strongest showings to date, despite being the stereotypical good woman drawn to a flawed man. Tony Scott’s style shines through and banking on the popularity of Cruise at the height of his career, “Days Of Thunder” is an utter success, bringing more emotion and suspense to the screen than any racing film could ask for. As with “Top Gun,” which was somewhat dated by its use of music, “Days Of Thunder” hits many of the same marks, but in the end, its a reminiscence that makes this film as strong as it is, reminding us of the ’90s in all the best ways.