FILM #34
OF 39
95TH ACADEMY AWARDS | 2023 OSCARS CHALLENGE
“TOP GUN: MAVERICK”
MARCH 2, 2023
PARAMOUNT+
DAY 38
OF 48
Best MOTION PICTURE OF THE YEAR
Produced by Tom Cruise, Christopher McQuarrie, David Ellison and Jerry Bruckheimer
Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay)
Screenplay by Ehren Kruger and Eric Warren Singer and Christopher McQuarrie
Story by Peter Craig and Justin Marks
Based on Characters by Jim Cash and Jack Epps Jr.
Best Achievement in Film Editing
Edited by Eddie Hamilton
Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures
(Original Song)
“Hold My Hand”
Music and Lyric by Lady Gaga and BloodPop
Best Sound
Sound Design by Mark Weingarten, James H. Mather, Al Nelson, Chris Burdon and Mark Taylor
Best Achievement in Visual Effects
Visual Effects by Ryan Tudhope, Seth Hill, Bryan Litson and Scott R. Fisher
As much as I love Tony Scott and his work, the original “Top Gun” was barely a good movie. To then make a sequel 36 years later that is built off of nostalgia alone is hardly a good idea. The moment that “Top Gun: Maverick” opens with the song Danger Zone, my eyes rolled, and I had a bad feeling.
Tom Cruise is back as Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, a Top Gun graduate. His enemy-turned-friend “Iceman” (Val Kilmer) orders him to teach the best of the best from the latest group of Top Gun graduates to fly an impossible mission. Among the group is Bradley Bradshaw (what a name), the son of “Goose,” who was Maverick’s wingman that died in the original film.
The writing is clunky at best, and the film getting nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay is laughable. The consensus when the film hit theaters was that it had people in tears. Unfortunately, for me, those tears weren’t for good reasons. “Top Gun: Maverick” is your run-of-the-mill action movie with too many endings, laughable dialogue, and stiff acting. The film’s only saving graces are the original song from Lady Gaga during the credits and the visual effects, but it doesn’t stand a chance going up against “Avatar: The Way of Water.”
PREVIOUS NOMINATIONS
Tom Cruise
| 72nd Academy Awards (1999) | Best Actor in a Supporting Role | “Magnolia” | Nominee |
| 69th Academy Awards (1996) | Best Actor in a Leading Role | “Jerry Maguire” | Nominee |
| 62nd Academy Awards (1989) | Best Actor in a Leading Role | “Born on the Fourth of July” | Nominee |
Christopher McQuarrie
| 68th Academy Awards (1995) | Best Original Screenplay | “The Usual Suspects” | WINNER |
David Ellison
| First-time nominee |
Jerry Bruckheimer
| First-time nominee |
Ehren Kruger
| First-time nominee |
Eric Warren Singer
| 86th Academy Awards (2013) | Best Original Screenplay | “American Hustle” | Nominee |
Peter Craig
| First-time nominee |
Justin Marks
| First-time nominee |
Eddie Hamilton
| First-time nominee |
Lady Gaga
| 91st Academy Awards (2018) | Best Actress in a Leading Role | “A Star Is Born” | Nominee |
| Best Original Song | “Shallow” from “A Star Is Born” | WINNER | |
| 88th Academy Awards (2015) | Best Original Song | “Til It Happens To You” from “The Hunting Ground” | Nominee |
BloodPop
| First-time nominee |
Mark Weingarten
| 90th Academy Awards (2017) | Best Sound Mixing | “Dunkirk” | WINNER |
| 87th Academy Awards (2014) | Best Sound Mixing | “Interstellar” | Nominee |
| 83rd Academy Awards (2010) | Best Sound Mixing | “The Social Network” | Nominee |
| 81st Academy Awards (2008) | Best Sound Mixing | “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button” | Nominee |
James H. Mather
| First-time nominee |
Al Nelson
| First-time nominee |
Chris Burdon
| 86th Academy Awards (2013) | Best Sound Mixing | “Captain Phillips” | Nominee |
Mark Taylor
| 94th Academy Awards (2021) | Best Sound | “No Time To Die” | Nominee |
| 92nd Academy Awards (2019) | Best Sound Mixing | “1917” | WINNER |
| 88th Academy Awards (2015) | Best Sound Mixing | “The Martian” | Nominee |
| 86th Academy Awards (2013) | Best Sound Mixing | “Captain Phillips” | Nominee |
Ryan Tudhope
| First-time nominee |
Seth Hill
| First-time nominee |
Bryan Litson
| First-time nominee |
Scott R. Fisher
| First-time nominee |
After thirty years, Maverick is still pushing the envelope as a top naval aviator, but must confront ghosts of his past when he leads TOP GUN’s elite graduates on a mission that demands the ultimate sacrifice from those chosen to fly it.
Directed by Joseph Kosinski
Paramount Pictures
May 27, 2022
131 minutes
ACCOLADES
BAFTA Awards — Film Award (Nominee)
BAFTA Awards — Best Editing (Nominee)
BAFTA Awards — Best Special Visual Effects (Nominee)
BAFTA Awards — Best Sound (Nominee)
Screen Actors Guild Awards — Stunt Ensemble [Winner]
AACTA Intl Awards — Best Film (Nominee)
Academy of SciFi, Fantasy & Horror Awards — Best Action/Adventure Film [Winner]
Academy of SciFi, Fantasy & Horror Awards — Best Editing [Winner]
Academy of SciFi, Fantasy & Horror Awards — Best Special Effects (Nominee)
AFI Awards — Movie of the Year [Winner]
Alliance of Women Film Journalists Awards — Best Film Editing (Nominee)
American Cinema Editors Awards — Best Edited Feature Film/Dramatic [Winner]
Atlanta Film Critics Circle Awards — Best Film (Nominee)
Austin Film Critics Ass. Awards — Best Film Editing (Nominee)
Austin Film Critics Ass. Awards — Best Film (Nominee)
Black Film Critics Circle Awards — Best Picture (Nominee)
Boston Online Film Critics Ass. Awards — Best Film (Nominee)
Capri, Hollywood Awards — Editor Award [Winner]
Chicago Film Critics Ass. Awards — Best Use of Visual Effects (Nominee)
Chicago Indie Critics Awards — Best Editing (Nominee)
Chicago Indie Critics Awards — Best Original Song (Nominee)
Chicago Indie Critics Awards — Best Visual Effects (Nominee)
Chicago Indie Critics Awards — Best Studio Film (Nominee)
Cinema Audio Society Awards — Sound Mixing [Winner]
CinEuphoria Awards — Best Song (Original or Adapted)/Intl Competition (Nominee)
CinEuphoria Awards — Best Sound/Intl Competition (Nominee)
CinEuphoria Awards — Best Special Effects/Intl Competition (Nominee)
Columbus Film Critics Ass. Awards — Best Film Editing (Nominee)
Critics Ass. of Central Florida Awards — Best Original Song [Winner]
Critics Ass. of Central Florida Awards — Best Picture (Nominee)
Critics Choice Awards — Best Visual Effects (Nominee)
Critics Choice Awards — Best Editing (Nominee)
Critics Choice Awards — Best Song (Nominee)
Critics Choice Awards — Best Picture (Nominee)
Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Ass. Awards — Best Picture (Nominee)
Denver Film Critics Society Awards — Best Visual Effects (Nominee)
Denver Film Critics Society Awards — Best Original Song (Nominee)
DiscussingFilm Critics Awards — Best Motion Picture (Nominee)
DiscussingFilm Critics Awards — Best Film Editing (Nominee)
DiscussingFilm Critics Awards — Best Visual Effects (Nominee)
DiscussingFilm Critics Awards — Best Sound (Nominee)
DiscussingFilm Critics Awards — Best Original Song (Nominee)
Florida Film Critics Circle Awards — Best Visual Effects (Nominee)
Georgia Film Critics Ass. Awards — Best Original Song [Winner]
Georgia Film Critics Ass. Awards — Best Picture (Nominee)
Golden Globe Awards — Best Motion Picture – Drama (Nominee)
Golden Globe Awards — Best Original Song – Motion Picture (Nominee)
Greater Western NY Film Critics Ass. Awards — Best Picture (Nominee)
Greater Western NY Film Critics Ass. Awards — Best Editing (Nominee)
Guild of Music Supervisors Awards — Best Song Written for a Film (Nominee)
Hawaii Film Critics Society Awards — Best Sound [Winner]
Hawaii Film Critics Society Awards — Best Song [Winner]
Hawaii Film Critics Society Awards — Best Film (Nominee)
Hawaii Film Critics Society Awards — Best Adapted Screenplay (Nominee)
Hawaii Film Critics Society Awards — Best Editing (Nominee)
Hawaii Film Critics Society Awards — Best Visual Effects (Nominee)
Hollywood Critics Ass. Awards — Best Picture (Nominee)
Hollywood Critics Ass. Creative Arts Awards — Best Sound [Winner]
Hollywood Critics Ass. Creative Arts Awards — Best Editing (Nominee)
Hollywood Critics Ass. Creative Arts Awards — Best Original Song (Nominee)
Hollywood Critics Ass. Creative Arts Awards — Best Visual Effects (Nominee)
Hollywood Music In Media Awards — Best Original Song (Nominee)
Hollywood Professional Ass. Awards — Outstanding Editing (Nominee)
Houston Film Critics Society Awards — Best Picture (Nominee)
Houston Film Critics Society Awards — Best Original Song (Nominee)
Houston Film Critics Society Awards — Best Visual Effects (Nominee)
Indiana Film Journalists Ass. Awards — Best Picture (Nominee)
Indiana Film Journalists Ass. Awards — Best Editing (Nominee)
Intl Online Cinema Awards — Best Film Editing (Nominee)
Intl Online Cinema Awards — Best Sound (Nominee)
Intl Online Cinema Awards — Best Visual Effects (Nominee)
Iowa Film Critics Awards — Best Song [Winner]
Las Vegas Film Critics Society Awards — Best Film Editing (Nominee)
Las Vegas Film Critics Society Awards — Best Visual Effects (Nominee)
Las Vegas Film Critics Society Awards — Best Original Song (Nominee)
Latino Ent. Journalists Ass. Film Awards — Best Sound Design [Winner]
Latino Ent. Journalists Ass. Film Awards — Best Picture (Nominee)
Latino Ent. Journalists Ass. Film Awards — Best Editing (Nominee)
Latino Ent. Journalists Ass. Film Awards — Best Visual Effects (Nominee)
Latino Ent. Journalists Ass. Film Awards — Best Song Written for a Film (Nominee)
London Critics Circle Film Awards — Film of the Year (Nominee)
Minnesota Film Critics Alliance Awards — Best Sound Work [Winner]
Minnesota Film Critics Alliance Awards — Best Editing (Nominee)
Minnesota Film Critics Alliance Awards — Best Special Effects (Nominee)
Motion Picture Sound Editors Awards — Sound Editing – Feature Dialogue/ADR (Nominee)
Motion Picture Sound Editors Awards — Sound Editing – Feature Effects/Foley (Nominee)
Music City Film Critics’ Ass. Awards — Best Sound Winner]
Music City Film Critics’ Ass. Awards — Best Film (Nominee)
Music City Film Critics’ Ass. Awards — Best Song (Nominee)
Music City Film Critics’ Ass. Awards — Best Editing (Nominee)
National Board of Review Awards — Best Film [Winner]
New Mexico Film Critics Awards — Best Picture [Winner]
North Carolina Film Critics Ass. Awards — Best Narrative Film (Nominee)
North Carolina Film Critics Ass. Awards — Best Adapted Screenplay (Nominee)
North Carolina Film Critics Ass. Awards — Best Editing (Nominee)
North Carolina Film Critics Ass. Awards — Best Original Song (Nominee)
North Carolina Film Critics Ass. Awards — Best Sound Design (Nominee)
North Carolina Film Critics Ass. Awards — Best Special Effects (Nominee)
North Dakota Film Society Awards — Best Sound [Winner]
North Dakota Film Society Awards — Best Editing (Nominee)
North Dakota Film Society Awards — Best Visual Effects (Nominee)
North Dakota Film Society Awards — Best Original Song (Nominee)
Oklahoma Film Critics Circle Awards — Best Film (Nominee)
Online Ass. of Female Film Critics Awards — Best Editing (Nominee)
Online Ass. of Female Film Critics Awards — Best Visual Effects (Nominee)
Online Film Critics Society Awards — Best Editing (Nominee)
Online Film Critics Society Awards — Best Visual Effects (Nominee)
Online Film Critics Society Awards — Best Picture (Nominee)
Producers Guild of America Awards — Producer/Theatrical Motion Pictures (Nominee)
Portland Critics Ass. Awards — Best Sound Design [Winner]
Portland Critics Ass. Awards — Best Picture (Nominee)
Portland Critics Ass. Awards — Best Visual Effects (Nominee)
San Diego Film Critics Society Awards — Best Sound Design [Winner]
San Diego Film Critics Society Awards — Best Visual Effects (Nominee)
San Fran. Bay Area Film Critics Circle Awards — Best Film Editing (Nominee)
Satellite Awards — Best Motion Picture, Drama [Winner]
Satellite Awards — Best Original Song [Winner]
Satellite Awards — Best Sound (Editing and Mixing) [Winner]
Satellite Awards — Best Screenplay, Adapted (Nominee)
Satellite Awards — Best Film Editing (Nominee)
Satellite Awards — Best Visual Effects (Nominee)
Seattle Film Critics Society Awards — Best Picture (Nominee)
Seattle Film Critics Society Awards — Best Film Editing (Nominee)
Seattle Film Critics Society Awards — Best Visual Effects (Nominee)
Society of Composers and Lyricists Awards — Outstanding Original Song (Nominee)
Southeastern Film Critics Ass. Awards — Best Picture (Nominee)
St. Louis Film Critics Ass. Awards — Best Editing (Nominee)
St. Louis Film Critics Ass. Awards — Best Visual Effects (Nominee)
Sunset Film Circle Awards — Best Editing [Winner]
Sunset Film Circle Awards — Best Film (Nominee)
UK Film Critics Ass. Awards — Film of the Year (Nominee)
USC Scripter Awards — USC Scripter Award/Film (Nominee)
Utah Film Critics Ass. Awards — Best Picture (Nominee)
Utah Film Critics Ass. Awards — Best Film Editing (Nominee)
Visual Effects Society Awards — Visual Effects in a Photoreal Feature (Nominee)
Visual Effects Society Awards — Model in a Photoreal or Animated Project (Nominee)
Visual Effects Society Awards — Compositing and Lighting in a Feature (Nominee)
Washington DC Area Film Critics Ass. Awards — Best Editing [Winner]
Washington DC Area Film Critics Ass. Awards — Best Film (Nominee)
Writers Guild of America Awards — Adapted Screenplay (Nominee)
Best Motion Picture of the Year
EXPERT PREDICTIONS
1. “Everything Everywhere All at Once”
2. “The Banshees of Inisherin”
3. “The Fabelmans”
4. “Top Gun: Maverick”
5. “TÁR”
6. “Elvis”
7. “All Quiet on the Western Front”
8. “Avatar: The Way of Water”
9. “Triangle of Sadness”
10. “Women Talking”
PERSONAL PREDICTIONS
1. “Everything Everywhere All at Once”
2. “The Banshees of Inisherin”
3. “The Fabelmans”
4. “TÁR”
5. “All Quiet on the Western Front”
6. “Top Gun: Maverick”
7. “Women Talking”
8. “Elvis”
9. “Triangle of Sadness”
10. “Avatar: The Way of Water”
Best Writing (ADAPTED Screenplay)
EXPERT PREDICTIONS
1. “Women Talking” — Sarah Polley
2. “All Quiet on the Western Front” — Edward Berger, Lesley Paterson & Ian Stokell
3. “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” — Rian Johnson
4. “Top Gun: Maverick” — Ehren Kruger, Eric Warren Singer, Christopher McQuarrie; Story by Peter Craig and Justin Marks
5. “Living” — Kazuo Ishiguro
PERSONAL PREDICTIONS
1. “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” — Rian Johnson
2. “Women Talking” — Sarah Polley
3. “All Quiet on the Western Front” — Edward Berger, Lesley Paterson & Ian Stokell
4. “Living” — Kazuo Ishiguro
5. “Top Gun: Maverick” — Ehren Kruger, Eric Warren Singer, Christopher McQuarrie; Story by Peter Craig and Justin Marks
Best Achievement in Film Editing
EXPERT PREDICTIONS
1. “Top Gun: Maverick” — Eddie Hamilton
2. “Everything Everywhere All at Once” — Paul Rogers
3. “Elvis” — Matt Villa & Jonathan Redmond
4. “The Banshees of Inisherin” — Mikkel E.G. Nielsen
5. “TÁR” — Monika Willi
PERSONAL PREDICTIONS
1. “Everything Everywhere All at Once” — Paul Rogers
2. “Elvis” — Matt Villa & Jonathan Redmond
3. “Top Gun: Maverick” — Eddie Hamilton
4. “The Banshees of Inisherin” — Mikkel E.G. Nielsen
5. “TÁR” — Monika Willi
Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (ORIGINAL SONG)
EXPERT PREDICTIONS
1. “Naatu Naatu” from “RRR”
2. “Lift Me Up” from “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”
3. “Hold My Hand” from “Top Gun: Maverick”
4. “This Is a Life” from “Everything Everywhere All at Once”
5. “Applause” from “Tell It Like a Woman”
PERSONAL PREDICTIONS
1. “Lift Me Up” from “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”
2. “Hold My Hand” from “Top Gun: Maverick”
3. “Applause” from “Tell It Like a Woman”
4. “This Is a Life” from “Everything Everywhere All at Once”
5. “Naatu Naatu” from “RRR”
Best Sound
EXPERT PREDICTIONS
1. “Top Gun: Maverick”
2. “All Quiet on the Western Front”
3. “Avatar: The Way of Water”
4. “Elvis”
5. “The Batman”
PERSONAL PREDICTIONS
1. “Elvis”
2. “Top Gun: Maverick”
3. “All Quiet on the Western Front”
4. “Avatar: The Way of Water”
5. “The Batman”
Best Achievement in Visual Effects
EXPERT PREDICTIONS
1. “Avatar: The Way of Water”
2. “Top Gun: Maverick”
3. “All Quiet on the Western Front”
4. “The Batman”
5. “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”
PERSONAL PREDICTIONS
1. “Avatar: The Way of Water”
2. “Top Gun: Maverick”
3. “The Batman”
4. “All Quiet on the Western Front”
5. “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever”
