Days of Thunder

Starring: Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, Robert Duvall, Randy Quaid, Cary Elwes, Michael Rooker, Fred Dalton Thompson, John C. Reilly
Directed by: Tony Scott
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Action, Drama
1990

Times Seen:
Tim: 2

Summary: A young hotshot race car driver (Tom Cruise) gets his shot at the big leagues, but clashes with his crew chief (Robert Duvall) and a rival driver (Michael Rooker).

Review:

Tim: I probably like Days of Thunder more than I should. However, if you were going to make a list of the greatest NASCAR movies, this would certainly be near the top. Part of that is because there's not a lot of great NASCAR movies, and part of that is because this is a very enjoyable, entertaining film. I really liked it quite a bit.

I love the idea of an underdog NASCAR team, fighting against more experienced teams for victory lane. We start the film with Randy Quaid, who wants to put a team together to compete. He brings Robert Duvall out of retirement- the wise, experienced, older crew chief for one more shot at glory. They also take a chance on a young, talented, yet raw driver named Cole Trickle. It's this unlikely pairing that makes us want to root for these characters. We see this team- inexperienced, underfunded, and yet ambitious, and we want them to succeed in the face of their challenges. It helps that Tony Scott assembles a very strong cast. Randy Quaid is good as the owner. Robert Duvall, however, is incredible as Harry. He gives such a great performance (he's such a fantastic actor) that you immediately like his character. You just want this guy to be successful. Tom Cruise also gives a great performance as Trickle. He's the kind of guy who is incredibly confident in his own abilities, but has his own limitations and inner demons as well. He's a cool character, likeable, and we can easily identify with him. These three actors form the core of the cast, but it's the other supporting players that really make this film special.

Michael Rooker does a great job of playing the initial antagonist to Cole Trickle. I loved their early rivalry. I still think the wheelchair race scene in the hospital is one of the best moments of the entire film. The script does a great job of setting Rooker up as the antagonist, and yet it surprisingly switches gears as he becomes a friend to Trickle and Cary Elwes emerges as the new antagonist. I loved how this was handled in the film. Nicole Kidman does a good job as Cruise's love interest, although her character wasn't especially believable or interesting. John C. Reilly is great as a member of Cruise's pit crew. The cast in this film is actually quite outstanding.

The racing scenes are quite impressive. While there's an absurd, unrealistic amount of bumping (or nudging, or whatever they call it) in the film, it contributes to the thrilling race scenes. I really got caught up in these moments, and after suspending my disbelief about how NASCAR racers actually race as portrayed in this film, I was entertained.

This film works because it's interesting, exciting, and it gives us someone to root for and a reason to care about their plight. As the film progresses, I got to know and appreciate the characters, and I really wanted them to be successful. I got invested in the characters, which is one of the most important aspects of any film. I know a lot of people might not love this movie, and many dismiss it simply because they aren't fans of NASCAR. However, this film is solid through and through, and it does so much right that I'd consider it a great film. Days of Thunder might be flawed, but it's a hell of a ride.

Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 8



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Far and Away, Top Gun