Days of Thunder

Days of Thunder; Action drama, USA, 1990; D: Tony Scott, S: Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, Robert Duvall, Randy Quaid, Cary Elwes, Michael Rooker

To some, race cars are a life assignment. The owner of a team, Tim Daland, persuades trainer Harry to quit farm life and return to teaching race car driving. His newest candidate is the young Cole Trickle who drives brilliantly and wants to participate at the stock car races. Still, he and Harry argue a lot, which doesn't help attracting sponsors. Cole's friends organize a striptease party for his medical check, but when the real doctor arrives, Claire, there's an embarrassing misunderstanding. Later on the become a couple but Cole's rival Rowdy gets injured in a race. Cole starts to fear the cars, but manages to win at the great race despite engine trouble.

Polished up and spectacular action sports drama "Days of Thunder" only has brilliance in the brilliant race car drivers, but not in the thin cliche story that suffered a box officer failure. Through aesthetic, sharp cinematography and dynamic editing, Tony Scott directs the film very 'mannequin' like, but effectively, even though one must add that the viewers who are not inclined towards cars will not change their opinion after they see this film. It's all too infantile while the ending is typically a happy mainstream one for the main hero Cole who is well performed by Tom Cruise, but Randy Quiad is much more amusing in his small role. Moreover, the best moment doesn't involve car action at all, but great character chemistry: at a medical check, Cole finds out his friends arranged a stripper for him, but when the real doctor (Nicole Kidman) arrives instead, there is a very tantalizing misunderstanding.

Grade:++