Positive social change doesn't happen overnight, but anybody who leads the way ought to be commended.
A few years after their blockbuster hit Top Gun, Tom Cruise, producers Jerry Bruckheimer and Don Simpson, and director Tony Scott reunited for another film about the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, better known as NASCAR.
Being a race car driving enthusiast himself, Tom Cruise and screenwriter Robert Towne came up with the story for a film that would become Days of Thunder with Cruise playing opposite legendary actor Robert Duvall.
Tony Scott has directed some of my favorite films, including Crimson Tide, Beverly Hills Cop II, Top Gun, and my all-time favorite, Spy Game.
Like his big brother, Ridley, Tony Scott always had an eye for beautiful visuals and color, and Days of Thunder is no exception. From his signature color gradient sceneries to the "zoomed-in" shots, I think all students of film and cinematography should watch and study Tony Scott's movies.
Scott is exceptional in his direction of drama and action scenes, as seen in some of the most thrilling car racing sequences shot on film. It's unfortunate we'll not see any more of the inspiring works from the master filmmaker, who died in 2012, but I'll always admire Tony Scott as a cinematic genius.
Released in 1990, Days of Thunder provides an intriguing glimpse into the NASCAR car racing world, and it does it without making a political statement. But since the movie came out, there have been renowned female driver Danica Patrick, the first female NASCAR pit crew team member Christmas Abbott, and a Black driver named Bubba Wallace. Wallace, along with pit crew members Brehanna Daniels and Breanna O'Leary, are all graduates of NASCAR's Drive For Diversity (D4D) program.
The portrayal of NASCAR in Days of Thunder reflects an older time of stock car racing, but even a major institution as NASCAR can change to embrace more contemporary attitudes.
Days of Thunder has one of the greatest comeback stories ever. It didn't achieve the same level of success as Top Gun despite its bigger budget, but Days of Thunder is still among the very best action sports films ever made.
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