Continuing my plan to watch every Tom Cruise movie in order, I come to Days Of Thunder (1990)Plot In A Paragraph: Cole Trickle (Cruise) a young hot shot stock car driver, gets his chance to compete at the top level Cruise does not make it 3 in a row, following on from Rain Man and Born On The Fourth Of July, this movie is a let down. One of its main problems is The problem that plagues all racing movies, predictability!! You know how it is going to end. Then add the fact that it was just exactly like so many other Cruise movies (Top Gun, Colour Of Money and Cocktail) I have watched recently. The Cruise character, a young, cocky but naturally talented kid, who could be the best, if only he could learn some damn self control and discipline. He has a mentor, an older man, who has been there and done it all, and knows talent when he sees it, then throw in a love interest, older and more mature than Cruise. It's practically a template, only the occupation changes (Pilot, Pool Player, Bartender) nothing else.As I said above Cruise is just playing the standard Tom Cruise character as in the other movies. He doesn't offer anything new at all, and following on from his last two performances, that is a shame. Nicole Kidman doesn't really offer anything to the movie, and gives no indication of the star she would be come. Randy Quaid is normally an actor I cringe watching, but he is OK here. Michael Rooker, an actor I always like seeing and John C Reilly another actor I enjoy watching high offer reliable support. Don Simpson cast himself in a supporting role in this movie, however he was so bad, that his role was reduced to a single line. The best thing in this movie is Robert Duvall. The man never disappoints, and this movie is no exception. He is head and shoulders above everyone else. The movie was a troubled production from the off, Don Simpson, Jerry Bruckheimer and Robert Towne argued with director Tony Scott daily. Production began without a finished script. Scenes were often written the day of filming. During one driving sequence, Tom Cruise (who has a Story By credit) had to read his lines off cue cards attached to his windshield. For subsequent driving sequences, Cruise was fitted with a special earpiece to have lines fed to him. The budget doubled, and would have needed to make $100 million to just break even, which back then was a huge amount. Days Of Thunder grossed $82 million at the domestic box office, to end the year the 13th highest grossing movie of 1989. Random side note. The film's disappointing box office performance destroyed the relationship between Paramount and producers Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer. After the film under-performed the studio asked Simpson and Bruckheimer to give Paramount nine million dollars of their earnings for this movie back to defray losses. The producers responded by telling Paramount they were done working for them.

Spectacular direction by Tony Scott and a script form legendary screen writer Robert Towne bring life to this incredibly exciting race car tale in stunning fashion. Robert Duval is superb as the old time car builder and Nicole Kidman is breathtaking as the doctor. John C. Reilly gives excellent support and the entire cast is uniformly perfect in their roles. The race scenes are absolutely the epitome of magnificence and constitute some of the greatest stock car racing ever filmed. After decades of avoiding this movie because of Tom Cruise, I now realize this is more a Robert Duval film than a Tom Cruise movie and everything is redeemed by the Oscar winning actor's presence. Nice to hear Nicole Kidman's actual accent and a credit to the producers for including it. Overall, a great film, with fiery direction, an excellent script, a superb Robert Duval, and a Nicole Kidman who is truly pleasing.

Starring Tom Cruise, directed by Tony Scott and brought to us by Bruckheimer and Simpson, that's a roll call of reasons why many would hate this before even watching it!Days of Thunder is pretty indicative of the films being made by this lot around this time. Sure there's a honest intention somewhere within to build potent character dynamics, to raise moral awareness and etc, but they always came down to relying on speedy thrills, simmering sexual tensions and a punch the air finale. These latter things are evident in Days of Thunder, making it very much enjoyable if judging on those terms.The actual dynamic of the stock car racing set-up as portrayed here is a bit suspect, but the thrills come in leaps and bounds as the cars career around the tracks and slam into each other while the respective drivers' egos explode in a flaming ball of testosterone. There's Cruise with his arrogant grin, there's Michael Rooker scowling and there's Carey Elwes doing his worst Val Kilmer Iceman impression. While out in the pits Robert Duvall adds the bit of class by juggling a dual role of surrogate father and expert stock-car manager, and Kidman as ace doctor Claire Lewicki shuffles around wondering just what is the point of all this emotionally damaged machismo.The makers don't cut any corners in their willingness to raise your pulse, and they succeed in that comfort food sort of way. But that's if you are so inclined of course? 6.5/10

Days of Thunder is a film about auto racing.It was directed by Tony Scott.The cast includes Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman,Robert Duvall,Randy Quaid,Cary Elwes and Michael Rooker.The story is similar to that of Top Gun only this time,the movie involves Cole Trickle,a young stock car driver gets his chance to compete at the top level.He's a talented driver with an arrogant attitude which gets him into trouble not only with other stock car drivers and the members of his own team as well.Cole Trickle,played by Tom Cruise,is recruited by car dealership tycoon Tim Daland,played by Randy Quaid,to race for his team in NASCAR.He also convinces former crew chief Harry Hogge,played very well by Robert Duvall,to come out of retirement and lead Cole's crew. Cole has difficulty adjusting to the larger NASCAR stock cars and communicating with his crew while being intimidated on the track by NASCAR Winston Cup Champion Rowdy Burns,played by Michael Rooker,that results in Cole not finishing the races,mostly due to crashes or engine blowouts. After discovering that Cole does not understand the common terminology used by NASCAR teams,Harry puts him in a series of rigorous training. This pays off in future races.Aside from that,Cole develops a romantic relationship with Dr.Claire Lewicki,played by the gorgeous Nicole Kidman.The story has all the elements of Top Gun.It is predictable and clichéd from beginning to end.Aside from that,this wasn't exciting as compared to Top Gun despite of having Scott and Cruise involved in it.Days Of Thunders simply felt like a formulaic movie from start to finish with nothing original in it.The same with the characters as well as they were based from Top Gun as well.In the end,if you want to see how elements of Top Gun on wheels,then this movie is it.