You can't outrun the thunder.
Talented but unproven stock car driver Cole Trickle gets a break and with the guidance of veteran Harry Hogge turns heads on the track. The young hotshot develops a rivalry with a fellow racer that threatens his career when the two smash their cars. But with the help of his doctor, Cole just might overcome his injuries-- and his fear.
Tom Cruise
Cole Trickle
Robert Duvall
Harry Hogge
Nicole Kidman
Dr. Claire Lewicki
Randy Quaid
Tim Dalander
Cary Elwes
Russ Wheeler
Michael Rooker
Rowdy Burns
Fred Thompson
Big John
John C. Reilly
Buck Bretherton
J.C. Quinn
Waddle
Don Simpson
Aldo Bennedetti
Caroline Williams
Jennie Burns
Michael Burgess
Young Doctor
Gerald R. Molen
Dr. Wilhaire
Donna W. Scott
Darlene
Leilani Sarelle
Female Highway Patrol Officer
Chris Ellis
Harlem Hoogerhyde
Peter Appel
Cole's Crew
Stephen Michael Ayers
Cole's Crew
Mike Slattery
Cole's Crew
John Griesemer
Len Dortort
Director
Tony Scott
Writers
Robert Towne, Robert Towne, Tom Cruise
Hans Zimmer
Original Music Composer
Ward Russell
Director of Photography
Robert C. Jones
Editor
Chris Lebenzon
Editor
Bert Lovitt
Editor
Michael Tronick
Editor
JPV852
5/16/2020
I'm not much a fan of any kind of racing but found this to be a relatively entertaining sports-thriller which does feature some good NASCAR racing sequences and a nice cast, though can't really say anybody stood out, even Cruise. **3.25/5**
GenerationofSwine
1/12/2023
It is Top Gun on wheels isn't it? Only Maverick came across as more blue collar wild and Trickle is a little more California pretentious wild. So it's kind of Top Gun only with Cary Elwes playing Val Kilmer. It's kind of Top Gun only Robert Duvall plays Cobra. It's kind of Top Gun but Nicole Kidman plays Kelly McGillis. It's kind of Top Gun only with NASCAR instead of Tomcats. You can't really fault this as a bad film, because it makes a promise to be a certain kind of film, and it keeps it's promise... and entertains while doing it. So, if you are coming in thinking Chinatown.... what do you think you are watching?
CinemaSerf
4/17/2024
"Harry" (Robert Duvall) is quite merrily driving his tractor on his farm when his erstwhile racing partner 'Daland" (Randy Quaid) shows up telling him of a new hotshot driver that he simply has to meet. Reluctantly he goes to the track and is introduced to the stroppy and headstrong "Cole" (Tom Cruise). Let's just say that the two just don't get on at all, but hey - we all know what has to happen now and yep, that's exactly how things pan out. An injury puts "Cole" under the care of "Dr. Claire" (Nicole Kidman) and I'm not too sure what the ethics committee might have to say about what ensues on the romantic front of this entirely predictable high-octane yarn. It might almost be as if one of the stars was a petrol-head and had enough money for a vanity project? Maybe that's just cynical - but in any case there's always some decent race photography to fall back on as the narrative suggests the depth of driving skills in this sport isn't very extensive. Duvall does his best to inject a little gravitas to the proceedings, but it's essentially a quickly-paced toy for it's headliner that you can watch for the (very) occasional adrenalin rush but that's about the height of it.
