If there are two films that Tony Scott will be remembered for, it's TOP GUN and TRUE ROMANCE; respectively, a box-office megahit with popcorn for brains, and a low-budget grunge-noir flop that gained a massive cult following. He never made a film that is critically regarded as highly as some of his brother Ridley Scott's best films, such as ALIEN and BLADE RUNNER. But in between and around Tony's two cultural tent-poles, he was busy crafting some solid reliable pieces of entertainment; some of which have created a more lasting impression than most would originally imagine.
Here's a brief rundown of Tony's entire career, with some thoughts. (In the last couple years, I did what I dubbed "Scott Fest"; a massive marathon of the Scott family's entire catalog, so these are all pretty fresh in my mind.)
THE HUNGER (1983) - From the opening performance by Bauhaus of their song "Bela Lugosi's Dead", this film would forever link the fashionable undead with the burgeoning goth community. Fully embracing the alternative-sexuality subtext always lingering slightly beneath the surface of most vampire films (see DRACULA'S DAUGHTER), the story functions as a metaphorical tale of learning how to love at the fringes of society. It's not without flaws (I find the ending pretty subpar, if not wholly nonsensical), but as both time capsule and performance piece (both in terms of acting and direction) it's well worth a watch.
TOP GUN (1986) - I'll be honest; I'm not really a big fan of this film. I mostly find it to be a huge bore. But it's hard to deny it its place in pop culture. Like many of Tony Scott's films, it pushes the drama just up to the very brink of outright self-parody, which makes me imagine him chuckling silently to himself while filming some of the more "intense" scenes. Is the man a bit of a Paul Verhoeven, simply "taking the piss" with his target audience?
BEVERLY HILLS COP II - Has none of the charm of the original, Martin Brest directed film, but 500% more flash. Plot aside, if the point was to make Brigitte Nielsen look great in a tight dress while stepping out of an astronomically expensive car, mission accomplished. This also is where we start to see the beginnings of Tony's "mean" side; the kills are much harder-edged than one would expect from a piece of mainstream fluff entertainment.
REVENGE (1990) - And then he gets REALLY mean. In a plot that seems like a response to Top Gun, we follow a retired fighter pilot (Kevin Costner) who ends up becoming an Ugly American in Mexico. This does not turn out well for him. Melodramatic and meandering, but just dirty and hot in all the right ways.
DAYS OF THUNDER (1990) - And in the same year, we have a NASCAR film that is better than it has any right to be. With a script by Robert Towne, and beautiful photography by Ward Russell, this is full-throttle entertainment (Sorry!) even if you've never seen an Indy 500 in your life.
THE LAST BOY SCOUT (1991) - You can watch it as the pinnacle of testosterone-fueled excess, or as an appreciative parody of such excess, but either way this is the most over-the-top version of an "80's Action Film" that you're ever likely to see. Writer Shane Black's decidedly un-PC script isn't for all tastes, and you'll know which camp you fall into within the first five minutes of the film. So grimy that you might need a shower afterwards.
TRUE ROMANCE (1993) - A Tarantino script produced before he was TARANTINO, this is a loving post-modern, pop-cultural take on BADLANDS (It even rips off the music!) and BONNIE AND CLYDE. Amazing ensemble cast. I would argue that the scene between Dennis Hopper and Christopher Walken is the best filmed Tarantino-written scene ever. Tony's favorite of his own films, and most film nerds favorite of his as well.
CRIMSON TIDE (1995) - After a string of bombs, Tony went back to his blockbuster roots. Strongly arguable as being the second-best submarine film of all time, he manipulates a solid cast of character actors, led by his muse Denzel Washington and Gene Hackman. While TOP GUN and other Simpson/Bruckheimer productions were entirely pro-military, sabre-rattling pieces, this is a piece of mainstream entertainment that has the gall to question the decision making abilities of those left in charge of the trigger. Intense and thrilling.
THE FAN (1996) - Crap.
ENEMY OF THE STATE (1998) - A film that anticipates the post-9/11 climate to a frightening degree, we have the strange situation in which an action films heavies include such actors as Jack Black, Seth Green, and Jamie Kennedy. The nerds shall inherit the earth.
SPY GAME (2001) - . . . sucks.
MAN ON FIRE (2004) - This is where Tony truly found his "voice", I think. Overbearing, overheated. Bombastic while also being slightly subliminal. He pushed style to its absolute limit, beyond which no other directors have dared to go. (Probably for good reason.) One of Denzel's best performances. Bleak, oppressive, and nihilistically purging.
DOMINO (2005) - The madness of TRUE ROMANCE mixed with the style of MAN ON FIRE. Again, is this parody? Tony loves endings that involve mexican standoffs with the mafia, it seems.
DEJA VU (2006) - Despite a script that makes zero sense (But what time travel story does?), Denzel's performance and the general fun of the whole piece make this an entertaining ride.
THE TAKING OF PELHAM 123 (2009) - Totally pointless remake, but I actually like some of the twists they placed on the story. With a stronger actor than John Travolta, this could've been a pretty solid character piece. Meh.
UNSTOPPABLE (2010) - Have not seen! Guess I'll have to get on that.
So, my personal top five faves would be -
1. Man On Fire
2. The Last Boy Scout
3. True Romance
4. Crimson Tide
5. The Hunger
Ciao, Tony!
No comments:
Post a Comment