Cruising Altitude.
114 Mins. Starring: Tom Cruise, Sarah Wright, Caleb Landry Jones & Domhnall Gleeson. Director: Doug Liman.
Sometimes the American dream takes flight on crooked wings. And Hollywood's main made man Tom Cruise, the Maverick 'Top Gun' superstar actor of superstar actors is in cruise control here. Tom gunning for greeds glory plays the real life late Barry Seal. An airplane pilot for TWA who also moonlighted for the CIA U.S. secret service during the commie wary Reagan era. If you thought working two jobs, one being for the government (and that's after hours. It aint even the full time one) was more than enough to navigate, then Cruise's Seal has the Medellin Cartel in his back-pocket too (Imagine having the President, General Noriega and even Pablo Escobar as your character references). That's like trying to binge watch seasons of 'Narcos' and 'Designated Survivor' all at the same time as trying to catch Denzel Washington's 'Flight' movie on Netflix. Lucky for the dream seeming, based on true events biopic 'American Made', it's star is the same man whose scaled the worlds largest tower in Dubai by the palm of his hands all whilst a sandstorm was approaching. Not to mention the same guy who fingernail claw gripped on to the side of a hellicarrier whilst it was taking off. No mission is too impossible for Cruise. Planes are like trains and automobiles to Tom. Now doesn't that leave you feeling grounded? And if you thought it was risky business for the all American, Hollywood grin of the 'Jerry Maguire' blockbuster boy to play a s### eating character, then remember this most marketable movieman more known for the sci-fi blockbusters of today (Recent 'Minority Report's' include 'Oblivion' and 'Edge Of Tomorrow') is as versatile as interviewing vamipres and being 'Born On The Fourth Of July'. And as this 'Collateral' killer talent continues his reign, 'Jack' reaches for more a year after his 'Never Go Back' sequel, reuniting with Japanese military book, movie adapter Doug Liman before they 'Live Die And Repeat' again for the 'Edge Of Tomorrow' sequel. As 'The Bourne Identity' and 'Mr & Mrs Smith' director who knows how to bring the seriously funny out of Tom gives us the closest thing right now to a rebooted 'Top Gun' sequel following the tragic death of director Tony Scott as Cruise takes wing.
In the same week Steven Soderbergh's return to directing with Channing Tatum, Adam Driver and James Bond himself Daniel Craig's 'Logan Lucky' tries to pull off a bank job at the NASCAR races, this Tom Cruise vehicle up high heists everybody. And after the fun but sometimes stiff 'The Mummy' movie this Summer saw Univeral's Dark Universe of Javier Bardem's 'Frankenstein', Johnny Depp's 'The Invisible Man' and Russell Crowe's 'Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde', based on the Mary Shelly, H.G. Wells and Robert Louis Stevenson's 1800 classics unravel, T.C. brings us a new end of Summer movie that rises before the fall season. In this eighties soaked and soundtracked, piece of believe it or not nostalgic history from 'Jumper' Liman. That is as small-budget big picture inspiring as it is storytelling compelling inspiring from the moment the Universal and fellow production company logo idents v-tape rewind into their vintage, legendary, legacy making looks. And with all due respect to the mother of monster movies, this is the one globe company picture that puts Tom Cruise's big name around the planets watching world again. In fresh as vanilla skies this man propells his movies back to the days of thunder in a beautiful private jet he slides his pilot hand across like it was a new supercar tarpaulin revealed. But why drive when you can fly the Mercedes of the sky? And Tom's need for speed again sees his charm and charisma, cruising attitude takeoff on a cock and ballsy flightplan, until he comes crashing down through the white pickets of an otherwise safe suburbia. Parking his tree wing-clipped plane in someones drive like John Travolta and handing out wads as he pedals off comically like Matt Damon in 'Suburbicon' on some kids push bike, saying "you didn't see me" as he rings the bell covered in cocaine powder like a clumsy baker doused in flour. That's the kind of way everything comes tumbling down when your illlegal drug running masked by the shades of governments central intelligence sees you drowing in duffels of multiple homes and car buying cash, running the same guns you may one day see yourself on the business end of. All until so much Benjamin Franklin's are blowing around your yard you promise your wife whilst you're reading Al Capone's autobiography that you will rake them up like Autumn leaves come morning. And boy is this new day Cruise raking it in with his perfect performance in a film doing the numbers when most box offices on days like this, green with envy will want to be woken up when September ends.
Making America greedy again requires more in reserve than Hollywood's most bankable star however. And T.V.'s 'Marry Me' wife Sarah Wright is the right choice to play Cruise's airborne road Seal's long suffering under diamond and pearls partner in counting the money crime. Standing by her man in altitude sickness and wealth, even when the mob and the White House come knocking. The only baggage she brings to this suitcases of money home life is a little vest-less, trucker hat, trailer trash brother who Kevin Federline's himself his share of the winnings (played with lazy angst puncuation by 'Get Out' and 'X-Men: First Class'' Banshee, Caleb Landry Jones). Just when Barry Seal had enough to deal with, with the cartel boys and the U.S. gov (let alone every major law enforcement agency with a badge and gun wanting to slap the cuffs on him. No matter how many caddies he offers them like a walk around the back nine), then the sibling in law from hell comes knocking. Cruise has too much trouble from red heads already with Domhnall Gleeson's CIA agent greasing his wings with his burn after buying, money offering and blind eye turning agent of cash flow someone else to do his dirty work charm. Brendon's son and the all too serious new 'Star Wars' trilogy villain giving us his winning over best since his turn in 'The Revenant' and the excellent 'Ex Machina'. All this character and charm makes for Cruise's best in years. Despite Liman already bringing that out in 2014's 'Edge Of Tomorrow'. And as the all-action hero goes anti-Hollywood with sleaze breeze and reckless flying abandonment, we still never thankfully see this clean crew cut actor getting high off his own supply, 'Training Day' knowing his narcotics. Even if he lets his hair down for his funnest movie since his 'Knight and Day' hitman didn't take itself or Cameron Diaz so "don't move or I'll kill myself and then her" seriously. Because this actor and director partnership in crime might make this rogue trader loveable, but they still slap a parental advisory sticker classification on the cream of this debauched dream slice of American pie that never gets too full on 'Wolf Of Wall Street' like 80's throwback, Gekko, "greed is good" moral murk above the Louisiana swaps they dump cane in from up high. Crime always has its consequences and this films knows it in the time it does. Made man or just plain and simple, living the American dream comes with a hefty price to pay. And that's just the American way. TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Further Filming: 'Top Gun', 'Jack Reacher', 'Flight'.
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