European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 11, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse Paramount Tom cruise right is the Young rival to race car pro Michael Rooker in a Days of Chuck Vinch staff writer Days of Thunder rated pg-13. The same folks who brought you top gun Are Back with another sure fire Box office Winner for Tom cruise in Days of Thunder transplanting most of the elements of that two hour Navy recruiting and to the Grittier world of Stock car racing. Thunder also mirrors another cruise movie the color of Money with Robert Duvall this time in the Paul Newman role of older Mentor and aussie actress Nicole Kidman replacing Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio As the woman who keeps cruises feet on the ground. Here the Toothy one is Cole trickle a Young Hotshot with a Chip on his shoulder and something to prove. He has natural Talent but not an ounce of common sense which is what Harry Hogge Duvall is hired to give him by the local Busi Nessman Randy Quaid who builds a racing team around Cole. Almost instantly Cole develops a hot rivalry with Veteran racer Rowdy bums Michael Rook Erand their bump and grind track routines eventually Lead to a crack up and a trip to intensive care. There Cole meets Beautiful doctor Claire Lewicki Kidman who nurses him Back to health a in More ways than one a so he can climb behind the wheel to Battle for Stock car racing a most prestigious prize the Daytona 500. Director Tony Scott knows a winning formula and that a the problem. D6jh Vul is All Over this movie. Despite his acrobatics on the track the Star is definitely on movies on cruise control a he a so familiar with this Type of character by now that he could probably play it in his sleep. That a a shame because cruise has Talent As he so amply proved As Dustin Hoffman a brother in the award winning rain Man. But the Hollywood machine that turned him into a poster boy will undoubtedly demand that he keep accepting these lesser roles. His legions of fans wont care but the Guy is capable of a lot More than he Ever shows Here. The scenes with Kidman cruises real life love Are another problem. They Are so clumsily shoehorned in that they seem forced and its Tough to buy the idea that such a resilient intelligent woman could fall for such an immature brat. Three things save this movie a Duvall Rooker and the race scenes. Duvall Hasni to had so much fun with a role since he played the strutting air Cav officer in apocalypse now. Rooker As a racer struggling to come to grips with the idea that his career is Over after his Accident gets to show a depth that cruise lacks. As for the racing a number of real life Stock car vets have pointed out that anyone who tried some of the track shenanigans that these characters pull would be booted out of racing forever. But the bumper mounted cameras offer some hear stopping views of what life must be like Down where the rubber meets the Road. Days of Thunder rated pg-13 for profanity and Brief nudity gets three stars one each for the two Good actors and a third for the careening cars. Quot a top ten movies these Are the top 10 movies in the states according to exhibitor relations co with ticket sales last weekend listed in millions. 1 graveyard shift $5.1, 2 sibling rivalry $4. 3 White Palace $3.45. 4 marked for death $3.43. 5 ghost $3.08. 6 Memphis Belle $3.07. 7 Quigley Down under $2.7. 8 Avalon 2.1. 9 fantasia $2. A 10 or. Destiny $1,9. November 11,1990 sunday to plus Page 9
