So last night I did something that has been long overdue. I finally watched one of the great classics in the pantheon of American film. Yes, that's right. I'm talking about Top Gun. All this time I thought it was a typical action movie about fighter pilots. How wrong I was! This is actually a thought provoking and touching film about gays in the military. The film takes place in the 80s before that whole "don't ask, don't tell" thing. At this time, gays were forbidden to be in the military. So what choice did these folks have other than hiding their true feelings?
Meet Maverick (played by the out-and-proud Scientologist, Tom Cruise). It's completely obvious that Mav is in love with his "partner" Goose (played by the curiously cast Anthony Edwards- did anyone else notice he is the only one in the volleyball scene with his shirt ON?- good choice). But Goose is stuck in a loveless sham marriage with Meg Ryan (who kind of looks like a boy, right?). Mav and Goose have to suppress their love. This makes Mav a horrible cockface with an obvious deathwish. He would rather die than live without his Goose.
But it doesn't end there. This is a classic love triangle. Enter Iceman (Val Kilmer with some really pretty blonde high-lites). Iceman has the hots for Maverick. But since Mav is so obviously in love with Goose, Iceman's feelings turn to anger. Don't forget, all this is happening while they are trying to hide their sexuality from everyone. Closet cases are often very hostile. Iceman is no exception. He pursues Maverick to no avail.
I don't want to spoil it for you in case you haven't seen the film, but something happens to get Goose "out of the picture" as they say. This puts Ice in the perfect posish to swoop in and catch Mav on the rebound. In the end, Mav and Ice profess to be each
other's Wingmen. That's right, they are no longer in the closet. They are finally able to accept who they are and say "We're here, we're queer, we're pilots!"
So don't deprive yourself of this wonderful film. It is a very important look at what it means to be a gay man in the military. And there is lots of sweet eye candy. Nothing is hotter than a gay man in uniform. Mmmm hhmmmmm.....
1 comment:
Ha. I saw this movie with a boy I had a crush on during my freshman year of college. Afterwards, he turned to me and asked, "Who would you rather do, Tom Cruise or Val Kilmer?" And before I could answer, he continued, "For me, normally I'd say Tom Cruise, but in this movie it's all about Val Kilmer, don't you think?"
And he claims to be straight...
So pretty much spot on to everything you just said.
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