Days of Thunder.

No prior knowledge of this film led to it's constant procrastination and holiday from the blog. In previous years films have been watched in actor order but at times a change is needed. Matt Damon, Leo DiCaprio, Bruce Willis and Tom Cruise are regular features on the blog and separating them can, at times, be very hard as they normally all equal a lot of action, gun, shooting films. Days of Thunder is not that type of film and had I actually bothered to read the synopsis months ago I would have watched it a lot sooner.

One of two films I have seen about racing, with the other being 'Rush'. 'Days of Thunder' came about twenty years before 'Rush', which was released a few years ago and is quite clearly the platform for 'Rush'. The script wasn't as emotional or as strong as 'Rush' but then 'Rush' was based on a true story and 'Days of Thunder' was created entirely as fiction.

There was nothing to the character or Cole. It was like they just put Tom Cruise in a fast car and told him to drive- everything else was natural but not in a good way. No real character development and no strong emotional moments, not even when he was in hospital and couldn't see anything. Watching this film was clearly watching a film and nothing else. I couldn't connect with it in anyway. For me watching Days of Thunder was like going to the theatre with a friend, letting them chose the play and then actually finding the play really quite boring- you clap to be polite and smile but actually there was nothing that made it particularly enjoyable.

Nicole Kidman played the character well but she wasn't a standout part. Her character was weak. At times I feel that it is the actor that makes the role. Just look at Johnny Depp in 'Pirates of the Caribbean'. The character of 'Captain Jack Sparrow' was nothing like how it came out originally. Depp changed the character completely and the producers weren't a particular fan of how he played but the rest of the world loved it. Strong actors take the inniative and make the character their own. We spend so much time telling new artists to go out there and make a song their own and that is what an actor has to do with a character, become the character, connect with the character and make the character stronger than what is written on the pieces of paper handed to you.

Disappointment generally from the film but the film itself is okay- it's not standout but it is memorable and that for film makers is what really matters.