Reviews

As a teen in the 80s I have fond memories of seeing Top Gun in theaters with my older brother at least twice. This one is better. Maverick is now old and as a test pilot he rebelliosly pushes against budget restraints while risking the entire team's futures as he personally struggles with possible obscurity after having continuously avoiding promotion due to "Maverick-like" behavior. Iceman, played with heart by the beloved Val Kilmer saves his career once again by having him called back to an instructor role to train an elite force of pilots to destroy an unsanctioned uranium enrichment plant against impossible odds.

He is forced to interact with the late Goose's son Rooster, played expertly by Miles Teller, whose career he thwarted. The flying is beyond amazing. The cinematography is excellent and the direction superb. Yet the best element of the film is the depth and growth of the characters. Adding Jennifer Connelly as the famed General's daughter Penny, along with Lyliana Wray as her daughter provides terrific humor and a bedrock of sensibility to counter Maverick's boundary pushing. The no nonsense admirals (Charles Parnell and Jon Hamm) oversee the high stakes task that forces Maverick to basically teach himself out of a job. As he struggles to confront loss in his past he superbly outwitts the young pilots earning their respect as he teaches them both how to overcome and survive the overwhelming odds. Overall great action movie supported with outstanding acting and filled with heart and inspiration.

Neal McDonough is back as John Breaker and better than ever in this 2nd Warrant movie. The action and saltiness, along with the occasional comic relief, creates a perfect classic western that eclipses the 1st installment. The story picks up with Breaker once again serving a warrant and arresting the bad guy, only this time as a Federal Marshal. He's accompanied by Bugle Bearclaw (played with aplomb by Gregory Cruz) who is a true friend and "brother" who provides not just trustworthy shooting in tight spots but also humor and accountability. Breaker's depth in this outing pushes his boundaries on law, order, and doing the right thing when it's easier not to, which all add to a well rounded and relatable struggle between his job and his feelings about those he's trying to bring to justice. Dermot Mulroney is well-suited as the villain and does a great job countering McDonough and Cruz while Bruce Boxleitner and Amy Hargreaves are far from the weak bullied townsfolk in more modern westerns. Nick Searcy also adds some layers with his Colonel Dredge, a cranky figure who thinks Breaker is headed into a worthless fight. The plot twists in this range from interesting to excellent with a firecracker ending that is both surprising and pleasing. If you're a fan of classic westerns that are clean and moral without being preachy then you should enjoy this movie. As someone raised on old westerns I greatly appreciated its dusty setting, great acting, and excellent portrayal of good vs. Bad guys.

Warrant is the first Neal McDonough (Band of Brothers, Red 2) western where he headlines as John Breaker along with Steven R. McQueen who plays his son. Breaker is a former Civil War soldier, now a sheriff who is tasked with helping his son, a Federal Marshal, serve a warrant on and arrest a known vigilante going by the name "The Saint." Unfortunately, The Saint is also a Civil War vet for whom the war, at least emotionally and psychologically, has not ended. McDonough brings a gritty toughness to the role which McQueen matches while also providing some brevity. The story is decent and harkens back to the fairly clean westerns of the John Wayne era where morals were respected and tough guys could hold there own in a fire fight where the viewer is not too focused on how many bullets were used and whether or not people always hit what or who they're aiming at. The direction is pretty good, the scenery though a bit bare bones is more than adequate and the end nicely ties up the details. This is a feel good western with plenty of clout and a refreshing lack of political correctness and social or political posturing that seems to deflate good storytelling in current media. If you're looking for a movie in the vein of a decent classic western, I recommend Warrant.