The younger brother of Ridley Scott, Tony specialized in making some of the most entertaining action thrillers of the ’80 and ’90s. Most notably his work with Denzel Washington was the highlight of his career and with his death in 2012, his loss is felt in the entertainment industry. He may be gone but we won’t forget these five movies that enthralled us, made us laugh and kept us on the edge of our seats. Here are the five best movies of Tony Scott.
Best Tony Scott Movies – Top Gun
Talk to any pilot or anyone who loves the world of aviation and they will surely mention Top Gun as there reason for why they admire flying. The aerial shots and flying sequences are truly a wonder to watch even if the story itself really isn’t that special. Tom Cruise does great work as Maverick and features one of the most iconic lines that was uttered in the ’80s; you know the one I’m talking about. With a sequel due to release in June of this year, it will be sad to know that Tony Scott won’t be involved but I’m sure that the film will pay tribute to him. Soar high and relive the excitement in this film where the good parts are great and the dull parts are passable once we get back to the flying!
Best Tony Scott Movies – Crimson Tide
War is brewing but no one has heard the official word yet and now it’s a battle of two men onboard a submarine where tensions are high and the stakes are even higher. This thriller is a true edge of seat ride that showcases the talents of Gene Hackman and Denzel Washington squaring off against each other. This is more than a movie about war but it leaves the audience with questions that can ask of themselves. It’s a movie that excites and thrills but is poignant in debating what is right and what is wrong. Plus, who can forget the memorable theme by Hans Zimmer?
Best Tony Scott Movies – True Romance
A movie that seems so over-the-top that we can’t look away from all the fun we are experiencing. Written by Quentin Tarantino and directed with flair by Tony Scott this movie tells the story of a young couple who become entangled in a web of dangerous criminals. From great characters, memorable lines of dialogue and one super soundtrack, True Romance is one wild ride. It’s violent, crude and feels like a wet dream for teenagers, but it’s a total blast from start to finish!
Unstoppable
Inspired by the real-life incident involving a CSX Train, Unstoppable takes this story and increases the speed and intensity. A runaway train is barreling towards many towns unmanned and without air-brakes with no way to stop it. The chase is on and being the last film to be directed by Tony Scott, it was surely one of his best. The one-hundred-minute runtime flies by and once it’s over you want to watch it again and again. A simple plot is fueled by that unstoppable train and it is one of the most exciting thrillers in recent memory.
Enemy of the State
Will Smith is a good actor and this film proved his status in the action genre. Playing a labor lawyer who comes under suspicion by the Government who may have sensitive materials in his possession, Smith is forced to go on the run for reasons he can’t understand. This movie was released when the real law was in talks to be passed which would’ve allowed the Government to spy on its citizens with a warrant. While entertaining and well-acted, Enemy of the State is also quite scary because it isn’t out of the realm of possibility for something like this to happen. This is the movie that any action thriller lover must watch, it’s the best Tony Scott movie by far and nothing even comes close to the great action, thought-provoking story and plausibility of all that happens. Enemy of the State is a stellar thriller that when you look at it today, twenty years later, still feels relevant.