In light of Monday's shocking news of prolific filmmaker Tony Scott's untimely and unexpected death, OurHometown's Guy Lavallee has dedicated this week’s column to a fond look back at some of his favorite films from Scott's storied career.

PHOTO CREDIT - Alamy.com

Edmonton - August 22, 2012 - In light of Monday's shocking news of prolific filmmaker Tony Scott's untimely and unexpected death -

I thought I would dedicate this week’s column to a fond look back at some of my favorite films from his storied career.

While older brother Ridley (Alien, Gladiator, Prometheus) has had an arguably higher profile (and pedigree) career, Tony Scott was known for his high-octane, testosterone-fueled thrillers - instantly recognizable as much for their jackhammer editing ad visual style as for their violent and action-packed storylines.

With 16 feature films to his credit, here are my Top 5 Tony Scott films:

5.SPY GAME (2001) - this terrific, old-school spy thriller pairs Robert Redford with his 30-years junior doppelganger, Brad Pitt, in a tense and suspenseful espionage drama that recalls 70’s classics like Redford’s 3 Days of the Condor. Both actors are at the top of their game here, and director Scott took a bit of break from his typically kinetic filmmaking style to craft a bit more of a slow-burner - allowing the performances and the intricate storyline to do all of the heavy lifting.

4. CRIMSON TIDE (1995) - the first of 6 (!) collaborations with star Denzel Washington (a list that includes Enemy of the State, Man on Fire, Déjà Vu, The Taking of Pelham 1, 2, 3, and Unstoppable), I think this one remains the best, with a never-better Washington matching wits against the always-great Gene Hackman, in a tense and involving naval thriller. Washington plays a young first officer aboard a U.S submarine who is forced to try and stop his somewhat trigger happy captain…with a nuclear catastrophe hanging in the balance.

3. TOP GUN (1986) - has it really been 26 years since this Tom Cruise-starring mega hit became the talk of the town? Although Cruise had already had a pretty big breakthrough with 1983’s Risky Business, this was the film that launched him into the stratosphere of superstardom. And with just one major feature film directing credit to his name (1983’s stylish misfire The Hunger), it was also the film that sent Tony Scott onto the directorial ‘A-List’. This is as iconic as big, patriotic, Hollywood filmmaking gets �" and the thrills hold up all these years later (as does the awesomely 80’s soundtrack!). Pick up the sparkling Blu-Ray edition, released last summer in honour of the film’s 25th Anniversary.



2. THE LAST BOY SCOUT (1991) - I’ll admit it: this movie has long been one of my favorite guilty pleasures - the kind of excessively violent and over the top action buddy comedy they just don’t make anymore! Bruce Willis and Damon Wayans are hilarious and profane as Willis’s down on his luck detective teams up with a washed up quarterback to solve a murder at a football game.

With great chemistry between Willis and Wayans (compare this to the ‘chemistry’ - or lack thereof - Willis shared with Tracy Morgan in the unwatchable Cop Out to see how hard it is to create great chemistry in a buddy movie), a fast-paced and clever plot, and tons of spectacular (not to mention unrelentingly violent!) action set-pieces, and you’ve got an action movie classic that’s only grown more fun with time. A must-see.



1. TRUE ROMANCE (1993) - based on one of Quentin Tarantino’s earliest scripts (which he sold the rights to before he had the clout to direct his own screenplays), Scott quite drastically altered the tone and structure of Tarantino’s original draft to this more ‘linear’ version. With a great cast and script to work with, however, the result was still a Tarantino-esque delight - filled with his trademark controversial dialogue (Exhibit ‘A’: the scenery-chewing exchange between Dennis Hopper and Christopher Walken), envelope-pushing violence, and endless pop culture references (Sony Chiba, anyone?!). This was one of the lowest-grossing films of Tony Scott’s career, but it developed a massive, loyal following once it was released to home video, and it remains one of the most revered and beloved films of Scott’s career (not to mention a career high-point for Christian Slater!).



Enjoy catching up on the films of the late, great Tony Scott - and be sure to let us know what YOUR favorite Tony Scott flick was. Follow me on Twitter @TheRealMovieGuy.