Tony Scott

True Romance is one of my all time favorite films, written by Quentin Tarantino and elevated by Tony Scott's direction and Hans Zimmer's iconic score.  True Romance gave a generation of socially awkward film buffs a dream girl - Alabama Worley.  The film holds so many great moments, Gary Oldman as a thuggish drug dealer, Bronson Pinchot with a face full of coke, Christopher Walken's mobster, Brad Pitt stoned on a couch with a bong made from a honey bear, a Val Kilmer role we never see, and more quotable lines than you can shake two sticks at and those are just the cliff notes on this film's greatness.  It is a great time at the movies, made by people who all have an obvious love for movies.  Hell, the lead couple played by Christian Slater and Patrica Arquette meet in a theater during a Sonny Chiba double feature.  I love True Romance and if I ever had the chance to meet anyone involved with it, I'd thank them for the film.

But True Romance is merely my favorite film by Tony Scott, not necessarily his best or most important.  His best would arguably be Man on Fire but his most important would be Top Gun.  Badass Digest wrote a short article, based on a much longer GQ article, that talks, in part, about the impact that Top Gun has had on film and it is massive.  I don't know anyone who doesn't or didn't love Top Gun.  It was THE movie of a generation and one that made many a young man want to go fly planes and shoot down fighter planes from an undefined nation.  It was Tony Scott how made that happen and good or bad, it is a film that will ring through the ages.  

Tony Scott was always regarded as the lesser of the two Scott brothers, but he made his presence felt in his own way and without aping his brother.  Some of his films, like True Romance and The Hunger, are cult films with very devoted followings.  Others were mainstream hits that touched millions of people with their smart and slick approach to our world.  Crimson Tide, Man on Fire, and Days of Thunder are all films that show Tony Scott's style and vision clearly while topping many lists of modern classics.  Tony's death is a tragedy and without a doubt the film going community will miss him in the years to come.

To Tony Scott I say, you're so cool and you will be missed.