Days of Thunder · The Rewatchables ·March 18, 2025 Days of Thunder The Teddy KGB Award for the Actor in a Completely Different Movie Nicole Kidman as an elite neurosurgeon In the discussion (1) Approx. transcript time · 01:17:16Read transcript A visibly young Nicole Kidman playing an elite neurosurgeon is selected as implausible casting.
Days of Thunder · The Rewatchables ·March 18, 2025 Days of Thunder What’s Aged the Worst? Video game, overloaded subplots, rushed win, courtship, and sex scenes In the discussion (7) Approx. transcript time · 01:18:37Read transcript The Days of Thunder video game is criticized as unusually poor for a film suited to an arcade adaptation. The film is criticized for carrying too many underdeveloped backstories, including Bucky's father. Cole's muted reaction to winning Daytona is criticized as rushed and insufficiently celebratory. Cole's pursuit of Claire is criticized as intrusive from the exam-room contact through the parking-lot wait and apartment flowers. Harry's rapid car-building montage is criticized for skipping potentially interesting craft detail. Tim Daland's generic name and the unclear financing of the two-car team are questioned. Cole's bedroom scene with Claire is criticized as another awkward, ambiguous Tom Cruise love scene.
Days of Thunder · The Rewatchables ·March 18, 2025 Days of Thunder The Ruffalo / Hanna / Rubinek / Partridge Overacting Award Tom Cruise in the car; Robert Duvall laughing In the discussion (2) Approx. transcript time · 01:26:54Read transcript Tom Cruise's car outbursts are proposed for overacting. Robert Duvall's delighted laugh after provoking Cole is a separate proposal.
Days of Thunder · The Rewatchables ·March 18, 2025 Days of Thunder The Stephen A. Smith Hottest Take Award Old Tom Cruise teeth; Cocktail 2 In the discussion (5) Approx. transcript time · 01:27:45Read transcript The production indirectly enabled Eyes Wide Shut because Dr. Jerry Punch recommended Nicole Kidman after Dead Calm. Days of Thunder is tested and rejected as better than Top Gun. Tom Cruise's original teeth are preferred to his later straightened teeth. Michael Rooker should have become a much bigger star, though a lack of comic range or conventional leading-man looks is offered as an explanation. The film would be better as Cocktail 2, with Brian Flanagan leaving the bar business for racing.
Days of Thunder · The Rewatchables ·March 18, 2025 Days of Thunder Casting What-Ifs Kurt Russell, Robin Wright, Tom Sizemore, Dale Earnhardt, Paul Newman In the discussion (4) Approx. transcript time · 01:32:26Read transcript Kurt Russell is discussed as the initial Rowdy Burns choice before Backdraft. Robin Wright as Claire Lewicki, Tom Sizemore as Tim Daland, Dale Earnhardt as Rowdy, and Paul Newman as Harry are proposed or reported alternatives. Dale Earnhardt's refusal to play a perceived villain is questioned because Rowdy is not ultimately the villain. Don Simpson's self-casting as Aldo Bennedetti and the cutting of most of his performance are discussed.
Days of Thunder · The Rewatchables ·March 18, 2025 Days of Thunder The Danny McBride Award for Playing Yourself NASCAR figures and Dr. Jerry Punch In the discussion (1) Approx. transcript time · 01:34:50Read transcript Richard Petty, Rusty Wallace, Neil Bonnett, Harry Gant, and Dr. Jerry Punch are listed as playing themselves.
Days of Thunder · The Rewatchables ·March 18, 2025 Days of Thunder The Joey Pants “That Guy” Award J. C. Quinn In the discussion (3) Approx. transcript time · 01:35:06Read transcript J. C. Quinn is selected for his recognizable roles in Maximum Overdrive, Vision Quest, and The Program. Nick Searcy is an alternate for his law-enforcement roles in The Fugitive and Justified and his appearance in Cast Away. Margo Martindale is noted as having graduated beyond That Guy status.
Days of Thunder · The Rewatchables ·March 18, 2025 Days of Thunder The Dion Waiters Award for Best Heat Check Performance Leilani Sarelle In the discussion (2) Approx. transcript time · 01:36:17Read transcript Fred Dalton Thompson is runner-up for his brief, commanding and racially dated team-owner scenes. Leilani Sarelle wins for the staged police officer, linked to her later role as Roxy in Basic Instinct.
Days of Thunder · The Rewatchables ·March 18, 2025 Days of Thunder Recasting Couch Val Kilmer as Russ Wheeler In the discussion (1) Approx. transcript time · 01:37:53Read transcript Val Kilmer is proposed as Russ Wheeler, potentially carrying his Jim Morrison styling into the role.
Days of Thunder · The Rewatchables ·March 18, 2025 Days of Thunder Is There a Better Title for This Movie? No replacement beats Days of Thunder In the discussion (2) Approx. transcript time · 01:38:21Read transcript Daytona, Trickle, Dropping the Hammer, and Checkered Flag are considered as alternatives. The panel remains dissatisfied with the title but does not find a clearly better replacement.
Days of Thunder · The Rewatchables ·March 18, 2025 Days of Thunder Half-Assed Internet Research Cars, birds, relationships, speeding, and role preparation In the discussion (5) Approx. transcript time · 01:39:13Read transcript Hendrick Motorsports supplied the main cars, which were entered in real races for footage. Birdseed used for the rental-car beach scene reportedly led to birds being struck during filming. Donna Scott appeared in the police-stop scene, later dated Tony Scott, and married him. Tom Cruise reportedly received a speeding ticket in North Carolina during production. Nicole Kidman reportedly wanted to study neurosurgery, but producers discouraged it.
Days of Thunder · The Rewatchables ·March 18, 2025 Days of Thunder Apex Mountain Mello Yello and car-racing movies; several near-apex cases In the discussion (8) Approx. transcript time · 01:40:23Read transcript Tom Cruise is placed near, but not definitively at, his apex. Robert Duvall and Nicole Kidman are rejected as being at their apex; Cruise's hair and teeth are accepted. NASCAR and Don Simpson production stories are proposed as apex cases. Michael Rooker is assigned Cliffhanger; Cary Elwes is assigned The Princess Bride. Hans Zimmer and Simpson–Bruckheimer are rejected as apex cases. Car-racing movies are debated against Talladega Nights. Mello Yello is accepted as an apex case. Cruise is accepted in the Cruise-or-Hanks comparison.
