In a previous blog, Spielberg: Questionable Themes and Symbolism,we looked at the 1994 independent film "Sleep with Me." In the film, Quentin Tarantino has a cameo - in which his character appears at a party, speaking to another guy about the film "Top Gun." He explains, hilariously, how the film is really about a man's struggle with his own homosexuality. "It's all about subversion," he says.
Now someone on Youtube either got inspired by the Tarantino cameo I just described, or came to the same conclusions on their own - and created a video called "Top Gay." As the title indicates, it is a collection of scenes from the film which demonstrate the homoerotic/homosexual overtones throughout the film. It's pretty hilarious, but once you are done laughing, the inevitable question presents itself: why in the hell would someone put this stuff in an "action" film and how did we NOT notice this the first time around? Perhaps Tarentino's character is revealing the real purpose of these types of blockbuster films when he says, "it's all about subversion!"
innuendo: "(the making of) a remark or remarks that suggest something sexual or something unpleasant but do not refer to it directly" - dictionary.cambridge.org
overtones: "If something has overtones of a particular thing or quality, it suggests that thing or quality but does not openly express it" - collinsdictionary.com
NOTE: This blog contains a LOT of suggestive sexual language which may be disturbing to some people. I would ask you to bear in mind that I DID NOT WRITE the stuff in the film, I'm just pointing it out! If you find it offensive, just remember that someone, or a group of individuals, sat down and made the decision to put all of this in. If nothing else, I hope you walk away asking yourself: WHY?
Given all of the obvious innuendo and sexual overtones contained within the original 80s "Top Gun" film, I figured the long awaited sequel "Maverick" would have them as well. To simply say that it does, is not adequite. It's profoundly filthy, in the most sexual way possible.
The "hidden" theme BEHIND Maverick is really quite simple, and seems to build upon a sort of pun introduced in the original film, "Top Gun." It's all about what happens BELOW the Hard Deck. But we must understand that this phrase "Hard Deck" is a euphemism for something else. That is the key that picks this lock.
"The term originated with fighter pilots. “Hard deck” was slang for an altitude (10,000 feet or so) that represented ground level during flight training exercises. If you went below the hard deck, you had hypothetically crashed and were out of the exercise."
One scene from the "Top Gay" compilation takes place in the locker room where all the pilots just got done with an intense flying exercise. One of the pilots points out that Maverick and Goose flew below the Hard Deck, and therefore were disqualified from winning. Maverick responds, "Hard deck my ass, we nailed that son of a bitch!" The sound bite is looped several times, and then in slow motion. It quickly becomes obvious that Maverick could just as easily have been saying "hard DICK my ass, we nailed that son of a bitch!" When you NAIL someone, that can have multiple meanings - one of which is specifically SEXUAL. As-in: "I nailed that girl the other night." There's also the fact that Iceman responds to Maverick by saying "you guys really are Cowboys!" Cowboy is slang for "queer" in certain contexts - which the film "Brokeback Mountain" famously builds off of.
Promotional posters for these types of films usually provoke the same hidden themes contained within the film itself. The one above is certainly no exception! You just have to look at things in an extremely literal, primitive way.
The place where a pilot sits in an airplane/jet is called the COCKPIT. And as you can see above, the cockpit is WIDE open! The Top Gun logo is stylized inside a shape which resembles an arrow, pointing downwards - but the very "tip" is sliced off. If the tip were there, this symbolic arrow would come to a point right between the bottom 2 "legs" of a 5 pointed star. What's between 2 legs?
Notice that the words TOP GUN are just BELOW the name Tom Cruise. In the 1970s, the band Kiss had an album called "Love Gun." A gun can function as a phallic symbol, depending on context. When you "cock" your pistol, it means you pulled the hammer back and cocked it to the rear. Now you're "ready for action!" The phallus/gun is BELOW Tom Cruise in the logo, and the star can represent what is just BELOW Tom Cruise's "gun." I'm not gonna say what that is just yet, but I don't think the star is perfectly level with Tom Cruise's crotch by accident...
When we first see Maverick, he has obviously aged - but is still completely locked into his identity as a daring fighter pilot. There he is, having his coffee in the morning and reading a paper inside a hanger right next to an old jet airplane. No house, No wife, no kids, no retirement.
After a good morning repair session on his vintage jet airplane, Maverick goes to wash his hands. Above the sink we see pictures of his deceased wing-man "Goose." Goose and Maverick. Goose and his wife. Goose and his kid. Goose's kid by himself! Does Maverick not have any ex-girlfriends or wives at this point? Children of his own? Nope, it's a "Goose shrine" here.
As we view Maverick washing his hands from behind, it also looks like he's masterbating to this wall of pictures!
Before Maverick leaves the hanger, we see a picture of Goose in his locker, "flipping the bird." Now think about this...what is a Goose? It's a bird. What does "flipping the bird" mean? It means F-YOU, obviously. The middle finger is supposed to represent a penis. So the F-YOU has a sexual connotation. Hold this thought for now, it will come up again later.
In the next scene, Maverick finds out that the program he has been assigned to has been cancelled - but he attempts to go through with it anyways in the minutes before it can be stopped by his superior, who is en route to halt things personally. So he's BREAKING THE RULES here, by attempting to see if he can reach Mach 10 [7,672 mph] before someone stops him from trying.
This is part of Maverick's "dangerous" character we came to know in the original "Top Gun." [a characterization made by Icemen, in the infamous "locker room scene" we just described earlier] This same characterization is interpreted by Tarentino as "right on the fucking edge" in his 90s film cameo. The edge of HOMOSEXUALITY, according to his interpretation! While the film seems to build off of that, it takes things much further, as we are already beginning to see.
Just before he takes off, Maverick says "ok sweetheart, one last ride," [as if he's having sex with an old girlfriend for the last time?] Then he grabs the control stick, which is just between his legs. If you pay attention to the camera angles, the music, the facial expressions - this entire scene, like most of the film, is a metaphor for a sexual act.
As Maverick's superior shows up in the control room, he tries to order him to land. Maverick responds as if he cannot make out what is being said, when someone else in the room offers, "This is where we’ve had trouble with comm, sir. It’s the earth’s curvature. Yeah, it’s called earth bulge…"
We call our planet "Mother Earth," giving it femanine characteristics. Woman have CURVES. A "bulge" can be a curve, a pregnant belly, or even a bulge in one's crotch.
As Maverick is reaching Mach 10, his plane starts to buckle under the pressure [kind of like a struggle to reach sexual climax]. These repeated camera angles switching from Maverick's highly engaged sweating face to the control stick [joy stick?] between his legs as he struggles with both hands to control, further enforces the innuendo. While all of this is happening, the music sets an atmosphere of an almost romantic/euphoric event, as Maverick quietly says to himself "talk to me Goose." Remember, last time we saw Goose, he was flipping the "dick finger" bird!
As if in awe, we see the faces of the men in the control room. But they also appear to be sexually aroused! This seems to reach a climax as Ed Harris, who plays Maverick's superior then says, "You got some balls, stick jockey! I’ll give you that!" As if his low grumbling tone wasn't suggestive enough, ask yourself what you get when you add BALLS to a STICK? [hint: Male genitalia!] What does a jockey do? He RIDES. Then Harris adds, "I'll give you that!" All of this innuendo cannot be accidental. It's just too easy to spot and too ubiquitous!
As Maverick "thrusts" past Mach 10, his jet [phallus] finally "blows up" [orgasms?] and leaves a translucent semen colored streak in the sky, in the shape of an arrow/phallus!
After a crash landing, Maverick is summoned to the briefing room where he is both repremended for his reckless actions AND assigned to a new mission. What does this mean symbolically? He pushed the limits of the plane's "body" in order to achieve the "climax" he desired. Then they send him to a classroom to TEACH what he just did to a younger generation of pilots! [think about today's controversies regarding sexual content being placed in children's School curriculums and text books]
Note the body language above. Maverick stands with his waist out, hands together in front as if he is taking a pee! The long table in front of him - an extention of his phallus, while the guy at the other ends sits, as-if recieving it!
Here he is told he has a "special mission" at Top Gun. The purpose of this mission is the crudest aspect of the entire film, but we'll get into that later...
"The target...is an unsanctioned Uranium enrichment plant"
One of the oddest things about this film, is that neither the enemy or their specific geographical location is named. I mentioned this to someone else who saw the film, and they told me "yeah they did, it was Russia." Well, I re-watched the film and I did not hear Russia or any other specific location named. I believe that's because we're not really talking about a UR-ANIUM enrichment plant here - and this mission isn't really taking place on land! [I'll explain later, if you haven't already guessed what I'm hinting at]
Maverick later enters a bar where the young pilots he'll be instructing frequent. The bartender is apparently an old girlfriend or "friend with benefits" from the past. He tells her "you look good." [keep that in the back of your mind, it comes up again later] He goes on to tell her that he's back at Top Gun, but that he won't actually be flying. She says to him, "Trust me. As improbable as it seems right now, somehow you’ll be back in your fighter plane with your TAIL ON FIRE." Hmmm...
As the top fighter pilots are entering the room, the macho energy builds up, and we see a couple of them throwing darts nailing the BULLSEYE multiple times just above a "Sailer Jerry" sign. "Sailer," like "Cowboy," is sometimes used as a euphemism for "Queer." These 2 guys are throwing darts [phallic objects] into a small round target. This is not just sexually suggestive, but it is also forshadowing the entire purpose of their upcoming mission - which is essentially to "nail the bullseye" and then PULL OUT.
Bob, the "nerdy" pilot, is first seen sitting at the pool table [stick and ball game, btw] with his legs spread, furiously waving his hands over his crotch! What is the purpose of this character?
Maverick's deceased wingman "Goose" was played by actor Anthony Edwards. Edward's most well known film outside of "Top Gun," was probably "Revenge of the Nerds." In that film he played one of the main "Nerds," and I think this Bob character simulating masterbation is supposed to conjure up Goose - by way of Anthony Edward's previous role in another popular 80s film. Bob wears glasses, has the same color hair and appears to part it on the same side. Bob is played by actor Lewis Pullman. Lewis is the name of the other main Nerd in the film "Revenge of ther Nerds," who is best friends with Anthony Edward's character. Put it all together and decide what you think it means...
Maverick pauses as if he's spotted an old love obsession when Rooster walks in. Rooster is his deceased wingman's son. Another name for Rooster is COCK. Maverick's attention is mostly focused upon COCK this entire film. Figure that one out.
Phoenix, a female character, breaks up the "homoerotic" theme of the original film, and confirms the more "pan-sexual" approach here. One of her first moves is "virtually" jerking Rooster's phallus [cue stick.] She hits him right near the groin to emphesize the innuendo.
[David Bowie]
[Marc Bolan of T-Rex]
While this bar scene is playing out, David Bowie's "Let's Dance" is playing off in the background. Bowie got famous in the 1970s mostly for helping usher in the Glam Rock movement - which had a lot to do with his apparent sexual androgyny.
Right after "Let's Dance," the song "Bang a Gong" by T-Rex comes on. The man behind T-Rex was the late Marc Bolan, known to be bi-sexual. He was also one of David Bowie's biggest influences initially, and is generally considered the father of "glam rock." The film "Velvet Goldmind" explicitely highlights the gay aspect integral to that musical movement.
The signifficance of this music is just a subtle counterpoint to what might have traditionally been a macho "pissing contest" in this scene. Rather, it's a sort of pan sexual free-for-all celebrating the generative force in general. This is something I point out a lot in my blog about the film "Tommy." Incedentally, the Who also appears on this soundtrack...
As Rooster approaches the pool table, he walks up to Hangman and says: "Hangman, you look...good." Now remember, this is what Maverick said to the bartender when he saw her earlier. So a connection is being made between Maverick's "romantic interest" in the film and the dialogue between Rooster and Hangman. That's not an awkward accident of the scriptwriters!
Hangman then says, "I am good Rooster. I’m very good. In fact, I am too good to be true."
Old songs used to say things like, "please be true to me, baby." That means, be MONOGOMOUS. Don't sleep around, be MY girl! So I think what Hangman is saying there is that he's just too good of a lover to be with one person. Meaning, he'll sleep with anyone he wants, including Rooster!
Hangman then accuses Rooster of "waiting for just the right moment...that never comes." Then with a shit-eating grin, says "I love this song." The song playing at that moment is "Slow Ride," by Foghat. The reference there, again, is a sexual one. This whole scene is just a SLOW RIDE.
After Maverick gets kicked out over some game where he's supposed to buy everyone drinks - he hears Rooster singing and playing "Great Balls of Fire." This is the same song Maverick and Goose sang at the bar in the original Top Gun. He flashes back to Goose's wife telling him "God, he loved flying with you Maverick."
The bartender notices Maverick breaking down outside the bar, as he stares inside at Rooster. For a second, it actually looks like Maverick is masterbating while staring in the bar at Rooster!
So here's what's being suggested: Maverick misses his gay lover Goose, and is now turning that desire directly onto his son, Rooster/Cock - as he sings GREAT BALLS OF FIRE. No, this is not the plot, but it's being heavily SUGGESTED through innuendo and overtones.
Later, the pilots are being briefed on the mission they are about to be trained for. Just before Maverick comes out, they are told "Success, now more than ever, depends on the man or woman in the box." Meaning the COCKPIT. But a "box" is also a euphemism for a vigina. To highlight this euphemism, Hang Man turns around and stares at Phoenix, a woman, right at the moment this dialogue occurs. Percieving the pun at her expense, she subtly flips him the bird. Where did we see this last? In Maverick's locker! Goose was flipping him the bird in a picture. So again, we have these symbolic sexual gestures being cue'd from scene to scene, connecting seemingly unconnected moments of sexual euphemism. Also - look at the guy behind Phoenix. What is that shape he is making with his hand?
During a simulation of their mission, Maverick starts to explain how they will take their target out. Notice that the "target" in the simulation looks similar to the target on a DART BOARD. Remember the bar scene earlier? They were playing darts and hitting the bull's eye, while Bowie's "Let's Dance" played off in the distance. These connections from scene to scene are not accidental, and it is all highly psychological. The makers of these films know exactly what they are doing and people have no clue!
Maverick knows the mission is nearly impossible, as he advises: "But what the enemy doesn’t know is your limits. I intend to find them. Test them. Push beyond." This is, again, a continuation of the "Maverick is on the edge" concept. The edge SEXUALLY, that is. And he's gonna push THEIR sexual limits now. And that's what the film wants to do to you. Push YOUR sexual limits conceptually, in a covert manner.
WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT
"Hard deck my ass!" - Maverick
In this last section, Maverick himself lays out the plan of attack and literally explains, with graphics and hand gestures, what this film is actually about. Again, apologies if this gets a bit graphic, but I didn't write this stuff, I'm just pointing out what the film is covertly waving right in front of your face!
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