The need for speed

TOP GUN: MAVERICK

2022

Directed by Joseph Kosinski

Written by Ehren Kruger, Eric Warren Singer, and Christopher McQuarrie

Spoilers: moderate

Pop quiz, hotshots

ONLY THE BRAVE

2017

Directed by Joseph Kosinki

Written by Ken Nolan and Eric Warren Singer (based on the GQ article "No Exit" by Sean Flynn)

Spoilers: moderate

Darren Aronofsky, part II: Winners don't use drugs

REQUIEM FOR A DREAM

Because drugs are bad.  But the movie's still great.

2000

Directed by Darren Aronofsky

Written by Hubert Selby, Jr. and Darren Aronofsky (based on the novel by Selby)

With Ellen Burstyn (Sara Goldfarb), Marlon Wayans (Tyrone Love), Jennifer Connelly (Marion Silver), Jared Leto (Harry Goldfarb), Keith David ("Big Tim"), and Christopher MacDonald (Tappy Tibbons)

Spoiler alert: mild

The young avenger

SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING

A Spider-Man movie, that isn't a Spider-Man movie, but is?  (Review summary best read in the voice of would-be Spider-Man Donald Glover, for whom we shall shed a small tear, and always wish the best.)

2017
Directed by Jon Watts
Written by Jonathan Goldstein, John Francis Daley, Jon Watts, Christopher Ford, Chris McKenna, Erik Sommers, and Jon Watts
With Tom Holland (Peter Parker), Jacob Batalon (Ned), Jennifer Connelly (Karen), Marisa Tomei (May Parker), Laura Harrier (Liz Allan), Zendaya (Michelle), Tony Revolori (Flash Thompson), Donald Glover (Aaron Davis), Jon Favreau (Happy Hogan), Robert Downey Jr. (Tony Stark), and Michael Keaton (Adrian Toomes)

Spoiler alert: moderate

Honestly, I'm not sure there's a time in living memory when America was particularly keen on the idea of jetpacks

THE ROCKETEER

The Rocketeer is entertainment that's as programmatic as it could possibly be, but (importantly) it is still entertaining.  (Plus Timothy Dalton is in it, and he was in Flash Gordon!)

1991
Directed by Joe Johnston
Written by Danny Bilson, Paul De Meo, and William Dear (based on the comic book by Dave Stevens)
With Billy Campbell (Cliff Secord), Jennifer Connelly (Jenny), Terry O'Quinn (Howard Hughes), Alan Arkin (Peevy), Paul Sorvino (Eddie Valentine), Tiny Ron (Lothar), and Timothy Dalton (Neville Sinclair)

Spoiler alert: high