Days of Thunder: More Than Just a Need for Speed?

Okay, so I know Days of Thunder isn't based on a book (shocking, I know, coming from me, oliviacinema, the girl who obsesses over book adaptations, lol). But hear me out! I've been thinking about it, and I think there's a solid Shakespearean tragedy hiding under all those roaring engines and cheesy one-liners. Seriously! Think about it: Cole Trickle is this talented but flawed protagonist – a bit of an arrogant hotshot, right? He's got talent, but he needs Harry Hogge (Robert Duvall!) to guide him, kind of like a mentor or father figure in classic stories. And then you've got the rivalry with Rowdy Burns. It's not just a racing rivalry; it's a clash of egos, a battle for dominance. They're constantly trying to one-up each other, leading to destruction and, ultimately, Cole's near-fatal crash. This is where it gets really Shakespearean. It's like watching two princes tearing apart a kingdom over pride. I mean, the scene where they intentionally wreck each other out of spite is pure, unadulterated tragedy fuel! I also think the whole romance with Dr. Claire Lewicki felt kinda shoehorned in. Like they needed a "damsel in distress" who would then patch up the hothead and make us root for him more lol. I think that whole side plot could have been swapped out for even more of a focus on that rivalry. Plus, the ending, with Cole and Rowdy setting aside their differences and working together, feels like a forced redemption arc. It's a bit too neat and tidy for a true tragedy, but it still resonates with the idea of learning from your mistakes. Honestly, maybe I'm just overthinking it because I have adaptation goggles on, but I can't shake the feeling that Days of Thunder, beneath all the racing action, is actually riffing on some pretty timeless themes of ambition, rivalry, and redemption...just with a lot more horsepower. Anyone else see it too, or am I alone in my crazy cinema brain?