Satisfy your need for speed and launch your home theater into the jet-propelled world of the U.S. Navy's best aviators. Tom Cruise struggles to control himself, responsibility and a steamy love affair (with Kelly McGillis) while competing at the Navy's fighter-weapons school, better known as Top Gun. The astonishing sound editing and in-your-face filmmaking style found here still rules the screens at multiplexes today.

STARRING

Tom Cruise, Kelly McGillis

DIRECTOR

Tony Scott

LENGTH

109 Minutes

CATEGORY & RATING

Action & Adventure (PG)

AWARDS

1987 Academy Award: Best Music Song
1987 Academy Award: Best Film Editing nominee
1987 Academy Award: Best Sound nominee
1987 Academy Award: Best Sound Effects Editing nominee
AFI: Top 100 Thrills nominee

POTENTIAL THERAPEUTIC ISSUES

Before warriors and clients can become victorious over the battle for life and sanity, they must first be able to conquer the deadliest advisories within the enemy arsenal of the mind: self doubt, depression, fear, rage, sorrow, and shame.

QUESTIONS

Write short essay answers to any four of the following six questions.

1. Maverick's F-14 call sign is “Ghostrider.” Goose tells Maverick that he understands the difficulty Maverick has carrying the reputation of his father, but “Every time we go up there, it's as if you are flying against a ghost.”

What is the ghost which haunts the mind of Maverick? What might be two other examples of prevalent “ghosts” with which clients or ourselves often have to wrestle? Please be brief.

2. After Maverick's fighter crashes (due to jet wash) a rescue diver trying to transport Goose into the helicopter tells Maverick, “Sir, let go of him, you've got to let him go.” Shortly after in the shower room, Viper also tells Maverick, “You've got to let him go, you've got to let him go.”

What theme is being emphasized in these remarks? Do you think that the letting go of “him” might refer to more then the immediate death of Goose?

3. After Maverick quits the Top Gun competition, Charlie attempts to encourage him to return to the program saying, “What you do up there is dangerous, but you've got to go on...To be the best of the best means you make mistakes and then you go on, just like the rest of us."

Later, Viper gives his perspective to Maverick saying, “The simple fact is you feel responsible for Goose and you have a confidence problem. Now I'm not going to sit here and blow sunshine up your ass. A good pilot is compelled to always evaluate what has happened, so he can apply what he has learned. Up there we've got to push it. That's our job. “ Do you think that these perspectives have analogous value for how we too must “pilot” ourselves in the field of psychotherapy? How so?

4. Describe a treatment plan for one of the characters in the film assuming he or she came to you for psychotherapy.

5. What did you learn from the film that you believe will enhance your clinical skills?

6. How might clients benefit from viewing the film and discussing it in therapy?

DIRECTIONS

Your responses must be typewritten and submitted along with our completed registration form one of three ways: (1) by mail with a check or credit card information; (2) by fax along with credit card information, or (3) by e-mail along with credit card information. If you do not wish to submit credit card information via e-mail or fax, please mail your registration for processing. Your payment must accompany your answer sheet. Do not e-mail or fax us your forms and request us to call you for your credit card information. Submissions via e-mail or fax without credit card information will incur a $10 surcharge. Please visit our contact information page for our mailing address, fax number, and e-mail.