I had been anxiously awaiting the release of this 2006 movie on DVD for sometime. I was finally able to rent it last week. Running home from my local Blockbuster, I was convinced I was holding in my hand a new timeless cycling motion picture masterpiece, only to join the ranks of Rad, Quicksilver, American Flyers, and Breaking Away. However, after viewing, I was VERY let down.
How director Douglas Mackinnon can royally defile such a great, true story plot is beyond me!
The Cliffnotes plot breakdown: A frustrated, outcast young boy who is relentlessly teased gets his first bike for Christmas. The bike serves as a therapeutic remedy to the adolescent torture and becomes his vehicle for “greatness”. Fast forward to the future‡ the boy becomes a man and owns a struggling bike shop on the verge of going out of business. With a desire to do something great with his life, he decides to take a crack at achieving the world record for the hour TT on the track. With his much criticized self-designed bike he fails at his first attempt and achieves his goal shortly after. Quickly, his title is taken from him…he fights some inner-demons…deals with what appeared to be bi-polar disorder…is revisited by his childhood aggressors…attempts suicide…finds a reason to live again…and finally comes back to regain his title.
On paper, it seemed like a potentially great movie especially with the leverage that a true story label provides. However, the directing left huge gaps of unsupported plot lines, a major lack of character development, shameful montages, and a sub-par soundtrack.
I’m not sure what’s worse, stunt doubles that are extremely skilled but obviously not the real actor or the real actor doing his own stunts but without any cycling ability whatsoever. While Johnny Lee Miller’s (the main character) body may resemble that of a track racer, he cannot ride a bike well at all. The movie is actually insulting to anyone who has ever spent time on a road bike or the track for that matter. Every riding scene was painful to watch.
Poor riding and weak directing was not enough, this movie also had major historical discrepancies in equipment. For instance, the time frame is supposed to be 1992. However, at the beginning of the film he is spotted riding a Specialized Hard Rock MTB with a modern fork, 1 1/8 steer, and threadless stem! Now I may be a bike dork, but the director really should of consulted a bicycle historian. Also, later in the movie, there is a money shot of his Specialized carbon road shoes that are a current year (2007) model!
I really wanted to like this movie but I cannot endorse it…don’t waste your time. Stick to Kevin Bacon, cutters, Bart Taylor and his crew, and Kevin Costner; they will never let you down.
3 comments:
And here I thought you were dozing off during the "How-to-write-a-movie-review" unit during sophomore English. Well crafted. You assertions are clear and you use valid examples to push your opinions into significant and accurate analysis. You have inspired me to bring the movie review unit back.
Don't get a big head, I was dozing off in your class. In fact, I have no recollection whatsoever of any movie reviews in your class.
Comm. 200-Film Communication: Western Michigan University...I have to give credit where credit is due...sorry.
However, you DID teach me to write effective letters to companies to get free stuff in times of disatisfaction. Thanks!
How do you think I got the Mavic and Lemond racing stickers. Old tricks work best for old dogs. Now I'm hoping my car-wrap scheme will be successful.
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