? The true story of bicyclist Graeme Obree (Jonny Lee Miller), who not only set a couple of world records in the 1990s but did so using a bike he built himself using spare parts and developed innovative riding techniques.
+ I like my heroes modest, and Miller’s version of Obree fits the part. The slightly "off" nature of the sometimes-melancholic Obree is what most distinguishes this from other sports-underdog movies, although Obree’s confidence in his cycling abilities never flags. The unusual parts of the plot, including the bizarre attempts by the International Cycling Union to disqualify him, are true. The movie most reminded me of The World’s Fastest Indian, another true story about a home tinkerer who hits the big time. The difference is, motorcyclist Burt Munro only had to build and ride his vehicle; Obree had to obsessively condition himself as well.
- There’s not much of an ending. Obree is a less colorful figure than Anthony Hopkins’s Burt Munro, and the non-cycling-related scenes aren’t compelling.
= *** Not a must-see, but anyone who likes these types of stories won’t be disappointed.
IMDB link
reviewed 5/11/07
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