The World's Fastest Indian
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Movie Reviews of The World's Fastest Indian
Movie Review: SpeedReaders.info Review
Summary: 5 Stars
The World's Fastest Indian
by Roger Donaldson
(Note to readers: This review is co-authored. Comments by Helen V Hutchings are printed plain text and Kevin Clemens words are in parentheses.)
The World's Fastest Indian is not a documentary. It was made commercially to distribute and play in theaters for entertainment--with the object to generate income through box office sales. With Anthony Hopkins portraying the legendary Bert (Herbert James) Munro, the New Zealander from Invercargil with a dream to set a record at Bonneville on the Indian motorbike that he had owned for forty-some-odd years, since purchasing it new in 1920, with Diane Ladd and others in fine supporting roles--including a scene-stealing youth played by New Zealand actor Aaron Murphy--there's much to enjoy.
(I frankly didn't expect much, but went to see this film when it was first released in theaters anyway. Let's face it; most fictional feature-length motion pictures that deal with cars and/or bikes have been pretty awful. The story lines are usually contrived, the action often improbable, and the car-guy or motorcyclist stuff is rarely right.)
Bert Munro's story is a grand one even if liberties were taken by Roger Donaldson, the writer/director/producer. And we'll clue you in with some of the real facts so you can, if it pleases you, harrumph and awe your buddies with your knowledge. But don't let any of that detract from your watching and enjoying, because the overall take-away is structured to allow the viewer to see and enjoy all of the best bits of Munro's story with experiences from several years of challenging Bonneville combined into one year, one adventure.
(Happily, The Fastest Indian has managed to bypass all of the usual complaints to be really worth watching. Academy Award winning actor Anthony Hopkins plays the role of Bert Munro with a gritty, grimy charm that is recognizable to anyone who has ever spent anytime around an old time auto repair or motorcycle shop. Hopkins gives us a masterful performance of a man who has become so obsessed with his goals for so long, that he has fallen out of step with the world around him. The fact that the film compresses many of those years into a shorter time-span is part of the magic of movie-making...)
Between the reality of several trips to Utah, Bert Munro did precisely what all Bonneville racers do; he kept making improvements to his machine. His mods were accomplished typical of self-sufficient Kiwis--do-it-yourself. When Bert Munro first brought his Indian home in 1920 its motor displaced 600cc. By the time he took the bike to Bonneville he had increased its displacement to 950cc. In turn he'd cast the pistons by melting down other metal bits and machining the results to fit. He hand-carved the connecting rods from a Caterpillar tractor axle and then hardened and tempered them. He outfitted the Indian with 1,000 pound, 17-plate pressure clutch and triple-chain drive. And then there was the streamlined body shell. It too was his own design and he handcrafted it.
The movie portrays Bonneville's racers and support folks in a way that pays proper credit to their competitiveness and humanity. Other vehicles shown running for records are indeed true, historic vehicles, rented from their current day restorers-owners.
(Indeed, for car and bike guys of any gender and age, one of the best parts of this film is the joy of seeing the Bonneville Salt Flats covered with the broad assortment of record machinery. Speed Week still provides an assemblage of one of the most unusual assortment of cars and bikes every year and director Roger Donaldson manages to capture the chaos, excitement, and adventure.)
No one can say for certain that two men, Rollie Free and Marty Dickerson, shown in the movie as hand's-on helpers, ever actually knew, much less helped Munro. But each were famed salt runners on two wheels which makes their inclusion by name a nice subtlety--although it is likely lost on all but the really knowledgeable viewers.
(Having seen the film in its theatrical release, I knew it was one of the few car/bike movies that I would want to have in my home collection so I could see it again. It has been released by Magnolia Home Entertainment for a very reasonable price. Yes, it is a film about obsession, but it is the kind of obsession that many of us who love mechanical devices share. It's the kind of film that you can watch on a cold winter's evening as you dream of warm summer motorcycle rides on gleaming old machines.)
The movie is aptly and correctly named for although Bert and his Indian never actually went 200 mph, the class record he set, achieving 183.586 mph, on that Indian across the flat, hot, white salt of Utah, stands unbroken to this day in the streamlined under 1,000cc displacement class--Bert Munro and his Indian are indeed The World's Fastest Indian.
(and another Note to conclude: we scoured any number of documents, books--some spell Munro's first name Burt, some Bert. As his given name was Herbert, we settled on Bert as the logical spelling for the diminutive.)
Copyright 2009 Helen V Hutchings and Kevin Clemens (speedreaders.info)
Movie Review: WORLD'S FASTEST INDIAN -- A Terrific Film
Summary: 5 Stars
If ever there was a titularly-challenged movie THE WORLD'S FASTEST INDIAN is it. No, this superb, subtly inspirational film isn't a Biograph biopic about the legendary Jim Thorpe, nor is it a Bollywood sports film featuring a Mumbaian marathoner, nor is it a zany Zucker Brothers comedy about Tonto with a hotfoot.
Simply put, this is a marvelous, unforgettable film about the indomitable human spirit found in an unlikely place, and I don't mean the football stadium at Notre Dame University.
Step aside RUDY, meet Burt.
As in Burt Munro, by all standards a fine fellow in his Golden Years who should be lounging poolside at some retirement community in Auckland reliving the thrilling days of yesteryear. But this Lone Ranger is a likeable, lively, spirited son-of-a-gun with a passion to go fast and a deep rooted love for an Indian -- a 1920 American-made Indian motorcycle to be precise -- that he has lovingly rode, restored and modified over a period of forty years in an attempt to set a world speed record.
Burt's obsession is brilliantly revealed early in the film when the camera dollies past a long shelf holding a lifetime of broken pistons and other failed, hand-crafted parts that belie the metal of this man. "Offerings to the God of Speed" the neatly printed words below proclaim, and it becomes abundantly clear that the Achilles' heel in his virtually insurmountable pursuit lies in the flawed aluminum alloy alchemy which takes place in a small corrugated tin shed that serves as a laboratory and a garage and a home.
Yes, he's an underdog of epic proportions, but Burt knows something most AARP members have long forgotten, "If you don't follow through on your dreams, you might as well be a vegetable." It's true, folks past sixty can still have dreams. And skills. And as Burt can attest, sexagenarians can have sex as well.
Anthony Hopkins is cast as Burt Munro and his endearing performance is as engaging and heartfelt and utterly charming as he has ever given. Unlike the diamond in my wife's wedding ring, Hopkins is flawless. Yes, I said flawless.
Written and Directed by Roger Donaldson (NO WAY OUT, SPECIES, DANTE'S PEAK, THE RECRUIT), it is clearly evident that he admires and respects Mr. Munro given the film's virtually consummate execution, especially the exhilarating cinematography by David Gribble and the skillful editing by John Gilbert. Everything considered, this is by far Donaldson's best film to date.
Of course, just getting from Invercargill, New Zealand to the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah proves to be a daunting task. This is especially true since Burt is near penniless and suffers from a weak heart. Luckily there is help along the way. Diane Ladd, Saginaw Grant, Paul Rodriguez, Chris Williams and Chris Lawford are just a few of the fine actors whose oddball, eclectic and surprising array of quirky characters assist Munro in his seemingly impossible quest.
Burt soon discovers that Bonneville presents additional, unsuspected obstacles. Welcome, Burt, to the Mormon Mecca for Speed where dreams of conquest dissipate as ethereally and as often as Fata Morgana.
But Burt's accomplishment was no mirage. It was damn near a miracle.
They say fame is fleeting, but this doesn't apply to an old geezer named Burt Munro who was clocked at over 200 miles per hour in a clunky contraption, man and machine as one, the rickety relic and the cantankerous old Kiwi solidly establishing a world's speed record that still stands today, almost thirty years later.
Unbelievable, but true.
Fittingly, for his stunning achievement the little town of Invercargill changed its official motto from "City of Water and Light" to "Where Dreams Come True." An appropriate tribute, indeed, to an inspiring individual the God of Speed took a liking to, just as you will when you see THE WORLD'S FASTEST INDIAN.
Movie Review: Grab Life by the Horns and Live it Now
Summary: 5 Stars
A truly astounding film, and an outstanding performance by Anthony Hopkins, who precisely portrays all of the charm, character, and zest for life of Burt Munro, a New Zealand native, who spends 25 years working on, and refining his 1920's Indian motorcycle, all in an effort to travel to Utah's Bonneville Speedway, where he astonishes the spectators, timers, and fellow racers with his 1920 Indian Scout cycle. Hopkins performance is second to none, and his bright outlook on life, regardless of the circumstances, truly gives all around him a lift. His friendly, optimistic attitude goes a long way in making him friends with everyone he comes into contact with. It also has a profound effect on the viewer, as his laugh and upbeat demeanor will make you feel just plain good.
This film is far more about the character of Burt Munro, than it is about motorcycles. Munro is a bit on the eccentric side, but certainly in a nice way, and as mentioned, is able to make friends everywhere he goes. This is a great film for old as well as young viewers. It shows us all that age doesn't have to be a determining factor in how we live our lives. Munro, who suffered from Angina, never once doubted that he would reach his dream of racing his motorcycle on the Bonneville Salt Flats. It made no difference to him whether he lived or died, it was the journey along the way that made everything worthwhile. Burt is such a likable guy, that one would be hard pressed not to feel better simply by being in his company. His positive attitude is really what the film is all about. Through his sheer determination and his gregarious attitude about both the good and the bad, doors were opened to many opportunities that otherwise would have been closed. It was because of these qualities that the officials at the Bonneville Speedway allowed him to race, when under any other circumstances he wouldn't have been given a fighting chance.
Munro makes the statement, "You live more in five minutes on a bike like this going flat out than some people live in a lifetime." These words couldn't ring more true. For the dreamer in all of us, "The World's Fastest Indian," sends out a loud and clear message to grab life by the horns and live it now. It certainly makes me feel that way, and also reminds me that life is all about attitude. A positive, upbeat attitude will take you a long way in life, as evidenced in the life of Burt Munro, and this wonderful film. "The World's Fastest Indian" deserves 10 stars!
The film and life of Burt Munro reminds me of the poem by Nadine Stair, when she was 85 years old....
If I Had My Life to Live Over
I'd dare to make more mistakes next time.
I'd relax. I would limber up.
I would be sillier than I have been this trip.
I would take fewer things seriously.
I would take more chances.
I would take more trips.
I would climb more mountains and swim more rivers.
I would eat more ice cream and less beans.
I would perhaps have more actual troubles but I'd
have fewer imaginary ones.
You see, I'm one of those people who live sensibly
and sanely hour after hour, day after day.
Oh, I've had my moments and if I had it to do over
again, I'd have more of them. In fact,
I'd try to have nothing else. Just moments.
One after another, instead of living so many
years ahead of each day.
I've been one of those people who never go anywhere
without a thermometer, a hot water bottle, a raincoat
and a parachute.
If I had my life to live over, I would start barefoot
earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall.
If I had it to do again, I would travel lighter next time.
I would go to more dances.
I would ride more merry-go-rounds.
I would pick more daisies.
Movie Review: Without your dreams, you're nothing more than a vegetable!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
Anthony Hopkins has appeared in over a hundred films during his fifty-year career as an actor. Though famous for his performances as Hannibal Lector and the legendary Zorro, few roles have been as much fun for him to play as that of the real-life Burt Munro--a seventy-year-old New Zealander who was finally able to make his dreams come true by coming to America and racing his motorcycle at the Bonneville Salt Flats.
The World's Fastest Indian refers to the 1920 Indian motorcycle that Burt Munro purchased when he was in his mid-twenties. At that time the bike could only go about fifty miles an hour. Not knowing a hill of beans about how to work on a motorcycle, Burt took it upon himself to slowly learn how to take his bike apart and then to put it back together, sometimes having to make the motorcycle parts himself from scratch in his tool shed. Burt's intent was to make his bike go faster and faster. And, over the next forty-something years, he got his Indian to do speeds of over a hundred miles an hour. That, however, wasn't enough. Burt's dream was to visit the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah during Speed Week and try to get his bike to go over two hundred miles an hour. No one really thought he could do it. Defying all logic, Burt mortgaged his home, packed his motorcycle up, and hopped a steamer to the United States in 1967. When he got to Los Angeles, he purchased a cheap car and hooked his Indian to the back of it and eventually made his way to Utah. Once he reached the Bonneville Salt Flats, no one at first wanted to let him race. The man was in his seventies with heart problems, and his Indian motorcycle wasn't in the best looking condition when compared to the other machines competing for world speed records. Because of Burt's perseverance and positive attitude about life, he eventually won over the people at the Salt Flats and the rest is history.
This movie, directed by Roger Donaldson, deals with Burt's odyssey in getting to Utah and the problems that he had to overcome. It was no piece of cake, yet he never gave up on moving forward with his dreams. There always seemed to be people who would come to his aid like synchronicity and help him to get over each hurdle that faced him. The World's Fastest Indian is a beautiful testimony to never giving up on your dreams no matter how old you are. This film is also the dream of Roger Donaldson. His first student film was a documentary on Burt Munro. He met Mr. Munro and realized that this old man was the stuff of movie legends. Mr. Donaldson then spent twenty-five years trying to get The World's Fastest Indian made. No one wanted to touch it until Anthony Hopkins read the script and decided that this was a movie he wanted to make with Roger Donaldson. Mr. Hopkins brings to life the character of Burt Munro by depicting his eccentricities and his good-natured attitude about life and how to live it. The audience is immediately drawn into the dreams that Mr. Munro wants to accomplish and roots whole-heartedly for him during the entire length of the film. This is certainly a feel-good movie of the highest caliber. It inspires one to never give up and that anything is possible if your heart is in the right place. The DVD extras include a behind the scenes making of the film, the original documentary that was done by Roger Donaldson, a look at Southland, New Zealand and how Munro affected the people of his community, several deleted scenes, and a feature-length commentary by the movie's director/writer, Roger Donaldson. The World's Fastest Indian is definitely one of Anthony Hopkins' best roles to date, and the movie will have you yearning to hop on a motorcycle to see just how fast you can get it to go.
Movie Review: A wonderfully entertaining character study of a real life motorcycle legend
Summary: 5 Stars
Anymore, I enjoy these kinds of character pieces much more than the big budget action or special effects movies. Anthony Hopkins provides us with an interesting man, Burt Munro, who is obsessed with speed and working on his bike. The movie is based on a real life motorcycle tinkerer-genius from New Zealand, but like most movies falsifies a great deal about the life of the actual man in order to make a two hour movie that works for the audience while conveying the sweep of the real life of the man.
It isn't that the character portrayed in the movie isn't fascinating or that the overall gesture of the movie is false, but rather that the real life was, I think, actually more interesting if somewhat less "cinematic". The movie makes Burt Munro into a complete "MAN ALONE" and so much of what he accomplished was done by him without commercial help or sponsors. But his fabrication techniques were even stranger than depicted in the movie. The piston casting shown in the film doesn't capture what he did with empty jam tins. One reporter even has him casting a piston head in the sand on a beach. Apparently, Munro was also a magician with a file and that is not shown in the film.
And though the real Munro was indeed a twin, it was a twin sister who died at birth rather than a twin brother who died in a sad accident while the father was taking down a tree. I do not know if there was an incident with a tree in Munro's real life.
The racing at Bonneville conflates runs from his several trips to the raceway. The wobble shown in the film actually came in 1967, but it makes for good film and is therefore shown in his first trip. And the film never makes clear what record he was setting. Everything in speed racing is about the class of vehicle making the run. Obviously his small motorcycle isn't going to be faster than a four wheeled power car. And in his first visit to Bonneville he did not break 200 mph, but that makes a barrier that is easy for an audience to love.
He did have a family life and was a grandfather at the time of his first visit to Bonneville, but they are nowhere to be found in the movie, whether for privacy reasons or because there wasn't time in the movie, or because there might have been things in that area that would make Munro less likeable, I do not know. The film makes him into an instantly likeable charismatic. This extravert aspect of his personality is something anyone who knew him comments on. Obviously, Munro was a hero to many and loved enough by enough people to enlist their help in supporting his dreams.
As a movie, I like this story a lot and don't need to get hung up on what details are real or not. Munro as portrayed by Hopkins is a man so focused on a dream that he draws other people into his vision. He isn't predatory of others, but he is a narcissist and has the charisma that so many of that personality type have. It is much easier to enjoy these lonely detached personalities in a book or on the screen than in real life. I do not know what the actual Munro was like, but if he was anything like the eccentric in the film, he would have been fun in small doses and hard on the people who were close to him. I mean in real life he chose living in his shed with his bike for 40 years over his marriage. Does that really make sense? Is that really the better choice for a life? Yet it was a choice actually made.
A fine performance by Hopkins and provides attention to a man who is largely unknown, but whose life deserves its two hours on the screen. Maybe there is a more accurate telling that should be done as well, but this one is pretty attractive.