The World's Fastest Indian
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Movie Reviews of The World's Fastest Indian
Movie Review: The Power of a Dream
Summary: 5 Stars
A wonderful movie about the power of a dream to make a life worth living. In this superbly-acted movie faithful to the true story of Burt Munro, Anthony Hopkins gives what he called his favorite performance, and took less money to just be part of it. It is a captivating story of Burt Munro, a New Zealander whose meager resources were offset by a 45-year dream of testing himself and his his modified 1920 Indian motorcycle at the Bonneville Salt Flats in the 1960's. Now in his 60's, realizing that he may not have too many years left due to health problems, he scrapes together enough money to get to Bonneville on his aged bike, modified by all manner of throw-away scrap odd parts, to begin the journey. His neighbors find Burt's odd ways and love of motorcycles tiresome and wish that he would act his age. Only a neighbor boy believes in him. Along the way to Bonneville, he encounters other people who live outside the norm, and he finds acceptance and help from them, just as he accepts them and treats them as real human beings. Burt's life might seem bare and unadorned, and he has little money, but the story reveals the true richness of his life which comes through his dream that transcends his age, his lack of money and any pretense of formal support for his endeavor. Starting from his own belief and that of the neighbor boy, Burt encounters others who learn of his dream and find themselves believing in him, from the ships's crew across the Pacific, the transgendered hotel clerk, the used car dealer, the Native American man, and the people at the Flats during Speed Week. As one driver remarks, "He's the genuine thing". We all have dreams, and when we share in the lives of others who have a powerful dream, we begin to have hope that our own dreams might be possible. That is the power of this movie, and it is conveyed through splendid acting, excellent camerawork and arresting scenery. This is one of the bect movies I have seen in a long time.Movie Review: Charming!
Summary: 5 Stars
Burt Munro is a New Zealand variant of a crafty old coot: lives in a shack with chickens, makes friends with the neighbor kids, still has an eye for the ladies. Give Burt some welding equipment and he can make anything. He hasn't got many years left on him, and wants to race his ancient Indian motorcycle at the Bonneville Salt flats for a world speed record before he dies.
He does. On the way to this success he meets many people and charms every single one of them with his sweetness and determination: the crew of a tramp steamer, many customs agents, a black transvestite hotel clerk in Hollywood, a Hispanic used car salesman, a lonely Nevada widow, an aging native American, a famous race car driver, and every single person present at Bonneville's Speed week.
It's terrific fun to watch Anthony Hopkins endear himself to this long long stream of people. The makers of the movie do a great job giving the viewers the sheer exhiliration of going so fast. Despite this, I confess I felt the movie could have used a bit more dramatic tension: basically, the obstacles that Burt faces collapse like popped balloons in the face of his charm. The filmmakers seem to offer you in advance an ironclad guarantee Burt will succeed, which takes a bit of the drama out of the viewing.
As much as I enjoyed the acting of all the minor characters, I think the movie would have benefited from leaving a few of them on the cutting room floor - I had a hard time keeping track of who was who, especially in the Bonneville scenes, in which a lot of characters simply "appeared" without introduction, so that you never knew who they were.
These observations are meant only as the most minor of complaints - it's a much better way to spend your evening than anything else I've seen in months, even if it's not a Great Film (capital G capital F).
Movie Review: Burt Munro deserves 10 stars!
Summary: 5 Stars
I happened to catch this movie last weekend.
It was Mother's Day, and pretty cool with overcast skies and local showers, so Mum looked at me a little askance when I suggested that we go to a movie, instead of a long drive in the country. (With fuel here in OZ at AU$1-45 per litre (approx AU$6-60 per imperial gallon!!) the admission price was a lot cheaper than filling up the tank.........
I had no real idea of what it was about, except for the reviews in the paper, that told me that it was about an Indian motorcycle, and starred Anthony Hopkins, so I decided to try it out.
Being both a keen motorcyclist and a devoted Hopkinsphile, I had a bit of trouble convincing Mum that it was not just another "bike movie", but in the cinema, it didn't take her long to fall under the spell that I also felt.
The story of "little bloke makes good against overwhelming odds" has always been a favourite of moviemakers since the days of Charlie Chaplin, and this gem is no exception.
There is no need for me to go into reviewing the plot, which is summarised quite well by other reviwers on these pages, but suffice it to say that it IS one of the best movies I have seen in years!
Lacking any other reviews from 'down under' (Come on, all you Kiwis!) I just had to let everyone know that "The World's Fastest Indian" is the feel-good movie of the decade!
Mum enjoyed it, and I was walking on air for a couple of hours after leaving the cinema, and that doesn't happen very much these days.
I have pre-ordered the DVD from my friends at Amazon this morning.
Time to pull the helmet on, and fire up the "motor-sickle" for a bit of a run, showers, or no showers....
Do yourself a favour, and SEE IT!
Movie Review: Second Hand Indian
Summary: 5 Stars
Sir Anthony Hopkins is one of the finest actors I have ever known. Once again he molds himself into the role so well you will believe he is Burt Munro. Few movies make me laugh and cry and I was reminded of another wonderful story of two old cantankerous men in "Second Hand Lions". Hopkins shows that Munro truly touched the people that he came in contact with, no matter what walks of life. He was truly an incredible mechanic and driver. An amazing life that wasn't done yet even in 1967, at the age of sixty-eight, when he set the world speed record with a 1920 Indian motorcycle, for the less than 1000cc vehicle class. If he had just stayed in New Zealand he would have been remembered but his journey to compete in the speed trials at Bonneville, UT put him in the history books. The journey itself unfolds in this movie. As most agree, half the fun is getting there. The people he meets along the way make the movie great. Without them it would have been very good, but I don't think great. Exceptional performances by the support cast along with Anthony Hopkins dead on accent and portrayal of Munro make this one you really should not miss. Munro's journey to the Salt Flats is difficult and rewarding, and thanks to some great people he makes it to the trials. His fortune now looks bad for he had not registered for the trials. If you are not familiar with the racing community you earn a respect for it perhaps after you see what transpires. I have to say from my own experience with going to car races and racing autocross I am not surprised by the comradery exhibited. Don't miss this one, it is well worth checking out and a good family movie. Good replayability so if you enjoy movies like "Second Hand Lions" I recommend buying it. I bought a copy and the quality is excellent and it has a documentary and two featurettes.Movie Review: Never Too Late To Make Your Dreams Come True
Summary: 5 Stars
Anthony Hopkins plays a real-life New Zealander Burt Munro whose only dream was to ride his 1920 Indian motorcycle in Utah's Bonneville Salt Flats. He had been tinkering with his old bike more than 40 years in his town, and wanted to see how fast it could run. He was over 60 when he left for America, and being a pensioner he didn't have much money, but would overcome every obstacle with his amiable personality.
[MORE LIKE A ROAD MOVIE] `The World's Fastest Indian' moves slowly, letting us meet the people Bert Munro met and determined Bert himself, some eccentric and flawed but all likable characters. The film finally presents the thrills of motorbike riding convincingly, but it takes a while to get to that part. The film would be appreciated more as road movie, slow but joyful ride of meeting people and seeing scenery.
Understated Anthony Hopkins represents the slightly oddball character of Munro whose good-natured personality and free-and-easy way of looking at things are contagious. He reaches his goal not by running and pushing others out of his way, but by walking and asking them to do him a favor.
`The World's Fastest Indian" is a feel-good movie, but what is really remarkable is that it doesn't show any `bad' people. It does use the formula of road movie, but it does not rely on the stereotyped characters. It does not try to be overtly comic or sentimental, but reaches its aim, that is, showing a portrait of a man who made his dreams come true.
Trivia: Director Roger Donaldson produced and directed a TV documentary film in 1971 "Burt Munro: Offerings to the God of Speed" and met real Burt Munro then. In the opening shot of `The World's Fastest Indian" you can see these words `Offerings to the God of Speed' on the shelf of broken parts.