Continuing on the Olympic theme I started yesterday, I have decided to spotlight a couple of Olympic-themed films.
Let’s start in the location of this year’s games – the United Kingdom, or rather England to be exact. The first film I will highlight is the multiple Academy Award winning feature, Chariots of Fire.
SYNOPSIS
Chariots of Fire is a 1981 British film. It tells the fact-based story of two athletes in the 1924 Olympics: Eric Liddell, a devout Scottish Christian who runs for the glory of God, and Harold Abrahams, an English Jew who runs to overcome prejudice. (Source: Wikipedia)
This is a film I have only seen within the past five years – as a youth I always felt that this film was always inaccessible to me. It always seemed a bit cold and remote to me.
After having seen it, I can honestly say that the needle has shifted, if only slightly. Do not get me wrong it is a well-crafted film, but the performances in particular felt a little stilted and stagey for my tastes. One would think that a film about running would have some “pace” to it; instead, I feel like the film was dragged down as a result of it. You certainly felt all of the 124 minute running time.
On the positive side, I did like the framing device by which the story was told – and oh yeah and that musical score (Vangelis) is iconic.
Great write-up Iba. I appreciate this film despite the slow pacing like you said, the spirituality aspect appeals to me, it makes it more than just a movie about running. That musical score is definitely very iconic, I always picture the running scene every time I hear it.
ruth recently posted..Classic Flix Review: The Purple Plain (1954)
Yeah the former (and hopefully) reinvigorated runner in me was primarily thinking about the sport
But you are spot on about the spiritual aspect of it. In fact that Wikipedia synopsis I provided says it all really.
Haven’t seen it yet, thanks to ur suggestion may just catch-up with it this Olympic weekend..
Ever since I saw the Opening Ceremony, when I heard the score and saw Mister Bean parody it, now I want to see it…I will try to get a hold of it!
Diana aka Aziza recently posted..The Olympic Games and the Opening Ceremony
I loved this movie when I first saw it in the theater years ago but my daughter who was 11 was bored. Ah, what does she know. Ha!
Sometimes I like to watch the opening credits just for the wonderful photography and the music. Thrilling.
I liked this more than you did, Iba though admittedly it was not a fast paced film. I found it fascinating for its historical value since I had not been aware of the events presented in the story. I loved the music of course. The photography too and the acting. And I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again, the Brits have a knack for fantastic casting. In my view, everyone in this is absolutely top-notch.
Yvette recently posted..Just Because: Cecil Beaton (1904 – 1980)
Yeah I am be harkening to my childhood memory of this – it just seemed too above my reasoning level …