Forgotten Fridays: American Flyers

Thanks for checking out our Forgotten Fridays feature. This is something we want to try out to review some older films that maybe you have forgotten about or maybe never got around to seeing that we just want to share.

Today’s review is American Flyers

In my younger days (and soon again) I was quite the cycling enthusiast. I even competed on the semipro circuit placing modestly. I also took a 1200km route from Quebec City to Toronto in 12 days. Damn, I used to be in shape. And this is in part why I find American Flyers to be such an important film to me. But it also has a deep storyline that makes this exciting race movie more of a drama.

THE GENERAL IDEA

Sports physician Marcus (Costner) persuades his unstable brother David to come with him and train for a bicycle race across the Rocky Mountains. He doesn’t tell him that he has a cerebral tumor. While David powerfully heads for the victory, Marcus has to realize that the contest is now beyond his capabilities.

THE GOOD

They don’t candycoat the mechanics of the bike racing. In a lot of sports movies they change elements to make them more entertaining. Like Olympic figure skating with performance concert lighting (The lights are always on in competition skating) but we forgive it because it looks cooler. But Flyers managers to do keep the technicalities of the sport accurate to a tee and illustrates some of the strategies cyclists use to win a race.

The story is sincere. There are no story hooks that require forgiveness in it. Things happen for a purpose, there is no “convenient coincidences” to save the day. There is no miracles. There is drive, passion, and a brotherly bond. There are no pointless love interests. There is no hokey plot holes to serve the excitement of the sport. It is a great story that just gives you a real life relationship and none of the “hollywood baggage”

THE BAD

Kevin Costner is Costner. I really think that Costner is a fantastic actor when he wants to be, but typically he is just Costner. Which works out, because he seems like a really genuine guy and he plays the everyday joe very well. Costner loves his sports movies, and most of them tend to be “What if Costner was a pro ball player/pro golfer/etc?” this is no exception. People that don’t like Costner at all are not going to like this movie as it revolves entirely around him and his brother.

There are some actors I can’t stand them being the same guy, but Costner doesn’t have that affect on me.

OVERALL

The sincere storyline, great illustration of a brotherly love that we don’t often see in films anymore, and some real exciting cycling all contribute to a great film. I just love this to death because of my involvement in the sport. Still a great movie, even without all the Hollywood shine.

Typically this is where we would write a “Out of 10″ rating, but since all of these Forgotten Friday reviews are going to be what I would already give a high rating to, I have made my own rating system.

TV – Make a point of watching it if you see it listed on TV.
Rent – Good enough to go out of your way to see it, but not enough to buy it.
Buy – So good. You will watch it again and again. Buy it!

So on a scale of TV, Rent or Buy I suggest RENT! (It was a buy for me, but for different reasons. But safe to call it a Rent for anyone else)

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9 thoughts on “Forgotten Fridays: American Flyers

  1. For all it’s flaws, including that terrible tache which Costners wears, there is something incredibly enjoyable about watching American Flyers. Most likely that it has a raw feeling that many sports movies fail to deliver and so ultimately feels a little more real. I also can’t believe how skinny Costner was back then, lol.

  2. I’m not quite sure I understand you Rodney- this was not only one of Kevin Costner’s earlier roles (“Kevin Costner is Kevin Costner” give a freaking break) but he was also far, far better than what you give him. In fact, since you at least appear to say he’s part of the ‘bad’ and he is one of the two leads…

    Well, look at it this way. The BMX action in the 80’s film Rad was great. The dialog and the acting was not. Here it is that a film such as American Flyers is wonderful in showcasing the sport and the characters as they go cross-country. But then, one of the leads, a future major actor, is bland. My apologies, Rodney, but you lost me.

    (and no mention of Alexandria Paul at a campfire is a bit odd)

    In any case, I, too, felt this film was underrated- and under-promoted for that matter. I was lucky enough to first see it in a theatre though. I never got the DVD though because while it was among the first set of DVDs WB put out, it was also the bare bones standard fare, and I swear off all cropped versions of anything.

    @Jim
    The same scribe who wrote Flyers also wrote Breaking Away.

  3. fuck that rodney…im far froma cyclest i was a martial artist most of my life till last 3 years…..but i wouls say this movie is deff a buy if u like costner a little…this movie is so fucking good….as u said the actual racing in this movie is vicious…i always remember watching this movie with the feeling “oh shit” cause it felt like u where in the action of racing those kind of bikes…u know the metal of the gears working its metal mayhem and the course itself with the cliffs and concrete….seriously as a guy who did martial arts i would assume riding bikes are nothing more then stamina…well this movie shows u thats bullshit…..ITS BLOOD SWEAT N TEARS BABY….good flick man go buy this…it really is a great movie.

  4. I can’t tell you how many times I watched this movie when I was younger right before heading out on a 20 mile hammer session. For a cyclist, really the only great movie ever made. (was never a huge Breaking Away fan, good flick for it’s own reasons though)

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