Understand what you are saying about Breaking Away but it really?wasn't meant to be about bike racing as much as about comming of age. It did capture the Indiana University/town conflict that existed at that time, as well as?the feel of the Little 500. And it wasn't for lack of trying in the racing scenes as there were quite a few great riders involved as riders and/or tech advisors. Two that stand out are "Team Cinzano" members?John VanDeVelde (Olympian and father of Garmin Pro Christian) and Eddy Van Guyse?(National level rider and current race announcer) who stuck the pump in the wheel. And it was Oscar material as Steve Tesich won the Oscar for best original screenplay.
Rex Gilmore Venna, VA
-----Original Message----- From: Jerome & Elizabeth Moos <jerrymoos@sbcglobal.net> To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org; John Hurley <JHurley@jdabrams.com> Cc: rsilvercat@earthlink.net Sent: Mon, 23 Feb 2009 8:32 pm Subject: Re: [CR] American Flyers
It appears Eddy wasn't too upset about them co-opting his nickname, since he in fact made a breif appearance in the film himself. This film may not have been Academy Award material, but if you want to see real bike racing, it is a lot more satisfying than Breaking Away. I ask you, would you rather see footage from the Coors Classic or the Indy Little 500? I like both films, despite the lack of Oscars, or maybe, considering some of the crap that receives Oscars, BECAUSE of the lack of Oscars.
Regards,
Jerry Moos
Big Spring, Texas, USA
> From: John Hurley <JHurley@jdabrams.com>
> Subject: [CR] American Flyers
> To: classicrendezvous@bikelist.org
> Cc: rsilvercat@earthlink.net
> Date: Monday, February 23, 2009, 9:37 AM
> Bill Silverman wrote:
>
> "I saw the movie once (& that was enough!) about 8
> years ago while on a
> Bike Vermont tour. Excuse me while I barf. Lousy acting,
> gratuitous
> bxxb shot of the girlfriend, guys with brain aneurysms
> don't bleed out
> of the ear. Best thing about the movie was the bike, oh
> yeah, and Rae
> Dawn Chong's wheel change scene."
>
> You're absolutely right, Bill. I bought a copy back in
> December from
> one of those Dollar stores, and couldn't even finish
> watching it. I've
> never been so embarrassed for my generation, and for the
> movie industry.
> And Kevin Costner. Dale, your comments were
> tongue-in-cheek, right?
>
> I would think racing enthusiasts would be incensed that
> they co-opted
> Eddy Merckx' nickname "The Cannibal" for use
> by Costner's rival.
> Everything about the movie seemed artless and contrived.
> The only thing
> going for it was the youth and health and attractiveness of
> the actors,
> and the cool bikes. Rae Dawn's character was the most
> believable. The
> film was directed by John Badham. It's a cheap shot,
> but how's that for
> a name? Someday I'll have to lock myself in a room and
> watch the rest
> of it, in search of some redeeming quality t
hat would
> account for why it
> is regarded so highly by some.
>
> Anyone know any good films involving cycling?
>
> John Hurley
> Austin, Texas, USA