The World’s Fastest Indian

4 Comments

1. planebuilder

   October 15, 2010 at 5:18 pm

   Review by planebuilder for The World’s Fastest Indian
   Rating:
   Unfortunately this movie had a small distributor in the Dallas Fort Worth area, it was only on 4 screens. I saw it the day it came out and the theater was packed. Mostly with biker types. 2 months later I went to see it again with a friend, same story!
   
   This is a very inspirational story, my real love is building homebuilt airplanes, but I completely sympathized with Burt Munro. I loved his intuition that he displays all through out the movie. I would also recommend the book “One Good Run” by Tim Hanna, I must say that the movie is very true to the episodes in Burt’s life, but due to cinematic restrictions the story was told over 1 year vs. the 14 years it actually took.
   
   Great film, good family movie. Funny and interesting.
   

   Reply
2. J. Bransfield

   October 15, 2010 at 5:08 pm

   Review by J. Bransfield for The World’s Fastest Indian
   Rating:
   If this movie had been released by a major studio, Anthony Hopkins would have received an Academy Award nomination. It’s like he crawled inside Burt Munro’s skin and made the character his own. Rather than a simpleton, as some reviewers have characterized Munro, you have to see the man in the context of the 60s. He came from a relatively unsophisticated country where there are more sheep than people – and where people are supposed to care about their fellow man. And it was that willingness to accept his fellow man (or transvestite as the case may be) and the expectation that his fellow man would extend the same courtesy to him that makes this movie work.

   I found it completely plausible that the motorcyle gang that would want to test their mettle against Burt in one moment, would be the first in line to donate ‘beer money’ when they learned he was off to Bonneville to race his bike.

   Similarly I could see that the well-financed commercial team members would look upon Burt as a pitiful figure, but also see in him a reminder of why they got involved in time trial racing at places like Bonneville in the first place. There is a difference between innocence & naivete and being a simpleton, and IMO Hopkin’s character never crosses that line.

   The movie is as much a characer study than an action movie, so while it takes a bit to get moving, it’s worth the wait. And certainly I’ll never be inclined to tell a neighbor to mow the lawn again.

   This is a damned good movie, that even non-bikers will appreciate.

   Reply
3. Tucker Andersen

   October 15, 2010 at 3:46 pm

   Review by Tucker Andersen for The World’s Fastest Indian
   Rating:
   Burt Munro was a man who had many loves: women, speed, things mechanical, tinkering, life itself and perhaps most passionately and enduringly his ancient Indian motorcycle. This film lovingly chronicles Burt’s pursuit of the seemingly impossible dream inspired by his Indian, and the amazing quest which took him from the village of Invercargill, New Zealand to the Bonneville Salt Flats of Utah.

   Director Donaldson tells Burt’s feel good story in a straightforward and unemotional manner, with many of the scenes being filmed on location in Invercargill and at Bonneville. Anthony Hopkins is so perfectly cast that he seems to become Burt. His interviews while promoting the film made it clear how much he enjoyed the role and respected Burt’s achievements; the Kiwis who knew Burt were very pleased with his faithful portrayal in his film. The supporting cast also does an excellent job, although in all probability the only other individuals recognizable to most moviegoers will be Diane Ladd as Ada and Bruce Greenwood as Jerry, who helps Burt overcome the resistance he encounters when he arrives at Bonneville with a vehicle which breaks all the safety rules. In addition, deserving special mention in a brief appearance as Tina is Chris Williams.

   The director very intelligently decided to provide several humorous moments and a lot of casual humor to keep the approximately two hour long movie moving at a reasonable pace. The natural tension inherent in several obstacles Burt had to overcome (e.g. his lack of financial resources, the aforementioned mentioned problems before being allowed to race his vehicle, a heart condition which landed him in the hospital) are wisely handled in a summary way; after all, everyone in the audience already knows the reason why the film was made is because despite his limited resources and working entirely on his own Burt was successful in converting his motorcycle which was originally not built to exceed 54 MPH into THE WORLD’S FASTEST INDIAN.

   My five star rating for this film is not based on the fact that I think it is a great movie; in fact, it left several unanswered questions to which I hope that further research will provide some answers. And I certainly wish it had managed to incorporate more of the wonderfully scenic New Zealand countryside where Burt lived. Rather, my rating is based on the engaging manner in which this film tells Burt’s tale; he captivated me just as he eventually managed to captivate almost everyone with whom he came in contact, even those individuals who didn’t share his belief in himself or perhaps considered him a little crazy. In summary, I highly recommend this story of perseverance and achievement for everyone willing to spend a few hours with Burt as he pursues his dream to its satisfying and highly emotional conclusion. (The director’s genius was in recognizing that the story itself would provoke most moviegoers into cheering wildly or crying tears of joy with Burt before his time in Bonneville is finished, no cinematic tricks or artificial plot devices were necessary.) It is truly awe inspiring to realize that many of the records which Burt set still survive today, and thus his machine is not only still THE WORLD’S FASTEST INDIAN but remains unbeaten by all engines in its category.

   Tucker Andersen

   Reply
4. A Thoughtful Consumer

   October 15, 2010 at 2:52 pm

   Review by A Thoughtful Consumer for The World’s Fastest Indian
   Rating:
   Never, that’s what Burt Munro has to say to us.Wow! This is a great flick and Anthony Hopkins is at his subtle best!Way more than 5 stars.The synopsis:Burt Munro, a Kiwi from far south New Zealand has been building and rebuilding his motorcycle for the last 40 years, dreaming of the day when he and the bike can go to Bonneville Salt Flats,USA and see what they can really do. When Burt’s heart goes bad on him, his dreaming is threatened to come to an end. Burt is not ready to stop dreaming. He decides to mortgage his house and bring his dream to life. He and the motorcycle head for American and the Bonneville Salt Flats,Utah to participate in ‘Speed Week’. When they land in in the US the fun begins. His journey from Long Beach to Utah brings him through a cross section of American ‘characters’. Each recognizes in Burt, that burning desire to achieve a dream and each helps him in the way that they can to make that dream happen. There are so many funny and beautiful moments but one that come to mind is when Burt meets Tina, the transvestite motel clerk…that whole interaction is so beautiful. Or when Burt finally stands on Bonneville Salt Flats, by himself thinking of all the greatness that has transpired here and now he, Burt Munro, can at last test himself on this ‘sacred ground’. Man! it brings shivers to see Anthony Hopkins do that moment.While the film is about motorcycles and fast cars, it is not a movie about motorheads. It is a story we can all get something out of- even your Grandma will love it. Don’t hold back-go see it now. A Cultural Sidebar:I happen to have been in New Zealand when this film started it’s world release in it’s home country..Oct. 2005. The Kiwis, normally a reserved and sober lot, were crazy on this movie. For a week that is all the entertainment news there was, end to end on both islands. Munro’s actually Indian Scout motorcycle made the rounds of movie houses, sort of a hero’s artifact for theater goers inspection. In general, the Kiwis felt that Hopkins and Donaldson had really nailed the Kiwi national ‘character’, straight talking but not offensive, a master of ‘#8 wire’ ingenuity, reserved but determined. All this allowed Munro to build his bike to it’s peak,get it to America, and rise above the better financed competition. Hopkins was given accolades for nailing a South Island,New Zealand accent.People that had known Munro claimed Hopkins had portrayed Munro as they knew him. As an American I like they way Donaldson portrayed Americans.I found the movie to be a classic American dream tale. Go see the movie, you won’t be sorry.

   Reply