Review of Chariots of Fire (1981) by David S — 21 Aug 2012

Re-watching this after the Olympics is almost unfair as I was bound to be swept up in the emotion but regardless of that this is still an uplifting film that defies the cliches that have followed years afterwards.

I'm a sucker for period dramas, especially those that deal with Cambridge University, and in the end this is a very well made film that does a good job following certain athletes in the lead up to the 1924 games.

The fact that not all of them succeed in their ambitions is in the films favour and say what you want about the score but for some reason it just works. I don't know why. The acting is pretty solid throughout from a mostly new to film cast but the standout for me is Charleson as Eric Liddell.

There is a truth in his performance that the others don't possess and it's sad to think that he didn't live longer to become one of our greatest stage and screen actors.