Review of Downhill Racer (1969) by Darren H — 15 May 2010

Michael Ritchie's 1969 film-on-skis distills the elitist winter sport - and sports, in general - as aesthetically-pleasing to watch but ultimately one-dimensional and shallow like the athletes that represent it.

Robert Redford's not-so-nice guy who finishes first is a damning critique of a sports athlete, in a medium where high-level athletes often attain god-like status. In several innovative scenes, Ritchie places the camera on skis, literally tracking his hero's descent to earth.