Review of The Flying Scotsman (2006) by Walter M — 15 May 2009

[font=Century Gothic]In "The Flying Scotsman," Graeme Obree(Jonny Lee Miller) wants to break the one hour bicycling record that has stood for more than nine years and which Chris Boardman is about to try and break. But he has other more mundane things to worry about like his bike shop being forced to close and having to work as a bike messenger in Glasgow while his long-suffering wife Anne(Laura Fraser) works as a nurse to make ends meet. On the job, he makes the acquaintance of Malky(Billy Boyd) who he recruits into being his new manager once he comes up with a revolutionary new design that he builds with the help of Douglas Baxter(Brian Cox) and the cannibalizing of parts from his washing machine. Sponsorship makes it possible for them to go to Norway to give it a shot...[/font].

[font=Century Gothic]"The Flying Scotsman" is an engaging biopic that is helped by a very good cast but the direction is so obvious that it cannot but point out that something momentous is about to happen in big bold letters on at least three occasions. The point of view shots during the races make them especially thrilling to watch. So, then why does there have to be a villain? I get that being bullied as a youth drives Graeme to push himself to succeed as an adult(even if it is too easy an explanation). At the same time, I was far more interested in exploring the topic of depression since it not only gives the movie more dramatic depth but also is a subject that is not touched on as often as it should be.[/font].