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Movie Reviews
The Flying Scotsman
Wednesday, 02 May 2007
• Howick and Botany Times
The Flying Scotsman
. With Jonny Lee Miller, Billy Boyd, Laura Fraser, Brian Cox. Director Douglas McKinnon. MGM. Rating M (offensive language). Running time 96 minutes.
Times rating:
This is a true story of triumph over adversity set in Ayrshire and the mean and gritty streets of Glasgow.
Graeme Obree (Miller) was bullied as a schoolboy but his life changed forever when his parents gave him a bicycle for Christmas.
Cycling became a passion.
Although unemployed Obree became obsessed with breaking the world one hour record. Without funds to buy a fancy machine he made his own (he even raided his wife’s washing machine for ball bearings to construct what became known as ‘Old Faithful.’
He achieved his first triumph in 1993, breaking Francesco Moser’s record.
However on the way Obree created major controversy in the professional cycling world because of his unique riding style and pioneering construction techniques. Cycling officials put every possible obstacle in his way, which probably led to Obree’s depression and suicide attempt.
Obree put himself into punishing regimes to achieve success and he was fortunate to have the unqualified support of his wife (Fraser) and friend and manager Malky (Boyd) and later a minister Baxter (Cox) who became a sailing teacher when his parish was closed Baxter.
He becomes a cycling star in Europe and there is now enough money to construct a computer generated bike. Obree finds it heavier and turns back to Old Faithful.
With several one hour records under his belt Obree has a go at the 4000m pursuit. He is just as good at this and won several events until he retired in 1995.
The Flying Scotsman
is an incredibly moving film with stirring performances and plenty of heart and emotion.
There is also humour. At one event Obree is described as English. He responds with typical Scottish feistiness.
The Flying Scotsman
is a hard film to find fault with. The writing is excellent and is a fitting remembrance to the late John Brown. Co-writers Simon Rose and Declan Hughes also deserve accolades, as does brilliant director McKinnon.
You find yourself gripping your seat and willing Obree to win.
You can come close to tears with the movie—but it is not sentimental in any way—it’s simply a must-see film.
– Barbara Weil
