In Icarus, documentarian and amateur cyclist Bryan Fogel sets about a steep undertaking. He is curious to learn whether he can follow a blood-doping program capable of clearing the controls clean and thus placing him in awards contention at France’s Haute Route race, the world’s most prestigious multi-day event for amateur riders. Eager to prove…
The mid-90s was not a particularly good time to be a former (or current) athlete as many of them found themselves clouded by controversy and courted by disgrace. For instance, take a look at the likes of the globally sensationalized ex-football player O.J. Simpson and Olympic figure skater Tonya Harding. O.J. has had several movies…
Sometimes embracing an insufferable and delusional movie character can be a rewarding cinematic experience especially if the redeemably-challenged protagonist brings something to the table beyond the obvious despicable platitudes. In the crass sporting satire, The Bronze, the audience is supposed to unleash their wicked funny bones at the door for a former foul-mouthed Olympic blonde-haired…
If there was ever a multi-level headline, this new release, Race, from director Stephen Hopkins (“Predator 2,” “The Reaping”) sure has it. In fact, the story of Jesse Owens, a track athlete at Ohio State University who goes on to shock the world (and especially Adolf Hitler) during the 1936 Olympics, is something that has…
To call Eddie the Eagle an uplifting feel-good film is an understatement. This spectacular tale of human achievement tugs on the heartstrings of its audience, as it hilariously details the life and times of British skier Eddie Edwards. This rare sports/comedy/drama matches the charm of its influence by focusing on the perseverance and humorous undertone…
Foxcatcher, based on the real-life events surrounding the relationship between billionaire John E. du Pont and Olympic wrestler Mark Schultz, is a plodding, tone-deaf snoozer. The cast tries very hard to make things work, sometimes too hard. Even worse, all that made the true story so weirdly compelling in the first place is lost in…
Will Ferrell is at again. Once more we have him playing a buffoon character toppled from the heights of fame and power. It’s his bread and butter and he’ll continue to push this shit out until it becomes unpopular. As a matter of fact, just last year Ferrell squeezed out “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of…
