Breaking Away (1979)

Nominee

You have seen this film before. No really... you may not have watched this one specifically but you have seen it. Have you ever watched a film with:

1.) A bad father/son relationship?

2.)An underdog athlete that dreams big?

3.) A boy that meets his idol then its not all it cracked up to be?

4.)A guy who pretends to be someone else to get the girl he likes?

5.) Midwest small town America?

6.) Small town boys versus rich college kids?

Yeah I mean its all there. It is because of this list that I thought I would hate this film...but it is because of this list that I ended up liking it.

 Now you may be saying how can I call out Four Weddings and a Funeral for being so typical and then turn around and like this movie? It's because as it turns out I am a sucker, but not for schmaltzy films, I am a sucker for underdog success stories. I will always like a story where the improbable or even impossible is achieved because those movies are heartwarming on the basic human level.  We all have dreams and movies like this make us want to go make them happen. It feels just as corny as chick flicks in some ways, but also so incredibly more worthwhile.

So if I haven't made the plot clear enough yet here goes: We have a group of small town American boys who, while trying to make the transition between being a teen and being adult, are faced with an oppprtunity to show their worth through a bicycle race against students from the local university.

The story was clean, it was basic and because of that it hit home. The acting was what was required from it. I found the main characters relatable and distinctive. Also some good laughs here and there, boys will be boys and there is nothing more funny then watching them do it.  A job well done.

Something else that stuck out for me was the music. Here they contrast the essence of Midwest America with Italian opera. You can see why David Stoller longed for the richness of Italian culture while living in mundane simplcity. A striking and effective choice.

Overall: You'll like it, you kinda have to. Who wouldn't root for the smalltown American boys to win against all odds? Watch and be inspired. Happy Viewing.