Chariots of Fire (A- or 3.5/4 stars)
'Chariots of Fire' (directed by Hugh Hudson) starts in 1919 as track runner Harold Abrahams (Ben Cross) enters Cambridge, where he experiences anti-Semitism. His motivation/obsession with running is to prove his worth as a looked-down-upon Jewish man. And he goes on to achieve an undefeated string of victories in various running competitions. Running parallel to this introductory character plot is Scotsman, Eric Liddell (Ian Charleson), son of missionary parents. His devout sister disapproves of Liddell's plans to pursue competitive running.
But Liddell sees running as a way of glorifying God before returning to China to work as a missionary. When these 2 men first race each other, Liddell beat Abrahams. Abrahams takes it horribly, but professional trainer Sam Mussabini (Ian Holm) reluctantly offers to take him on to improve his technique. This attracts criticism from the Cambridge college masters (John Gielgud, Lindsay Anderson). They think it ungentlemanly for an amateur to employ a professional coach. Abrahams dismisses their concern; realizing it is a cover for their anti-Semitism.
Feeling pressured from his folks, Liddell assures them that he intends to eventually return to the China mission, but that he feels inspired when running, & that not to run would be to dishonour God: "He made me fast, & when I run, I feel His pleasure." After yrs. of training/racing, Harold & Eric are accepted to represent Great Britain in the 1924 Olympics in Paris. Also accepted are Abrahams' Cambridge pals, Andrew Lindsay (Nigel Havers) & Aubrey Montague (Nicholas Farrell).
While boarding the ship to Paris, Liddell learns that the heat for his 100 meter race will be on Sunday. So he refuses to run because his Christian convictions prevent him from running on the Sabbath. Luckily, having already won a medal in the hurdles, Andrew Lindsay proposes to give up his place in the 400 meter race on the following Thursday to Liddell, who gratefully agrees. And his religious convictions in the face of athletic pride make headlines around the world.
In his last chance for a medal, Harold competes in the 100 meter race & wins! His coach Sam Mussabini is overcome that the yrs. of dedication & training paid off with an Olympic gold. Before Liddell's final race, an American coach remarks that Liddell has little chance of doing well. But one of the American runners, Jackson Scholz (Brad Davis), hands Liddell a note of support for his convictions. Liddell defeats the Americans & wins the gold! The British team returns home triumphant. Some of these men went on to lead great lives, some of them died way too young. Like anyone else, Olympians or not, religious or not, rich, poor ... life happens.
Ben Cross & Ian Charleson give strong lead performances. Nigel Havers is likeable as hurdler, Andrew Lindsay. Sir John Gielgud is solid as the dignified, yet wrong-headed Master of Trinity College. And Ian Holm gives an awards-worthy performance as Harold's mentor, Sam Mussabini. Not only do we care about the characters, but we accept that they really existed some 90 yrs. ago. In fact, the entire production claims that same sense of verisimilitude (authentic sets, costumes, sports statistics). Most sports movies rely on bursts of excitement & tension (which does exist here).
But 'Chariots ...' mostly stands on strong direction, writing, acting, editing, David Watkin's iconic cinematography (the imagery of athletes running in slo-mo on the beach), as well as Vangelis' vibrant, awe-inspiring music score. This is a movie that is both epic & intimate. It deals directly with such issues as athleticism, the nature of competition, the longing for perfection, winning, losing, ethics in sports, and as always ... the struggle for acceptance. I really enjoyed the low-key (sometimes too low-key) film about a topic that I love so dearly - the Olympics (and every emotion that accompanies them).
But Liddell sees running as a way of glorifying God before returning to China to work as a missionary. When these 2 men first race each other, Liddell beat Abrahams. Abrahams takes it horribly, but professional trainer Sam Mussabini (Ian Holm) reluctantly offers to take him on to improve his technique. This attracts criticism from the Cambridge college masters (John Gielgud, Lindsay Anderson). They think it ungentlemanly for an amateur to employ a professional coach. Abrahams dismisses their concern; realizing it is a cover for their anti-Semitism.
Feeling pressured from his folks, Liddell assures them that he intends to eventually return to the China mission, but that he feels inspired when running, & that not to run would be to dishonour God: "He made me fast, & when I run, I feel His pleasure." After yrs. of training/racing, Harold & Eric are accepted to represent Great Britain in the 1924 Olympics in Paris. Also accepted are Abrahams' Cambridge pals, Andrew Lindsay (Nigel Havers) & Aubrey Montague (Nicholas Farrell).
While boarding the ship to Paris, Liddell learns that the heat for his 100 meter race will be on Sunday. So he refuses to run because his Christian convictions prevent him from running on the Sabbath. Luckily, having already won a medal in the hurdles, Andrew Lindsay proposes to give up his place in the 400 meter race on the following Thursday to Liddell, who gratefully agrees. And his religious convictions in the face of athletic pride make headlines around the world.
In his last chance for a medal, Harold competes in the 100 meter race & wins! His coach Sam Mussabini is overcome that the yrs. of dedication & training paid off with an Olympic gold. Before Liddell's final race, an American coach remarks that Liddell has little chance of doing well. But one of the American runners, Jackson Scholz (Brad Davis), hands Liddell a note of support for his convictions. Liddell defeats the Americans & wins the gold! The British team returns home triumphant. Some of these men went on to lead great lives, some of them died way too young. Like anyone else, Olympians or not, religious or not, rich, poor ... life happens.
Ben Cross & Ian Charleson give strong lead performances. Nigel Havers is likeable as hurdler, Andrew Lindsay. Sir John Gielgud is solid as the dignified, yet wrong-headed Master of Trinity College. And Ian Holm gives an awards-worthy performance as Harold's mentor, Sam Mussabini. Not only do we care about the characters, but we accept that they really existed some 90 yrs. ago. In fact, the entire production claims that same sense of verisimilitude (authentic sets, costumes, sports statistics). Most sports movies rely on bursts of excitement & tension (which does exist here).
But 'Chariots ...' mostly stands on strong direction, writing, acting, editing, David Watkin's iconic cinematography (the imagery of athletes running in slo-mo on the beach), as well as Vangelis' vibrant, awe-inspiring music score. This is a movie that is both epic & intimate. It deals directly with such issues as athleticism, the nature of competition, the longing for perfection, winning, losing, ethics in sports, and as always ... the struggle for acceptance. I really enjoyed the low-key (sometimes too low-key) film about a topic that I love so dearly - the Olympics (and every emotion that accompanies them).