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Reviews

The Flying Scotsman

An exhilarating non-stop flight

By RICHARD BECK | May 2, 2007

3.0 Stars

GO SPEED RACER: Mackinnon's film crosses the finish line first.

In 1993, Scottish cyclist Graeme Obree, working from his own design, built a bike out of old washing-machine parts and broke the one-hour distance world record. In Douglas Mackinnon’s excellent film, Obree is played by Jonny Lee Miller, who gracefully negotiates the line between a psychological drama — Obree slid in and out of depression throughout his career — and a feel-good sports film. In fact, there isn’t much at all to feel good about here, because what Mackinnon really nails is the combination of healthy ambition and dark obsession that athletic success frequently requires. So whereas Obree’s wife, Anne (Laura Fraser), and manager, Malky (Billy Boyd), give him all the help they can, they can’t know what makes him ride because they also can’t know what makes him try to kill himself. The subject matter may not be anything new, but Mackinnon’s insight is exhilarating.

Related: Mick and more, The Austen adaptations, On a Clear Day, More

Topics: Reviews , Billy Boyd, Jonny Lee Miller, Laura Fraser

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