Plot: What’s it about?
Burt Munro (Anthony Hopkins) has always loved speed, even his dreams are filled with images of him going beyond the limits of his ride. His ride is a 1920s Indian motorcycle, his prized possession and obsession, as he spends most of his time in its presence. He wakes up earlier than anyone else in his neighborhood, which means his racing motor often ensures his neighbors also wake up early, whether they choose to or not. His high noise level causes some friction with those around him, but he is a good person at heart. His main friend is a young man, the son of one of his neighbors, with whom he shares his one dream in life. Munro wants to push his Indian past its intended limits, to make it race even faster than the fifty miles per hour it was designed to achieve. In addition to the constant modifications, tweaks, and tender loving care, Munro would have to take his Indian across the world to Utah. The state is home to the famous Bonneville Salt Flats, where racers of all kinds come to test their limits and indulge their need for speed. Munro had this dream his entire life, but at the age of 68, he finally had a chance to make the dream into a reality. But even once he traveled to the United States, could he fulfill his dream and ride the world’s fastest Indian?
I want to admit up front, this movie was not made for an audience like me. I have little to no interest in the main focus of the film, motorcycles. Of course, the motorcycle is just one part of the story and we’re supposed to see much more, but come on. I can relate to some of these “a man with a dream” movies, but I have to be able to share at least a little of the passion involved. To build and race a motorcycle is not a passion I can relate to, even in the slightest. But even so, I hoped for the best and with master thespian Anthony Hopkins in the lead, I figured at least I would see a dynamic performance. Hopkins is indeed dynamic here, bringing out the human side of his role, which is excellent. All too often in this inspirational biographies, the actors go over the top to make us root for the characters, but not Hopkins. His performance makes us believe in him, but not because we’re supposed to, instead because we want to. In a case like this, where we know how it all ends, it can be tough to motivate the audience, but Hopkins shines here. The film does fall into melodrama and relaxes on realism at times, but that is to be expected in a movie of this kind. I didn’t expect to like this movie, but The World’s Fastest Indian is solid and well worth a rental.
Video: How does it look?
The World’s Fastest Indian is presented in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen. This is a sparkling visual presentation and try as I might, I could find very little wrong with it. The black levels look sharp and well balanced, blacks are deep & rich, while white seem bright & bold. This ensures a nice balance of contrast for the colors, which emerge here in vibrant form and free from all smears & bleeds. This is also a very smooth overall transfer, with minimal print debris and no signs of compression problems I could detect. Just a clean, pleasant transfer that should please all viewers.
Audio: How does it sound?
This movie is about a guy who loves his motorcyle, so of course, you’ll hear plenty of engine noises in the surrounds. The roars can be loud and powerful, as expected. These elements sound terrific in this mix and never seem overly harsh. These sequences prove to be the real power of the soundtrack however, as few other elements make much of the surrounds. You’ll hear the music move through the rear channels at times, but by and large, the surrounds are reserved for the racing of the engines. The dialogue sounds great and always clear, so no worries in that department. This disc also includes Spanish subtitles.
Supplements: What are the extras?
The best of the supplements provided is Offerings to the God of Speed, Donaldson’s original documentary on Burt Munro. This piece allows us to see the real life Munro and learn more about the man and his passion, which in turn enhances the movie. After all, we can appreciate Hopkins’ performance more when we watch the real Munro, while the overall inspiration is deeper when we are shown the real life elements. A wise and welcome inclusion, one that shouldn’t be missed. Donaldson also provides audio comments over the feature film, in which he gives even more insight into the real life events. You can tell Donaldson is passionate about the story and has a personal investment in how this film portrayed those events. This disc also includes a behind the scenes piece, a look at Munro’s hometown, and some deleted scenes.
