Modern people might not say this is great cinema; but even viewed through 'retro' 1970s eyes it is a wonderful slice-of-life picture of a sport that, even then, would soon be fading past its peak. The oil crisis of 1974 would put a huge question-mark to the future of gasoline-powered auto racing and future generations would enjoy the pastime almost as a guilty pleasure. In the 2020s the whole concept is almost a social sin. But for the period in which they story takes place, it was the mortals' gladiator races and the clash of the Titans rolled into one.
The movie is pretty faithful to the details such as car technology, business practices, and social atmosphere of the time. Watch for cool shots of early-1970s cars and engines (especially a red 1969-1970 Corvette with stock hubcaps and whitewalls - they really did make them like that!). Best of all, actors in in-car shots really seem to be actually driving the cars.
Jeff Bridges is 23 as this movie is being made and looks all of 17. He plays the role of Junior convincingly as a naive country boy, full of loyalty to family and friends that others aim to undermine or exploit. His maturation process includes learning the hard way about disreputable women and being reminded of his reasons for wanting to race cars in the first instance. His apparent arrogance is only the way in which his native sense of honesty and ethics manifests itself, indeed the very best of his character. It's why the ending of the story will please the audience.
Watch it for the nostalgic scenes of the best generation of American cars, the hairstyles and fashioned, the technology details, all very unlike anything 40-50 years hence. But watch it too because it's a great little story about heroes and their adversaries who, at least for a time, can't tell each other apart.
The movie is pretty faithful to the details such as car technology, business practices, and social atmosphere of the time. Watch for cool shots of early-1970s cars and engines (especially a red 1969-1970 Corvette with stock hubcaps and whitewalls - they really did make them like that!). Best of all, actors in in-car shots really seem to be actually driving the cars.
Jeff Bridges is 23 as this movie is being made and looks all of 17. He plays the role of Junior convincingly as a naive country boy, full of loyalty to family and friends that others aim to undermine or exploit. His maturation process includes learning the hard way about disreputable women and being reminded of his reasons for wanting to race cars in the first instance. His apparent arrogance is only the way in which his native sense of honesty and ethics manifests itself, indeed the very best of his character. It's why the ending of the story will please the audience.
Watch it for the nostalgic scenes of the best generation of American cars, the hairstyles and fashioned, the technology details, all very unlike anything 40-50 years hence. But watch it too because it's a great little story about heroes and their adversaries who, at least for a time, can't tell each other apart.