“The World’s Fastest Indian” Directed
by Roger Donaldson Magnolia Pictures
Movie titles can be deceiving. “The World’s Fastest
Indian” is an uplifting story, but it is that of a New
Zealand motorcycle racer, not a Native American sprinter. Though
the film is bogged down by predictable plot twists and an overly
long running time, Sir Anthony Hopkins’ turn as real-life
racer Burt Munro is more than enough to carry the story.
Hopkins’ portrayal shows such heart and depth that the
character hardly seems a two-dimensional figure on a screen.
The title refers to Munro’s bike, a modified 1920 Indian
motorcycle, with which he set numerous land-speed records in the
1960s. The film, written and directed by Roger Donaldson, explores
not only Munro’s effort to set such records, but also his
uphill journey for the opportunity to even compete for them.
Munro’s obstacles are certainly daunting: To race for the
speed title, he must travel ““ with his motorcycle ““
from Invercargill, his hometown in southern New Zealand to the
Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah. Nearly broke and struggling with
heart problems, Munro is in his late 60s ““ far past the
retirement age of the average racer.
But it is quickly revealed that Burt is not the average racer.
With the technical ingenuity necessary to modify a 40-year-old
motorcycle to the point of being able to break speed records, as
well as a combination of kindness, wit and determination that wins
friends from all walks of life, Burt is clearly one of a kind. As a
result, he is an extremely effective lead character; the audience
cares deeply about what happens to him.
It is somewhat disappointing, then, that such a strong,
easy-to-root-for persona overcomes his obstacles so effortlessly.
The way the plot of “The World’s Fastest Indian”
is constructed leaves little room for wonder about the outcome.
Burt surmounts so many small challenges (such as raising money for
his trip to the United States and obtaining a cheap car to drive
from Los Angeles to Utah) with such apparent ease that there is
little dramatic tension left for greater struggles, such as setting
the speed record.
“The World’s Fastest Indian” is also plagued
by a lengthy running time, the unfortunate result of a slightly
overstuffed story. Burt’s time in Invercargill, his drive
across the American West, and his participation in Speed Week at
the Bonneville Salt Flats are, for the most part, engrossing and
rewarding to watch. However, the portion of the film covering
Burt’s stopover in Los Angeles seems to have no purpose other
than the exhibition of his culture shock and his ability to
befriend even the most cynical Californians. These scenes are
comical but far from essential, and they ultimately leave the
viewer less energized for the film’s exhilarating finish.
Ultimately, it’s the mix of soulful depth and easygoing
charm that Hopkins brings to Burt that makes “The
World’s Fastest Indian” worth watching. He is equally
effective in scenes with kids and those with biker gangs, never
letting his thoughtfulness outweigh his humor. Hopkins once again
establishes himself as a master of his craft ““ another
example of the fine work that recently earned him the Cecil B.
DeMille Award at this year’s Golden Globes.
Predictable yet pleasurable, “The World’s Fastest
Indian” is driven by a persona unique enough to make the job
of investigating its title’s meaning worthwhile.
““ Nick Rudman