The Flying Scotsman

The Flying Scotsman is a formula sports biographical movie, based on the book written by a champion cyclist Graeme Obree. As with sports biopics like Cinderella Man and The World's Fastest Indian, Scotsman tells the story of the underdog's triumph against himself and his adversaries through innovation in technique, technology, and of course, perseverance sprinkled with grit and determination. But of course, like A Beautiful Mind, there are inner demons that have to be worked out, before assailing to the summit. Graeme Obree (Jonny Lee Miller) is a bike enthusiast who works as a courier and owns a bike shop. Life's pretty plain, until he inspires to break an aged old World Hour record for longest distanced pedalled on a bicycle. But record breaking is an expensive ambition, and he realizes that aerodynamics will play an important factor. What I liked about the movie is to witness his keen observation and experimentation at work, to design the perfect sports bike, and riding techniques which some of us would have observed on television in the 90s. Thus the movie begins charting the ups and downs of his career, starting with his built from scratch and from spare washing machine parts bike affectionately called The Old Faithful. It's something that man and machine, when united seamlessly, is able to go the distance. But of course, what I also liked is perhaps the stereotypical boardroom suits, of the powers that be, who are dead set in making life difficult for Obree, introducing absurd rules, regulations and terms in order to upset the spirit of innovation, and maintain their absolute control over the sport. There are some moments which seem to mar the movie, despite understanding that they have to be introduced to give our on screen character more than one dimension. Struggling with injustice from the past affected Obree's EQ, but a good support structure in his wife Anne (Laura Fraser), manager Malky (Billy Boyd) and good adviser Douglas (Brian Cox), it makes a constant reminder that no man is an island, and that with good people supporting and believing in you, that's one of life's greatest gifts. The theme track is excellent in itself, but unfortunately, none can replace the contemporary classic theme composed by Vangelis from Chariots of Fire. Recommended movie despite its formula, if you're in need for some perk up when you're feeling down and low about yourself.

This was a film I knew nothing about, and a sport I know pretty much nothing about. Saying that I do love sports of all kinds, so I am probably biased. I also like when sports movies are told well, because most of them are not. The only reason this film wasn't a huge hit is because I don't think there is a lot of big bicycle racing movie fans out there. Do I hope this gets a good run on DVD, absolutely. Will very many people pick up a movie (particularly in the U.S.) about a Scottish man racing bicycles, almost definitely not. I thought that even though the story was very straight forward, it was very well written, competently directed, and excellently acted. If this was acted by any other lesser actors, this film would have just been another sports movie. If not for the very underrated and quite unknown Jonny Lee Miller starring in the title role I doubt this would have been worth watching at all. Just as "Seabiscuit" made the world love horse racing, hopefully so will this get some well deserved attention. Give it a try if you are looking for a good old fashioned sports flick.

They say "you couldn't make it up" about a lot of strange tales, and in this case the theory holds true. This is an amazing true story about the battle between one flawed and impoverished "little" man against the corporate giants of the (cycling) world. And the little man wins. What more could you ask for?! The stage is irrelevant, the cycling is a backdrop that does not detract in any way from this as a film masterpiece worthy of critical acclaim. JLM is magnificent as the hugely talented but deeply troubled Obree, ably assisted by Billy Boyd and Brian Cox in strong supporting roles. The fact that it is set against the beautiful backwaters of Scotland and the cast are largely British unknowns, adds to the charm. A heart-warming and inspirational story turned into very watchable entertainment.

Myth and Legend is all we have of Graeme Obree with all the local cyclists around Ayrshire (Scotland). So many stories of Obree in his youth! Was it him who the cycling club asked to take the shopping basket off his bike before running it a race? A race he won? I had to read the book to find out more. Then the film was made and through a long process finally released and DVD'd. It's an amazing story, and you'd think it was a Hollywood work of fiction. Graeme tried to beat the one-hour record and failed. Yet, his determination was to try again less than 24 hours later. Driven by his depression, he fought to beat himself to that record. Let down by UK cycling where he received none of the funding of other high-profile cyclists, he innovated new riding styles and pushed himself further. Only to find the governing body of cycling to ban his innovations. Even when Graeme was accepted in to the professional cycling world it was on a condition that he couldn't accept - to cheat. Graeme refused to take performance enhancing drugs. Throughout all this his darkest enemy of depression haunts him. But one person stands by him: His wife, Anne. This film only gives a glimpse of Obree's struggles, yet, it's funny and uplifting. Sure, it's low budget, but when you have actors such as Jonny Lee Miller and Billy Boyd working with a terrific script you need little else. Graeme Obree. Legend.

Genuinely loved the movie, and I'll let those who know more about Graeme and cycling comment on those aspects. Understand that Jonny Lee Miller is well regarded in Scotland for a really good Scots accent. But on the other side of the pond, us 'muricans catch only every third or fourth word. Strongly suggest you turn on the closed captioning right from the beginning and save yourself a lot of frustration and wear on your DVD player. Otherwise you'll be backing up a lot for "what'd he say?" You can always turn captioning off when you watch the second time. And you will want to see it again. It's that good.

I will be honest and say that it was more the cast that I was interested in more than the biographical element or what it involved. Basically, set in the 1990's, Graeme Obree (Scottish BAFTA nominated Jonny Lee Miller) was a misfit who started out training on a home-made bicycle to get his chance to break some speed records. His bicycle was made up with the help of some scrap metal and parts of a washing machine, and with plenty of practise he was ready for the track. He managed to set a new record for his near break-neck speed, with a little help and encouragement from friends Malky (The Lord of the Rings' Billy Boyd) and Douglas Baxter (Brian Cox). He tried to do it again, but he has a mishap and falls into a very bad clinical depression, but he does eventually buck up to do it again, and succeed. Also starring Scottish BAFTA nominated Laura Fraser as Anne Obree, Morven Christie as Katie, Steven Berkoff as Ernst Hagemann, Niall Macgregor as Graeme's Father and Julie Austin as Graeme's Mother. Miller is pretty good, but I remember him a bit better in Trainspotting, and I'm afraid I fell asleep in this, so I can't really rate it very highly, but from what I did see, it's not bad. It was nominated the Scottish BAFTAs for Best Director for Douglas Mackinnon, Best Film and Best Screenplay. Worth watching!

The story is great but the movie itself is a bit rough. Directed by a TV director, it often seems rough in its continuity. But in spite of that it is a very worthwhile movie of a great true story. Jonny Lee Miller is Graeme Obree, Glasgow road biker who finds the reality of making ends meet. His bicycle shop is not making money so he is forced to close it and work as a bike messenger. (Not so coincidentally my oldest son, a competitive biker in his 20s in the late 1990s also worked as a bike messenger in a large city.) Obree had some difficulties as a boy, mainly because his dad was in law enforcement. Some of the older, larger bullies who had shady dads would abuse young Obree, and in one scene holding him down as they urinated on him. But he never told on them, instead held it inside which contributed to his bouts of depression as an adult. Billy Boyd of 'LOTR' fame plays fellow bike messenger Malky, who becomes Obree's manager when Obree decides to break the records for the one-hour interval around a velodrome track. This was in 1993/1994 and Obree, inspired from different sources, designs and builds his own bike with radical new features. A good movie about the triumph of the human spirit amidst difficulty and controversy.

I'm just home from enjoying one of the most exciting cinema experiences of my 51 years. As a recreational cyclist, and having trained hard and at least attempted racing, I knew that I would enjoy a film which focused on the life of a real athlete - rather than a fictional styling (Breaking Away) or one race (Hell On Wheels). With 50% Scot blood in my veins I felt at home with the voices and scenery, but I found myself quickly intensely involved with the characters and swept away by the quality of the cinematography and the stunning surround sound. I've pre-ordered the DVD - but this is the very definition of big screen cinema entertainment. In the late night screening I was lucky to have a whole row to myself - so no one witnessed my emotional gasps, or the times during the races when I was literally shaking with excitement. I loved the way that Graeme's struggle with manic depression is given respectful depth - especially since his illness was an integral part of what drove him obsessively to achieve. Too few films deal effectively with the stress and reality of being bipolar. We need to see that he is loved, respected and supported as living with a mental illness, but also that he can accept polite active intervention. This is a remarkable story - extremely well told. Full praise to all of the cast - especially Jonny Lee Miller, who looks and lives the part and to Brian Cox, one of Britain's greatest dramatic actors (see "The Lost Language Of Cranes"). We're told by other reviewers that the film is a more than adequate precis of Graeme's story, so I'm very much looking forward to reading his book.

The story of Graeme Obree, an essentially amateur cyclist who competed with the best, is quite remarkable, but that's not to say it makes for a great film. The narrative arc of this movie is dreadfully predictable, and attempts to make play from Obree's struggles with depression are limited by the cartoonish way in which the officials with whom he was often in conflict are depicted. Perhaps the real problem is that Obree is the sort of hero who fits the Scottish self-image too well, the plucky underdog (celebrated in the unimaginative title of this movie) is just too comfortable a figure (in terms of how he fits with how the Scots would like to see themselves); there's no 'Trainspotting'-style iconoclasm here. Maybe it would have been better to make a documentary; the details of how Obree fashioned a competitive bike with his own hands (and to his own, revolutionary design) are fascinating - but not the stuff the fiction, and told as a drama, the result is a little dull.

I had the pleasure of seeing this film last night at the Edinburgh Film Festival. The film was introduced by Douglas Mackinnon, Graeme Obree and Brian Cox. Laura Fraser and Billy Boyd were also present. I could only spoil this film if you knew nothing about Graeme Obree's sporting achievements but I'll keep this short by saying that this is a very good film which is well acted and well directed. I found the story to be likable and informative. In the main, it's the story of Graeme's life but the latter part of the film does focus on his struggle with his own demons and with the governing body of the sport of cycling. The film is always interesting and never dull and the struggle to make the film was well worth it. I would recommend it!