Aug. 06, 2003 - 9:21 pm
this is one of those movies that i've always had the urge to see but never quite new why. i know i've had this need for at least 4 years now, but i never got around to seeing it. finally i've accomplished my inexplicable objective.
its a Peter Weir film about a young Australian sprinter who is coming of age. he's famous in Western Australia as the fastest young runner around, but he can't put away the desire that he has to join the army fighting in Turkey, even though he's too young to join. when he meets up with another great runner, they ride a train to Perth and join up there since no one knows the young man's age. they form a strong friendship and eventually find out what being in a war is like.
i really really enjoyed the story. it's much more optimistic than you might think. the plot revolves around war, but also around the blossoming spirit, athleticism, and friendship. you see the horrors of war, but you don't walk away from it feeling empty or regretful. it makes you want to enjoy life more. it's a great idea for a film.
i wonder if Peter Weir is trying to do something similar with his upcoming film Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003). i don't know a ton about it yet other than the approximate time period, that it takes place on a ship, it stars Russell Crowe and Paul Bettany, and they're trying for Oscars...releasing it in November of this year. we'll see Mr. Weir. we'll see...