Racing Dreams

Not a Nascar person. My Midwestern roots don't extend South (or East) enough for that. I once thought about playing fantasy Nascar just for the hell of it, but never ventured outside of my Fantasy Hockey comfort zone.

I have seen Talladega Nights 1 1/2 times. Watched the opening credits of Days of Thunder, but never really caught the racing bug.

Yet, despite the cardinal points of my internal compass never pointing in the direction of Indiana, Alabama, or wherever the hell they watch races, I really enjoyed this one.

More than likely it was a result of them not focusing too long on the races itself. Instead, they broke the film into little slice-of-life chunks that made it possible to get to know the three kids. All prefaced by the melancholy fact that their dreams would probably never be realized - but also the eventual acceptance that's it quite alright to settle for second best sometimes.

I got a "Trophy Kids" vibe - where the parents were propping up and projecting their own failed dreams onto their able-bodied kids. Yet isn't that what a lot of parenthood is: the thrill of vicariously experiencing a brief moment of immortality and hope?

Anyways, decent film and a decent usage of time.

Saw this at Tribeca for its premiere. It's an amazing and touching movie. I never thought I would be interested in racing, but they explain it right in the beginning and manage to make it interesting and easy to follow. That's saying a lot for me as I've always thought racing to be a complete bore.

The three kids in this movie are probably the most charismatic subjects you will ever see in a documentary. Every interview (even with the parents) is remarkably candid and unique. The racing sequences themselves are exhilarating but its the moments that surprise and break your heart which make this movie complete. For a distinctly American sport, this film gives great insight into the lives of the youth here who pursue it.

Not to be missed.