On A List of Movie Reviews

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Across the Tracks (1990)

Rate: 7
Viewed: 5/25

5/25: Where would Across the Tracks be without Brad Pitt?

Nowhere, of course, but it's worth watching. The rivalry between two brothers makes for a compelling story. Billy is down in the dumps while Joe is driven and going to places. At some point, both see their fortunes changed because the former happens to be faster than Joe in the 800m. Along the way are pressures from different fronts: peer, school, work, and mother.

Brad Pitt, albeit 26 years old at the time of filming, shows early acting chops while Rick(y) Schroder looks clearly younger than him and has the vibe of trailer trash. Their running scenes are plentiful, but 1:58 in the 800m isn't considered an elite time, let alone be enticing enough to receive a scholarship offer from Stanford University. When they fight or get mad at each other, they're funny. By the way, Michael Stoyanov is among the supporting cast and will go on to play Tony Russo in Blossom for five seasons.

All in all, Across the Tracks is realistic enough to be relatable for many viewers.

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