On B List of Movie Reviews
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Breaking Away (1979)
Rate:
8
Viewed:
11/13, 11/21
11/13:
Thanks to Dennis Christopher's charming performance, Breaking Away is a classic bicycling romantic picture.
In an odd way, it's the antithesis of Ladri di biciclette. Dave is happy and easygoing while Antonio is sad and
stressed out. One pretends to be an Italian and rides the bike for fun while the other is a real Italian and needs the bike
for his sustenance. One has a good ending while the other goes out on a sad note.
Meanwhile, the group feel among Dennis Quaid, Jackie Earle Haley, Daniel Stern, and Dennis Christopher is almost the best
thing going. Unfortunately, the film suffers from continuity problems, interrupting the momentum. It's more noticeable when everybody
is into his routine, and then, all of a sudden, things change. Dave stops being a fake Italian, and the group starts going away.
In other words, Breaking Away is a tale of two halves. That's why I can't go any higher than '8'.
All in all, Breaking Away is a rare treat because it's a bicycling picture, having led to the next and more
superior film: American Flyers.
11/21:
Breaking Away is a nice coming-of-age buddy picture that was overrated back then.
There aren't many bicycle movies, so I'll take whatever that comes to my way. What's interesting about the cast is the
three supporting actors (Dennis Quaid, Daniel Stern, and Jackie Earle Haley) broke out while the main star (Dennis Christopher)
never did. Yet it's Christopher, along with Paul Dooley, who gives the best performance.
One nice thing about Breaking Away is that it's random. Scene after scene, they have no connection,
but somehow, the movie flows well. Shot on location in Bloomington, Indiana, it has charm that can only be captured in foreign
pictures. The bike race at the end is thrilling.
All in all, Breaking Away is a harmless, fun movie that people will instantly like.