What the press say
about The Flying Scotsman
 
 
“As triumph-of-the-underdog yarns go, the true-life story of Graeme Obree's battles against the cycling establishment is pretty hard to beat. In the early Nineties, Obree took on the world 'hour record' on a home-made bike named 'Old Faithful' that he fashioned from, among other things, the innards of a washing machine. Lacking sponsorship, and adopting a unique 'crouch' position that reduced drag while maximising pedal power, Obree was viewed as a troublesome outsider by the stuffed shirts of the sports' governing bodies. Bans were duly imposed on both the bike and the radical riding position in an attempt to derail his winning streak. But Obree simply developed a new 'Superman' stance - arms extended in front of his torso - and continued to compete, while simultaneously doing battle with his own personal demons of self-doubt and chronic depression. Douglas Mackinnon's solidly good-hearted screen stab at Obree's remarkable story may not rival Peter Yates's Breaking Away for the title of Best Cycling Movie Ever. But with its engagingly earnest central performance by Jonny Lee Miller and reliably sturdy support from Brian Cox, this unashamedly old-fashioned picture deserves to win both support and applause. Steering clear of melodramatic overstatement, Mackinnon (who is currently directing episodes of the brilliant Doctor Who) earns hard-won audience empathy for his often unlovable anti-hero. The result is moving, stirring stuff - not quite as complex and contradictory as its subject, perhaps, but admirably decent in both intent and execution.” Mark Kermode, Oberver, 4 November 2007 “I’m delighted to report…a small British triumph…Jonny Lee Miller in easily his most intelligent screen performance to date…A thoroughly involving story.” Christopher Tookey, Daily Mail, 29 June 2007 "Miller works tirelessly as the hag-ridden cyclist, but Boyd, as his manager and long-time pal, and Fraser as his upbeat wife, are just as good, and contribute much to the warmth of character that leaves a lump in the throat at the end.", 8/10. David Quinlan, Movies That Talk. “ Miller is terrific in the title role, ably supported by Lord of the Rings star Billy Boyd as his best friend and manager and veteran actor Brian Cox as Obree's mysterious mentor.” Bill Zwecker, CBS2, Movie Minute, 6 May 2007 “Flying Scotsman is a fantastic ride. On Monday night I cried twice and laughed out loud half a dozen times. I hadn’t been smoking anything either – just watching brilliant new movie The Flying Scotsman, starring Jonny Lee Miller, Laura Fraser, Brian Cox and Billy Boyd. The true story of Scottish cycling hero Graeme Obree, which opened the 60th Edinburgh Film Festival, takes you on a real emotional rollercoaster. The casting was perfect, the humour understated and the message inspiring.” Scottish Sun, 16th August 2006 “Hollywood heavyweight Brian Cox has hailed jinxed movie The Flying Scotsman a masterpiece. The Troy and Braveheart star reckons the film – the true story of cycling champ Graeme Obree – could go on to be a hit despite a run of terrible bad luck. Brian, 60, said last night: “It is even better than I had hoped. The opening scene is incredible – I was very impressed.” And he saluted director Douglas Mackinnon for his work. He said: “Douglas is extremely talented – the man is a genius. This was his transition from TV to film and he has done so well… Brian’s co-star Billy Boyd also reckons the film could be a success. Billy, who plays Graeme’s manager Malky McGovern, said: “I hope this can be bigger than Four Weddings And A Funeral. There is no reason it cannot have international success.” Lord Of The Rings star Billy, 37, added: “This is about a Scottish hero. I love the story.” Scottish Sun, 17th August 2006 “The story of champion Scottish cyclist Graeme Obree is filled with human emotion and uplifting sentiment… [Douglas Mackinnon] has become one of the country’s most prolific and accomplished television directors, with a list of credits that include The Vice with Ken Stott, riveting medical drama Bodies with Max Beesley, and period romp Gentleman’s Relish with Billy Connolly… [The Flying Scotsman] is finely balanced with a great cinematic sweep and a sense of restraint that tries to rein in any sentimentality or melodrama inherent in the tale. It also features uniformly fine performances from Brian Cox, Billy Boyd, Laura Fraser and Jonny Lee Miller as Obree… Other festivals are starting to take notice, and it is the kind of well-made, handsomely told human interest story whose appeal will stretch far beyond Scotland… It may be tempting fate but having seen and admired the film, and shed a tear, it seems as if The Flying Scotsman, like Obree himself, could be on course for a happy ending.” Scotland on Sunday, 13th August 2006 “It wouldn’t be right, wouldn’t be fitting, for Graeme Obree’s life story simply to hit the big screen without creating some extreme reactions… The Flying Scotsman [is] a story of cycling glories and suicide attempts all wrapped up into one dramatic celluloid package… If ever there was a production likely to suffer misfortune, it was one dealing with the incredible struggles of this talented, troubled individual. Even those with no knowledge of cycling should recall Obree, if not by name, then certainly by the story attached to it… The rags-to-riches tale of a man who was surviving on marmalade sandwiches when he made Chris Boardman, financial backers and £250,000 bike notwithstanding, sick to his stomach with a world title and a world record, to boot. And the slow realisation of a watching world, entranced by Obree’s persistence even after the authorities outlawed his riding position, that there was something very wrong with this Scottish sporting hero… A decade in the completion, finished without a ghost writer [his autobiography] is a searingly honest account of one athlete’s battle against depression. A tale of talent, dedication and solvent abuse, it must have taken some guts to give vent to some of the disturbed emotions at play… [The film] should provide inspiration and insight to many. For a man whose life veered from impossible highs to unimaginable depths of despair, it seems rather fitting that his life story should be born in a storm.” Scottish Daily Mail, 12th August 2006 “**** If ever a sporting story was tailor made for the big screen, it is surely the tale of Scottish cyclist Graeme Obree… The Flying Scotsman is both a stirring re-enactment of his success and a fascinating, at times upsetting, examination of his problems… Like Obree, who worked on the film as a consultant and part-time stuntman, the movie is at its most thrilling when it’s in the velodrome. First-time director Douglas Mackinnon brings to life the tension and drama around the track, and the mental and physical anguish of the man on the bike. Jonny Lee Miller gives probably his best performance to date in showing Obree’s almost unbearable battle against depression, his eyes showing the inner despair even after his greatest triumphs. It is this fight that is the heart of the movie. The film is an intriguing mix of dark drama, light comedy and the stirring triumph of Obree’s success, with the cast, including Billy Boyd and Brian Cox, excellent throughout… Mackinnon does a superb job in bringing the complex strands of the story together, while never letting the pace of the movie dip.” Edinburgh Evening News, 15th August 2006 “**** The good news, given this film’s troubled production, is The Flying Scotsman is a winner. Just as the protagonist of this sports biopic, Scottish cyclist Graeme Obree, had to overcome personal and professional obstacles in order to win the World Cycling Championships twice, so the film’s debuting director Douglas Mackinnon had to wrangle with various financing problems in order to finish his film. It’s to Mackinnon and his cast and crew’s credit that they managed that, and moreover that the result is a solid piece of film-making and a genuine crowd-pleaser… Mackinnon’s film dramatises this underdog story, but it also brings an involving personal dimension… there’s a nicely realised scene in which Obree hallucinates that the bullies’ full-grown ringleader pays him a deeply creepy home visit… The Flying Scotsman is rousing and often very funny. As Obree’s eccentric associate Baxter, Brian Cox generates the lion’s share of the laughs. Billy Boyd and Laura Fraser, playing Obree’s pal/manager and his wife, provide sterling support, and Jonny Lee Miller brings grit (and a fine pair of legs) to the role, crossing the finishing line a winning leading man.” The Herald, 14th August 2006 Shryke: Up next is an enchanting little gem, technically being "expanded" after first being screened late last year, but for all intents and purposes now getting its American debut: The Flying Scotsman (MGM), which might be the Citizen Kane of Scottish cycling movies. [Grin] Scotsman stars actual Englishman Jonny Lee Miller, who may be familiar to U.S. audiences for being the former-former Mr. Angelina Jolie ... prior to Billy Bob Thornton. The Flying Scotsman is the sensational true story of Graeme Obree, who shattered the world's cycling records with a handmade bicycle, and who later was stripped of his medals and faced down the onset of serious mental illness after being confronted with personal tragedy. Why are you so high on this film, Nico? Nico: I loved this project from the get-go. First, it's just an incredible story -- a real-world medley of Rudy, Rocky, Chariots of Fire and The Hurricane, with shades of A Beautiful Mind tossed in also. And it's absolutely factual. Obree was a cycling outsider who turned one of the most insular, hidebound sports on the planet absolutely on its ear; who not only put a racing rig together with his bare hands (with City on the Edge of Forever-esque materials, like stone knives and bearskins, no less), but managed, with sheer will and ingenuity, to mold the science of competitive cycling into something approaching an art form. I'm absolutely convinced that The Flying Scotsman is poised to become a sports film for the ages. Its timelessness goes hand-in-hand with its integrity; its beauty IS its truth. Shryke: You're certainly selling me on it. When can I buy a ticket? Nico: [Laughing] I know, right? And, apart from the plot, the narrative, it's just a great film. Miller delivers a vulnerable, accessible, even courageous (BAFTA-nominated) performance, and this might just be the very best work Billy Boyd (The Lord of the Rings) has ever done. Brian Cox, who I mentioned a little while ago, is cast well against his typical "heavy" character type as a man of the cloth who encourages and shepherds Graeme. So, here it is: If you're a fan of competition, any competition -- heck, if you're a fan of the human spirit, of dignity, perseverance, or achievement in any form, go see The Flying Scotsman. It not only moves, it soars; this is simply The Fountainhead of individual sport. Shryke: So, then, tell us what you REALLY think, Nico? [Laughing] Nico: [Also laughing] Yeah, I think it's safe to say, in my estimation it's a bit of all right. IMDb's on the low side right now, but European audiences, who are really the only ones who've had a chance to comment, so far, are a little less sentimental, a little more difficult to impress than Americans. I predict Scotsman's User Rating will really take off once it lands on our shores: 7.7-8.2 IMDb, with potentially two to four PTA points over several weeks. Like Waitress, this is a film that could (and probably should) get a wider release -- and its fortunes, should it receive increased exposure, might ultimately resemble the performance of Waking Ned Devine, another crowd-pleaser which became a genuine sleeper smash as it was gradually rolled out in late 1998 and early 1999. $20 to $25 million could be in the offing if MGM gives it that chance. I wouldn't count on it, though. Shryke: I think you're going a bit overboard, here -- $20 million is really pushing it. So, I'll "break away" [heh] from you and say that -- even benefitting from a wider release, which is unlikely -- it'll top out no higher than $12 million. Your other predictions about The Flying Scotsman look good, though. Fantasy Moguls, 12th April 2007