Real-life racing enthusiast Paul Newman headlines this decent look at those men who make their living on the track, and their lives off the track. Frank Capua (Newman) has a fierce dedication to the sport, and this does cost him when it comes to his marriage to Elora (Joanne Woodward), a car rental agent who caught his eye one night. He also becomes a father figure to her impressionable teenage son Charley (Richard Thomas, receiving an official "introducing" credit). His rival is the amiable Luther Erding (Robert Wagner).
Overall, "Winning" is not bad, but it spends a little too much time off the track, detailing the whole Frank / Elora romance as well as Franks' entire personal life. The story (written by Howard Rodman) could have used some tightening. But the cast is fine, creating multi-dimensional, reasonably engaging characters. The role of Frank isn't really Newmans' finest hour, but it's still a good one. Thomas is appealing as the kid, and David Sheiner and Clu Gulager offer able support. Real-life icons of the sport have cameo appearances as themselves.
Most of the final forty minutes of the film are devoted to action on the track, and they're well edited and pretty exciting. Footage from the real Indy 500 race of 1968 is included, such as that famous 17 car pileup. This material does prove to be worth the wait. Interestingly, while many movies may end shortly after the victor is declared, here we get another 15 minutes or so as characters deal with the aftermath, and the victor has time to reflect on the state of his life.
This is worth watching for any fan of Newman, who shows off that classic charisma that always served him so well.
Seven out of 10.
Overall, "Winning" is not bad, but it spends a little too much time off the track, detailing the whole Frank / Elora romance as well as Franks' entire personal life. The story (written by Howard Rodman) could have used some tightening. But the cast is fine, creating multi-dimensional, reasonably engaging characters. The role of Frank isn't really Newmans' finest hour, but it's still a good one. Thomas is appealing as the kid, and David Sheiner and Clu Gulager offer able support. Real-life icons of the sport have cameo appearances as themselves.
Most of the final forty minutes of the film are devoted to action on the track, and they're well edited and pretty exciting. Footage from the real Indy 500 race of 1968 is included, such as that famous 17 car pileup. This material does prove to be worth the wait. Interestingly, while many movies may end shortly after the victor is declared, here we get another 15 minutes or so as characters deal with the aftermath, and the victor has time to reflect on the state of his life.
This is worth watching for any fan of Newman, who shows off that classic charisma that always served him so well.
Seven out of 10.