The World's Fastest Indian (2005)

Director:

Roger Donaldson

Writer:

Roger Donaldson (written by)

Release Date:

13 October 2005 (New Zealand)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | Sport

Tagline:

Based On One Hell Of A True Story

Plot:

The life story of New Zealander Burt Munro, who spent years building a 1920 Indian motorcycle -- a bike which helped him set the land-speed world record at Utah's Bonneville Salt Flats in 1967.

Plot Keywords:

Indian | Makeshift | Bonneville Salt Flats | Motorcycle | New Zealand

Awards:

10 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Anthony Hopkins	...	Burt Munro
Iain Rea	...	George
Tessa Mitchell	...	Sarah
Aaron Murphy	...	Tom
Tim Shadbolt	...	Frank
Annie Whittle	...	Fran
Greg Johnson	...	Duncan
Antony Starr	...	Jeff
Kate Sullivan	...	Doris
Craig Hall	...	Antarctic Angel
Jim Bowman	...	Cook
Alison Bruce	...	Doctor
Phoebe Falconer	...	Janice
Charles Pierard	...	Bank Manager
Barry Ryan	...	Burt's Neighbour

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for brief language, drug use and a sexual reference.

Runtime:

127 min

Country:

New Zealand | USA | Switzerland | Japan

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital EX

Certification:

Brazil:18 | Ireland:PG | USA:PG-13 | Australia:PG | Finland:S | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Sweden:Btl | Netherlands:AL | Singapore:PG | Hong Kong:IIA | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Argentina:Atp | Iceland:L | Portugal:M/12 | UK:12A

Filming Locations:

Auckland, New Zealand

Company:

2929 Productions

Trivia:

On the last day of filming in the United States there was a helicopter crash while filming a scene of Burt's car pulling the motorcycle and trailer. Both the pilot and camera operator walked away from the destroyed helicopter. Three days later the camera operator traveled to New Zealand to finish the movie.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: During the scene in the taxi at the Flamingo Motel. Watching through the back windshield. A 1956 Bel Air passes 3 or 4 times.

Quotes:

Burt Munro: If you don't go when you want to go, when you do go, you'll find you've gone.

Movie Connections:

References Burt Munro: Offerings to the God of Speed (1971) (TV)

Soundtrack:

You Are My Sunshine

Surprising gem

I saw this film on a plane - I know, I know, the worst place to see any kind of film - and thought I would just fall asleep as I didn't expect it to catch my interest enough to put up with the bad audio and small screens. In any case I dislike feel-good movies, and all the Kiwi-innovator stuff makes me cringe, Kiwis don't have the monopoly on being resourceful. And I'd never heard of Burt Munro. So I was surprised to find within a few minutes I was entranced.

Anthony Hopkins has made a brilliant job of the role, his accent wasn't too bad, and I loved the way he said "Invercarrrrrrgill". Hopkins' talent really shone - without him saying a word or changing his expression, you just knew how Burt felt when confronted by an apparently insurmountable obstacle (I won't spoil it) and his placid acceptance of the inevitable falls, tumbles and injuries told you that for Burt these were a fact of life. The other cast were also flawless, for me there wasn't a weak point in any of the acting. The humour was delivered in the main by Hopkins and with the lightest possible touch. The cinematography was beautiful and conveyed the journey from long quiet light of Munro's idealism in Invercargill, murky 'orribleness of the necessary evil of passing through LA and laying your dream on the line in the harsh open glare of Utah.

Hopkins has done a few of these slightly-disreputable, love-em-when-you-get-to-know-em characters but this is the best. And I'm not a motorcycle fan, and no Kiwi-made-good fan, but I will confess to a tear (almost) at the end when the text came up about Burt's unbeaten record.

If you watch this film at home you won't want to be disturbed by other people talking - you'll want to catch every word, every nuance.