The Flying Scotsman

The Flying Scotsman
by Douglas Mackinnon

Our Price: $19.98
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Buy Used: from $1.49 (click here)
Category: DVD
See more DVD details

Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada

DVD details

Actor: Crawford McInally-Kier, Jan Plazalski (II), Jonny Lee Miller, Joseph Carney, Sean Brown (III)
Director: Douglas Mackinnon
Brand: TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENT
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled)
Format: AC-3, Color, Dolby, DVD-Video, Full Screen, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 103 minutes
Published: 2003
DVD Release Date: 2007-09-18
Audience Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)

DVD Reviews of The Flying Scotsman

DVD Review: minor but enjoyable sports movie
Summary: 3 Stars

***1/2

*SPOILERS*

"The Flying Scotsman" tells the story of Graeme Obree, a championship cyclist from Glascow, who, in the mid 1990s, twice broke the world speed record using a bike he'd constructed out of washing-machine parts. To achieve his success, Obree had to wage battle against not merely the leaders of the World Cycling Federation - who considered him an upstart and thus did everything they could to try to keep him from competing - but his own personal demons brought on by childhood trauma and clinical depression.

This slight but engaging film boasts an intriguing locale, smooth direction by Douglas Mackinnon and endearing performances by Johnny Lee Miller, Billy Boyd, Laura Fraser and Brian Cox. These serve as effective counterweights to all the sports-underdog, hometown-hero-makes-good cliches inherent in the story.

For the movie makes it clear that Obree did indeed become something of a folk hero for the citizens of Scotland, who are often forced to play second-fiddle to their more haughty neighbors to the south. For a brief but shining moment, however, the nation of Scotland stood atop the world of competitive cycling, all thanks to its Favorite Son, Graeme Obree.

DVD Review: Great Motivating Movie
Summary: 5 Stars

Great movie. wish they would have talked in the end about what he is doing today. Let a few friends borrow it already & they also had the same thoughts, good movie.

DVD Review: For biking enthusiasts
Summary: 4 Stars

Whoever bikes and heard about the achievements of Obree must watch this movie. The filmaking is just above average but cleary shot with the heart.

DVD Review: Inspiring True Story
Summary: 5 Stars

This movie tells the true story of Graeme Obree, an amateur cyclist with a mental illness, determined to become the fastest rider. If you're a fan of the book and see the movie, you'll quickly discover that there are some elements taken out, but that doesn't ruin the movie's drive. Fans of the movie who have not read the book, should, in order to get the full feel of Obree's challenge. That aside, The Flying Scotsman is a great movie with fantastic acting from Miller, Fraser and Boyd. The soundtrack was great, I hope I can it soon. The ending had me in tears, no lie.

DVD Review: The Flying Scotsman
Summary: 3 Stars

This film offers more than your usual come from behind sports victory story. For both cycling fans and others, it delves into an unusual "against all odds" true tale of beating personal demons as well as crooked sporting czars.

Description of The Flying Scotsman

Based on the incredible true story of amateur cyclist Graeme Obree, who breaks the world one-hour record on a bike he made out of washing machine parts.

Silver-screen sports stories rarely revolve around the big and brawny, but the small and scrappy, like Sean Astin in Rudy or Toby Maguire in Seabiscuit. For Scottish cycling sensation Graeme Obree (Trainspotting's Jonny Lee Miller), the biggest obstacle isn't physical, but financial--and psychological. From 1993 to 1995, when most of The Flying Scotsman takes place, he's a bike-shop owner and courier who dreams of turning pro (Laura Fraser plays his supportive spouse). After Rev. Baxter (Brian Cox returning to his native Scotland) sets him up with supplies, and fellow courier Malky (The Lord of the Rings' Billy Boyd) agrees to manage him, Obree sets out to break the one-hour world record. He starts by building a bicycle from spare parts, a move that recalls Anthony Hopkins' eccentric racer in The World's Fastest Indian. Obree's money woes are further complicated by a battle with manic depression, which is handled sensitively, if superficially, i.e. it isn't made clear whether he ever receives treatment. Though he'll break several records before the film is over, the World Cycling Federation (represented by former James Bond villain Steven Berkoff) makes him jump through several demeaning hoops to get there. As for Miller, he's convincing as a cyclist (Obree serves as one of his stand-ins), though Boyd provides the bulk of the charisma. Nonetheless, the real-life champ deserves recognition for his achievements, and Mackinnon's movie is as a sympathetic testament to a true talent. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

General DVDs

Genres > Drama

DVD Video

Bestsellers in General DVDs

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation - The Eighth Season
Release date: 2008-10-14; DVD
Best price: $43.99
Price in other shops: ~~$84.98~~

Mad Men - Season One
MAD MEN - SEASON 1 (DVD MOVIE); Release date: 2008-07-01; DVD
Best price: $27.00
Price in other shops: ~~$49.98~~

The Unit - The Complete Third Season
Release date: 2008-10-14; DVD
Best price: $25.50
Price in other shops: ~~$39.98~~

Smallville - The Complete Seventh Season Image

Smallville - The Complete Seventh Season
Release date: 2008-09-09; DVD
Best price: $34.97
Price in other shops: ~~$59.98~~

House, M.D. - Season Four
HOUSE: SEASON FOUR (DVD MOVIE); Release date: 2008-08-19; DVD
Best price: $28.99
Price in other shops: ~~$59.98~~

Dexter - The Complete Second Season
PARAMOUNT PICTURES; Release date: 2008-08-19; DVD
Best price: $18.25
Price in other shops: ~~$39.98~~

Grey's Anatomy: The Complete Fourth Season
Buena Vista Home Video; Release date: 2008-09-09; DVD
Best price: $31.00
Price in other shops: ~~$59.99~~

John Adams (HBO Miniseries)
Warner Brothers; Release date: 2008-06-10; DVD
Best price: $30.96
Price in other shops: ~~$59.99~~

The Dark Knight (Widescreen Single-Disc Edition)
Release date: 2008-12-09; DVD
Best price: $16.99
Price in other shops: ~~$28.98~~

The Dark Knight (Two-Disc Special Edition + Digital Copy) Image

The Dark Knight (Two-Disc Special Edition + Digital Copy)
Release date: 2008-12-09; DVD
Best price: $22.99
Price in other shops: ~~$34.98~~

Similar DVDs, VHS Video, Audio CDs

Once
TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENT; Release date: 2007-12-18; DVD
Best price: $10.83
Price in other shops: ~~$19.98~~

Ten Points
by Bill Strickland
Hyperion; Published: 2007-07-03; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $5.47
Price in other shops: ~~$23.95~~

The Rider
by Tim Krabbe
Bloomsbury USA; Published: 2003-06-12; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.33
Price in other shops: ~~$12.99~~

Quicksilver
Sony; Release date: 2002-12-10; DVD
Best price: $7.62
Price in other shops: ~~$14.94~~

Positively False: The Real Story of How I Won the Tour de France
by Floyd Landis
Simon Spotlight Entertainment; Published: 2007-06-17; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $5.69
Price in other shops: ~~$24.95~~

We Might As Well Win: On the Road to Success with the Mastermind Behind a Record-Setting Eight Tour de France Victories
by Johan Bruyneel, Bill Strickland
Houghton Mifflin; Published: 2008-06-04; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $14.62
Price in other shops: ~~$25.00~~

Flying Scotsman : Cycling to Triumph Through My Darkest Hours
by Graeme Obree
VeloPress; Published: 2005-09-28; Paperback; Book
Best price: $11.89
Price in other shops: ~~$19.95~~