McFarland, USA

I just love these Walt Disney biopics. Yes, it's clear how it will unfold, it's clear how it will end, and there are moments I'd rather skip, but still, I enjoyed it and experienced the emotions. Moreover, this time the creators really chose an intriguing story, and I would never have thought that running could be so interesting. (29/05/2015)

The sports line serves more as a tool of perception of Hispanic social part, which is what it's all about. As a result, it doesn't matter that it follows the same path of a gutsy emotionless guy found his way through prejudices and despite the initial setbacks and losses, they finally brought joy to everyone together even if being outsiders. At the same time, however, it is true that creators managed to avoid genre clichés and when they do occur, they are decent. In other words, as a social-sports-fairy-tale drama we get to know a different ethnicity and at the end we will be moved by their accomplishments and it is actually a nice watch. And you will also get Adam Arkapawa's camera as a bonus, who proves again and again that he is able to level up anything, regardless of format, quality or genre. And this is also true here, because what he does with the arid landscape of California, sunsets, night scenes and graceful silhouettes of runners, all without lapsing into kitsch, so you can simply enjoy it. (07/10/2015)

Nice. Kevin Costner simply knows how to choose a good, pro-American story. The runner boys are evidently living their American dream. The best moment was when I saw that the boy who won the race had a belly just like mine and he managed to best professional athletes. I’ll give them that the story simply has a unique human spirit, which should serve as an example to all who have given up their fight with themselves. The filmmaking aspect of the movie is a bit worse. I felt a bit like it was trying to emulate something like Cool Runnings, but I was missing more likeable moments, better scenes, and a little more emphasis on the fun; the creators instead turned it into a classic Hollywood story full of great pathetic moments with the American flag in the background. (05/07/2019)

A classic American sports movie. Conservative, with an emphasis on diverse characters, with a strong personality in the form of the head coach, who puts together a talented but properly cheeky bunch of high school kids into one of the most successful cross-country teams of the 1980s and 90s. Thanks to the novel "Mexican" setting, which itself represents some pretty interesting views and attitudes on life, it's a surprisingly self-aware affair that unfortunately loses its breath punishingly towards the end and becomes full of clichés and typical "made in USA" saccharine predictability. The absence of any major twist or heartbreaking moral dilemma it’s a shame, and the potential was there! (21/11/2015)