Good, but not great

Rating: 7/10 (5 January 2009)

Chariots of Fire is a sports drama, British style. This is the film that is the template for all sports afterwards. Chariots of Fire is set from 1919 to the 1924 Paris Olypmics. It forces on two athletics, Harold Abrahams, a student at Cambridge university and from a Jewish background, and Eric Liddell, a committed Scottish Christian. Both become rivals and the film shows them trying to improve themselves, working hard to get into the British Olympics team. Abarahams has to battle against Cambridge's elitist system and even against anti-Semitism, such as stereotypes like Jews were money lenders and thinking he would favour his religion over his country. Liddell personal battle is between his wish for sporting success which conflicted with his religious beliefs. This even led to Liddell having to sacrifice running in his favoured race because the event because it was on the sabbath.
Unlike most in most sports films, even good ones like Cinderella Man, the rivals do not have a hatred for each other nor make out one be sympathetic hero and the other an unlikely villain. Both Abrahams and Liddell were just made out to be men who wanted to do well and even had respect for each other. That was an aspect I liked in this film. Also by having two major characters you got to see the different challenges the athletes had to face and help with the drama.
The direction by Hugh Hudson was good, especially the sports scene. Those scenes have become iconic and so has the musical score. The acting was also top quality and the script is decent. However I personally thought at times the film was a like cold and hollow and also a little slow.
This is a film more about sport. They are obvious themes about the old boy system and Cambridge, religion, personal sacrifice, friendship and self-improvement.