Not as good as it could be.

Rating: 5/10 (20 March 1999)

Basically, I have read comments on both sides of the fence on this one and I think both sides are right.
Chariots is well acted, well scored and has many interesting details that led to a best picture nod.
Chariots also uses way too much slow motion and does a poor job of filming the actual races it is building too. I think what struck me the hardest was Abrahams last race for the 100-meter gold. We spent the whole sequence leading up to it staring at everyone in slow motion.
Then when the gun sounded it kicked into full speed. It could have been a resounding effect, but alas the only runner we focused on was Abrahams. In a race, you have to know where the other runners are to know who is winning. As much as the close up on Abrahams told of his spirit, he could have been in last for all I knew.
This is indicative of all the races in the movie. There was not adequate setup. I constantly felt thrown into races trying to figure if it was an Abrahams race or a Liddell race or worse at the Olympics -- one featuring neither.
Also, I never firmly grasped what either Lindsay or Aubrey were doing or who was who. They both seem to be important characters...heck on the credits they get top billing...and yet there is no character work on them at all in the film.
I guess what I am saying is that while I felt is was a good film, I also felt that it could have been so much better if the movie was not constantly thrusting us into a fog.