Pure and inspiring

Rating: 7/10 (7 May 2006)

Like the sports it is about, this movie is a lean and straightforward study of what it takes to become the best, from two quite different perspectives. There are no gimmicks, little drama, no bad guys, just understated visions of struggle and triumph.
As many have said, Vangelis' one-of-a-kind score elevates the movie from merely good to great, but I feel that separating them might be foolish: as the best scores do, it becomes one with the movie and the end result is an extraordinary whole, not a "good movie with a great score".
I can see why many people don't like it. It doesn't have many conventional elements of a movie and is about mood as much as plot. But, for those whom it suits, there is much inspiration to be found in this simple tale.