A Slow-Burner That's Not For Every Viewer!

Rating: Null/10 (15 October 2013)

Winner of 4 Academy Awards including Best Picture, Chariots of Fire is a patiently crafted, elegantly told & beautifully scored cinema that resonates a lot of passion, patriotism & heart throughout its runtime, and despite having the appearance of a sports film, it works more as a story about human nature than a full-fledged sports drama.
Chariots of Fire tells the story of two young British sprinters who are chosen to represent Great Britain in the 1924 Olympics. While one of them is a Jew who runs to prove his worth & overcome prejudice, the other is a devout Christian who sees running as his own way of glorifying God. The plot covers their journey as they prepare for the biggest challenge of their life.
Directed by Hugh Hudson, Chariots of Fire translates its true story on the silver screen with care & composure and does benefit from its evergreen cinematography, good performances from its entire cast and Vangelis' classic soundtrack but what hurts the picture is its glacial pace for the story feels much longer than it actually is and is filled with moments that overstay its welcome.
On an overall scale, Chariots of Fire is a story about determination, professionalism, patriotism, sportsmanship & religion which also examines the elements true champion are forged of but despite getting many things right, it is unfortunately marred by its frustratingly slow pace and restrained approach and isn't as fulfilling as expected but despite its snail pace, this slow burner manages to get past the finish line with some fuel left in its tank.