How to make friends and influence people

Rating: 9/10 (15 January 2012)

Great movie. Loved the fact it was based on a true story. I think it makes films so much more amazing if they are. It seems to me that the role of the film maker, in this circumstance, is to communicate what actually happened to their audience. And in this case this film manages to achieve this. I love the way the main character's sheer determination and will is so heavily offset by his ineptitude, bad health and lack of money. This makes Burts journey (literally in this case) even more colossal. Of course, all of this makes for thrilling watching as I was always left in suspense as to whether he will 'make it'. In this case 'making it' is setting a land speed record. Although it's not something that I care anything about, because Burt (the main character) does (well done Antony Hopkins for portrait this so vividly) and because he obsesses about it as a viewer I cared about it....or about him I should say. Having said how inept and under prepared Burt is, it is obvious that his major strength comes from his confidence. The way that he interacts with the strangers is compelling and straight forward. He manages to make friends and influence people without really trying. I think I would feel apologetic in asking for the help he wanted. I think this characters outlook is to say 'why would you not help'. I don't know whether I am reading too much into it. Maybe his outlook is I want this thing so badly I don't understand why I should have to apologise for it. Either reading is probably valid, though I like the first one better. Why doesn't this get a 10 then? Well bad kiwi accent aside, and apart from the fact the humour, although on paper, very funny, lacked certain punch, I felt as though this film was missing something profound about it. I don't know whether it is my pre-disposition to want something profound in a 'based on a true story' drama. Honestly, I don't think it is. I think any film (be it action or comedy or whatever) must have this for me to reach a 10. It must have something that resonates something very deeply in me. I thought it had touches of this. Still 9 is a pretty good score right?