For clarification's sake, the Indian in Roger Donaldson's "The World's Fastest Indian" is actually a 1920s motorcycle. The story is somewhat comparable to "The Little Engine That Could." That little engine knew it could make it up a mountain and New Zealander Burt Munroe (played by the aging Sir Anthony Hopkins) knows he's not too old to race his Indian.
The biopic tells the tale of Munroe's goal to set a land-speed record on his Indian -- a somewhat homemade motorcycle using all sorts of household items -- at Salt Lake City's Bonneville Salt Flats in the '60s. However, most people are telling Munroe to face the facts: he's outdated, his bike's outdated and there's no chance in hell.
He doesn't let others get him down. He lives life by his own rules. His neighbors don't really agree with his methods and he seems to only add fuel to that fire. He doesn't mow his lawn and when he does something about the overgrowth, the fire department is needed. He fixes his bike, which includes revving the engine loudly, before dawn. He also urinates on his lemon tree every morning.
Yet there's something about him that just makes people appreciate him. They like him enough to help raise some money for him to head off to the Unites States (or maybe they're just happy to be rid of him! -ed.).
However, he finds out there are plenty of things -- destiny, karma, life -- working for and against him. He can get to the United States by working on a cargo ship, but his Indian almost gets damaged in the cargo hold. He learns the value of a dollar in the United States; he's shocked when a cab ride costs more than $20.
He finds plenty of people to lend him a hand as he travels to Utah: A motel manager/drag queen, a used car salesman, a soldier on leave from Vietnam, a reclusive woman with spare parts in her yard and finally the whole racing crew at the Salt Flats.
Without the people at the race going to bat for him, his dreams would be dashed and all that he had been through would be for nothing. Most think he's a crazy old coot from a foreign land, wasting his time and risking his life for something that he'd never be able to do. But Munroe is ready to let the world know that ageism should be dashed and he's the only one who truly knows his limit.
Munroe may be crazy, but he's loveable. Hopkins as Munroe is a bit unexpected. This is the actor who always plays the distinguished, proper roles; and, at the other end of the spectrum, the terror-inducing Hannibal. Munroe has Hopkins dancing and at times bumbling like a fool and the actor jumps head first into the role, though the accent takes a second to get used to.
The most compelling aspect of the story is that Munroe was a real man who actually went to the Bonneville Salt Flats and raced. He set a record that first time. He kept coming back for more, setting record after record.
At over two hours, the movie can seem to putter along. A few scenes could have been cut, but the anticipation of the races will keep audiences glued to their seats.
"The World's Fastest Indian" opens Friday, Feb. 17 at the Landmark's Downer Theatre.
Originally from Des Plaines, Ill., Heather moved to Milwaukee to earn a B.A. in journalism from Marquette University. With a tongue-twisting last name like Leszczewicz, it's best to go into a career where people don't need to say your name often.
However, she's still sticking to some of her Illinoisan ways (she won't reform when it comes to things like pop, water fountain or ATM), though she's grown to enjoy her time in the Brew City.
Although her journalism career is still budding, Heather has had the chance for some once-in-a-lifetime interviews with celebrities like actor Vince Vaughn and actress Charlize Theron, director Cameron Crowe and singers Ben Kweller and Isaac Hanson of '90s brother boy band Hanson.
Heather's a self-proclaimed workaholic but loves her entertainment. She's a real television and movie fanatic, book nerd, music junkie, coffee addict and pop culture aficionado.
