ultimate fraud

Downhill Racer

I had the great pleasure of seeing Downhill Racer for the first time this weekend. I know- I’d never heard of it either, but it’s really quite great. It comes out on Criterion Collection next month I think, so get it then and check it out. Or, be cheap and illegal like me and download it. Why is it so great?

Well, it looks amazing. I love the look of the New Hollywood era anyway (following on from my previous gushing post on Five Easy Pieces), but this is another level of beauty. It’s a film about skiiing, and Robert Redford is a wannabe champion skier. I know it sounds like the traditional sports movie a lá Rocky, and it is to an extent, but it is a sports film in the New-Hollywood-influenced-by-European-cinema mode.

It’s all in what they don’t say rather then say!

This final scene is gripping. It really brings to your attention the narrow margins of competition and winning, sport and sportspeople.

But what am I talking about? I loved the film because late 60s Robert Redford is in it! And his wardrobe in the film is ice cold (skiing? Ice cold?!) I want this jacket now.

He looked amazing in nearly every scene. It was hard to watch the film and not be distracted by his sheepskin coat or trendy turtlenecks or how he did his hair so my own can look like it (pomade??).

Plus, I think if I try and dress like him, I’ll be certain to end up with sexy foreign women like the one he’s with in the film.

It’s the denim & denim conundrum again! It has to be that the combo only looked good in 1969.