Breaking Away (1979)
Grade: 77
"Breaking Away" was a sleeper, a low-budget film with an (then) unfamiliar cast that was released to critical and commercial success. The film has many themes and subplots, but they never get tangled or complex. Some of the drama (especially in the closing race) is a bit contrived, but most of it works, as does most of the comic relief.
"Breaking Away" stars four unemployed teenagers who have just graduated from high school, and are unsure of whether to attend college. Dave (Dennis Christopher) is fascinated with Italy and cycling. Mike (Dennis Quaid) carries resentment against college students from wealthy, out-of-town families. Cyril (Daniel Stern) is clumsy, but gets many good lines. The fourth and less interesting teenager (Jackie Earle Haley) gets angry whenever somebody calls him short, which seems to happen regularly.
Dave's father (Paul Dooley), a used-car salesman, disapproves of Dave's embracing Italian culture. This generation gap leads to many funny situations and good lines. Dave's mother (Barbara Barrie) is blissfully indifferent to Dave's eccentricities or his father's constant whining. The score's use of Italian opera and classical music fits in well with situations between the family members.
Dave pretends to be a college student from Italy to win would-be girlfriend Robyn Douglass. When he tells her the truth, the romance is over, reinforcing the depiction of the college students as shallow, preppy snobs. His fantasy of becoming Italian ends when an Italian racing team sabotage his bike during a race. His character is much more humble afterwards.
Mike's desire to show up the college boys leads to a 500 mile bike race with a "cutter" team competing against college teams. Mike, Dave, Cyril and shorty comprise the cutter team, so-called because their parents were stone-cutters at one time. The big race has some genuine suspense, despite contrived drama concerning injuries and rapid recoveries. The race announcer also has the annoying habit of only discussing the situation of the cutter team.
Despite its minor weaknesses, "Breaking Away" has much going for it: good comic relief, a good score, a winning cast, a good script, and well-developed themes of inter-generational and inter-class conflict.
"Breaking Away" won the Oscar for Best Writing, and was nominated for Best Picture, Best Director (Peter Yates), Best Score, and Best Supporting Actress (Barrie).
kollers@mpsi.net http://members.tripod.com/~Brian_Koller/movies.html
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