The Fastest Man in the World

I had the honor of seeing this film at Cannes in '02. Despite its absence in the Official Competition, Director's Fortnight, or any other category for that matter, I'd bet my life that had any of its brilliant odors even wafted into the proximities of the festival judges as they passed the viewing booth in that alley off the Croisette, they would've have had a tough time awarding the Palm d'Or to "The Pianist".

Yeah. It's that good.

The narrative is clean, simple, yet laser sharp and never predictable. The direction is masterful, entrancing, yet never contrived, evocative of early Kurosawa or whoever directed the Iron Eagle movies. The production design is stark and minimal, giving way to what really matters. And the performances are simply spellbinding. You can't help but ache in desolation with Charlie Talbert after his 2'7" long jump. Britain Spellings' scene with his trainer, astutely played by a young Branton Boxx, is one of the finest ever captured on MiniDV. And Scott Viscomi turns in without a doubt the finest track & field judge performance in the history of the world.

You know you've seen a great film when it still wakes you up in the middle of the night 4 1/2 years later. Such is "The Fastest Man in the World".