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the fastest indian
last night i rode my ss180 down to a neighborhood theater that was hosting a pre-screening of the world's fastest indian—a fund raiser for a local moto club's run at a land-speed record on a cb160 platform. although my earlier attempts to procure tickets for the sold-out show had failed, i chose to ride down anyway, show some support, maybe say hi to some friends...
city bikes, super bikes, sport tourers, dual sports, a spattering of scooters. lots of *different* people, all out on two wheels. "hi jack," tommy says, "nice to see you crawled out from under your rock." i raise my glass, roll my eyes. yeah, yeah, yeah; i've been busy...
one of the club members hooks me up with tickets from their private-sale reserve; i call the kids, skin my gear, and I'm in.
ok ok ok. i'll admit, sitting down, i did not have high expectations of this film: it's the sort of project that can float on the weight of it's star and subject alone. but, damn, was i surprised. although i cannot say that i'm unbiased—i wear a predisposition to moto enthusiasm on my bug-splattered sleeve—i believe this is probably the best film that i've seen in a year, even for normal people, even for the neighbors....
i found i actually cared about the character(s), which says something. seriously; i have about as much compassion for the human condition as an unattended garbage disposal. the film never took itself too seriously, never felt too "in your face" about anything. i thought it simply an artfully understated compliment to burt himself...
a simple man with an improbable dream.
some trailers (in HD) available here:
http://www.apple.com/trailers/magnolia/theworldsfastestindian/