Save your money for something good and enjoyable

hyped garbage

Very good movie overall, highly recommended. Most of the negative reviews don't have any merit and are all pollitically based. Give this movie a chance at least, and it might give you a different perspective.

The acting in this movie is really good.

I was not familiar with this story, but I appreciate learning about it from this movie - though it is obvious that they have made some changes to the story to make it more fast paced. From reading about it, I wish that they had not done this. Some creative liberties is always allowed, but here it seems that they have resorted to clichés, and made an already fantastic story a bit too unbelievable. And that does not do justice to the achievements the movie is about.That said, there are some good performances in this, and I did quite like how they handled some of the race scenes. And the story it is based on, is a good one.Much has changed in Graeme's life since this movie came out, so I kind of wish someone would have another go at this.

As an ex runner reduced to the arm chair by the ravages of age and illness, my taste for sports related items did not wane. I had always been a keen watcher of 'Le Tour' and other 2 wheel sports and very late in the day came across Graeme Obree's book the Flying Scotsman. Enthused by the book I searched out a copy of the film. This is a heartening, inspiring film and the bonus is that it is based on fact. Anyone who has been competitive in sport will immediately relate to Graeme's journey and his trials and tribulations. Johnny Lee Miller (of Elementary fame) portrays Graeme in a sensitive and sympathetic fashion, and I only wish the film had been up to date with Graeme's life. A truly inspired and inspiring film which should be made compulsive viewing to all athletes.

A great movie about the live of Graeme Obree. The movie does a good job of showing the historical context of Mr. Obree's attempt at the one hour record. The intensity of the sport as well as the "inbredness" of cycling at the "hors" professional level (only insiders who are connected with major component manufacturers--and use their equipment--will ultimately be allowed to win). Some of the the timing tends to be off and is not necessarily true to the order of events. I really appreciated the caricature of the WCF officials who stood in the way of his rise to fame. They remind of of the UCI officials that they represent!Where the movie lacks is on the telling of the story of Graeme's emotional foibles. That element of the story seems disconnected--both within the subplot and with the rest of the movie--and hard to follow. A little bit more closure and development would have been good.

The Flying Scotsman is a formula sports biographical movie, based on the book written by a champion cyclist Graeme Obree. As with sports biopics like Cinderella Man and The World's Fastest Indian, Scotsman tells the story of the underdog's triumph against himself and his adversaries through innovation in technique, technology, and of course, perseverance sprinkled with grit and determination. But of course, like A Beautiful Mind, there are inner demons that have to be worked out, before assailing to the summit.Graeme Obree (Jonny Lee Miller) is a bike enthusiast who works as a courier and owns a bike shop. Life's pretty plain, until he inspires to break an aged old World Hour record for longest distanced pedalled on a bicycle. But record breaking is an expensive ambition, and he realizes that aerodynamics will play an important factor. What I liked about the movie is to witness his keen observation and experimentation at work, to design the perfect sports bike, and riding techniques which some of us would have observed on television in the 90s.Thus the movie begins charting the ups and downs of his career, starting with his built from scratch and from spare washing machine parts bike affectionately called The Old Faithful. It's something that man and machine, when united seamlessly, is able to go the distance. But of course, what I also liked is perhaps the stereotypical boardroom suits, of the powers that be, who are dead set in making life difficult for Obree, introducing absurd rules, regulations and terms in order to upset the spirit of innovation, and maintain their absolute control over the sport.There are some moments which seem to mar the movie, despite understanding that they have to be introduced to give our on screen character more than one dimension. Struggling with injustice from the past affected Obree's EQ, but a good support structure in his wife Anne (Laura Fraser), manager Malky (Billy Boyd) and good adviser Douglas (Brian Cox), it makes a constant reminder that no man is an island, and that with good people supporting and believing in you, that's one of life's greatest gifts.The theme track is excellent in itself, but unfortunately, none can replace the contemporary classic theme composed by Vangelis from Chariots of Fire. Recommended movie despite its formula, if you're in need for some perk up when you're feeling down and low about yourself.