4 Minute Mile (2014)

Number Rolled: 64

Movie Name/Year: 4 Minute Mile (2014)

Tagline: The hardest race is against yourself.

Genre: Drama

Length: 96 minutes

Rating: PG-13

Production Companies: One Square Mile Management Company, Phoenix Rising Motion Pictures

Producer: Howard Burd, Randy Dannenberg, Mark DiSalle, Mel Eslyn, Michael Hothorn, Dane Lillegard, Michael Magnussen, Lawrence Steven Meyers, Deborah Moore, Jennifer Reibman, Lauren Selig, Joe Sisto, Micah Sparks, Jonathan Vanger

Director: Charles-Olivier Michaud

Writer: Jeff Van Wie, Josh Campbell

Actors: Kelly Blatz, Richard Jenkins, Kim Basinger, Cam Gigandet, Analeigh Tipton, Rhys Coiro, Aaron Washington, Gerald Grissette, David Brown-King, Daniel Oliver, Dylan Arnold, Josh Feinsilber, Andrew Haggerty

Blurb from Netflix: A teenage track star and a former coach who each face difficult obstacles in life turn to each other to find comfort, stability and hope.

Selina’s Point of View:

At first, this film looked like your basic, every day, sports training drama.

As I watched 4 Minute Mile I found that it was absolutely typical and unoriginal… until about the last half hour of the movie.

Seriously, throughout the majority of the film I felt absolutely nothing for the characters or the story. I was bored and trying to keep my eyes open. However, that last half hour was something incredible. The boring build up lasted longer than the parts I enjoyed, but I still found that it was worth it to get to that part.

The actors were good, my distaste for the first hour of the film had nothing to do with them. Cam Gigandet (Reckless, Bad Johnson, Easy A) really made me believe the desperation that drove his low-life character and Richard Jenkins (Cabin in the Woods, Turbo, White House Down) brought the coach’s character to life. Analeigh Tipton (Viral, Manhattan Love Story, Warm Bodies) was my favorite, of course, but she’s one of my favorite actors in general. I rarely have anything bad to say or think about her. She also has an incredibly dramatic and interesting past – I recommend looking up her history. I would love to watch a film about her.

As for the main actor, Kelly Blatz (Glory Daze, Aaron Stone, Prom Night), he impressed me with his ability to show the audience all that inner turmoil his character was experiencing with only a look. Actually, both his mannerisms and visage reminded me heavily of Lillo Brancato (Back in the Day, The Real Deal, The Sopranos) from A Bronx Tale (1993) – which is also a phenomenal film.

In the end, this film honored the movies that came before it in the genre, like the Karate Kid (1984), but it took a while for 4 Minute Mile to twist its own flair into the typical plot.

Cat’s Point of View:

OK so I have a strange relationship with sports dramas. I’m not really a huge sports person. I know enough about them to understand what I’m watching when I need to – but it’s just not my thing usually. The only sport I really fangirl about is ice skating. Olympic Figure Skating is my Superbowl.

That being said, I’ve watched (and liked) a good number of sports themed shows and movies. Ones focusing on things that I enjoy such as martial arts, gymnastics, fencing, etc. are easier to watch and get invested in.

All the same, I’ve watched so many movies focused on football, baseball, basketball, and hockey that I’ve lost count. Track and field just doesn’t have a lot of pull for me in the same way NASCAR doesn’t rev my engines. I get the whole thrill of the race and all, but it’s just going in circles. The sports I like tend to have more grace and artistry. I’m not a sports snob, it just is what it is.

From all of what I just said, you might think that I didn’t like this movie. That couldn’t be further from the truth. I loved this movie. It got me in its grip and didn’t let me go until the end. I didn’t even feel the need to fidget; which was odd – I almost always fidget.

Sure, the movie mostly does what you expect it to – but it takes you to an unanticipated place as the lead, phenomenally played by Kelly Blatz (From Within, April Showers, Exeter), works through his personal challenges and internal conflicts stemming from family loyalty. Ultimately the tale goes into unexpected territory.

Cam Gigandet (The Experiment, Plush, In The Blood) delivers a solid performance with his complex character. He brought a sense of dread and suspense to the movie that helped take it out of that stereotypical box.

 

Kim Basinger (While She Was Out, Charlie St. Cloud, The Nice Guys) is no stranger to excellently portraying a mother in over her head. There were shades of 8 Mile (2002) in this movie that I couldn’t help notice.

Then, of course, every good sports drama in this vein has a Mr. Miyagi. Richard Jenkins (Fun With Dick and Jane, God's Pocket, Spotlight) steps into those coaching shoes with heart in his performance.

Some might groan about the romantic element in a movie like this. However, especially for high school age kids, it’s only reality that dreams and goals can be influenced by hormones and the challenge of relationships or heartbreak. I didn’t see that element of this film as fluff. I think Analeigh Tipton (Lucy, Mississippi Grind, Between Us) played an important role in the story in both giving some more insight into Blatz’s character, adding a little needed levity, and supplying a few rewarding warm fuzzies.

I could keep going, but really I can only encourage that this movie just begs to be seen. It will unexpectedly tug at your heartstrings. I don’t know that I can watch it again from an emotional standpoint, but that doesn’t take away from it being excellent all the same.

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score – 29%

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score – 44%

Netflix’s Prediction for Selina – 4.5/5

Selina’s Trust-the-Dice Score – 3.5/5

Netflix’s Prediction for Cat – 5/5

Cat’s Trust-the-Dice Score – 5/5

Movie Trailer: