IF YOU'RE HEADED TO THE VIDEO STORE:

BETTER TO BURN OUT THAN . . .: Old man speeds toward a dream: a reiew of World's Fastest Indian (KAORI SHOJI, 2/08/07, Japan Times)

Hopkins' latest is "The World's Fastest Indian" ("Sekai Saisoku no Indian" in Japan) in which he stars as New Zealand's real-life motorbike legend Burt Munro. Burt was a man obsessed with speed, but this was back in the early 1960s in Invercargill, New Zealand, where speed meant tinkering for years over the engine of a rickety, ancient Indian Scout and then roaring down to the local beach.

Burt was in his 60s when he decided to take his Indian across the Atlantic to compete in Bonneville, Utah's "Speed Week," and at first he was turned away for being "way past the age limit." Not that a silly rule like that could possibly stop Burt.

Directed by Roger Donaldson ("The Recruit," "Dante's Peak"), "The World's Fastest Indian" shows Hopkins in a rare mode; he's obsessed but he's also content, self-effacing and irresistible. Apparently the real Burt had been like that. People were always helping him out, moved by his single-minded love for the Indian (he calls it "my old girl") and enormous charm. For Hopkins to play "endearing" is something that takes getting used to, but as the story progresses you see that he's had it in him all along. Burt cracks the most disarming smiles, chats up everyone in a 5-meter radius and flirts with ladies of any age: a dear old coot.

Himself a New Zealander who grew up listening to tales of Burt's heroics, Donaldson shot a Burt Munro documentary some 20 years ago. He never stopped hoping for a chance to retell the legend, though, as a feature production and his firsthand, deeply appreciative knowledge of the real Munro shines through. Hopkins in his turn, translates the director's knowledge and personal love for the project into one of his best and most generous performances ever. How often do we get to see Sir Anthony Hopkins throw back his head and laugh with what can only be described as, ah, guileless abandonment? Honestly, you'll have no choice but to like this guy, for all his eccentricities that probably no longer have a place in the modern world.

The sad reality is that it's a rare pleasure to have a film where the central character is so entirely likable.

Posted by Orrin Judd at February 9, 2007 11:52 AM