EssenceStory Well Deserved Praise

Bereamic Awesome Movie

Teddie Blake The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

Portia Hilton Blistering performances.

hlorbach The previous commentator who rated this film "1" based on seeing the last 10 minutes is laughable and irresponsible. This is a sensitive and will-developed film about a lonely old failed-runner turned coach who lives for running and finds a promising young woman refugee whom he wants to train for this grueling race. She is an illegal refugee from Namibia who runs to forget her troubles -- not into racing -- and he rescues her from deportation and takes over her life in order to train her. Eventually she rebels and leaves because she is young and wants a life of her own, but returns to running and works with him and his bunch of male runners as her group support. The cinematography is excellent and the music -- using local native bands and songs of prominence -- first rate. If the film were such a travesty on racing, why would the sponsoring organization of this grueling race cooperate with and allow the movie to be shot as an exemplar of the race. How many American runners have run 90k? With a good part of the race toward the end a steep uphill? This is a fine movie, a heart-warming story, unlike the vast majority of sock-em, kill-em, torture-em or gen-x mixed-up kids seeking their identity.

mclayton-3 This movie was okay. As a former athlete of a good standard, and a great fan of the Comrades marathon, I was just able to stay interested for most of the film. Non running fanatics may struggle to find much in this film. As a South African, I recognised the usual suspects, it seems the same group of actors appear in all South African films, maybe we have only 10 actors in the whole country. On the whole the acting was fairly thin, the main role of coach was played fairly well though. Apart from that not much to write home about. The female lead and athlete could not run that well, although she shows a good body in a swimming scene. True athletes will find some of the facts hard to believe, but non runners probably won't notice. Also, as a South African film the usual black/white dynamic are explored, as well as some of the intolerance of the white people and the hardships of the black people. While these cannot be denied it would be nice to see a South African film one day that can focus on something else? Anyway, these aspects are not explored at too much length, so the running fans who come to expect a running film from the film cover, plot and description have something to watch. Those interested in the featured Comrades Marathon itself, will appreciate some of the shots of race day. This is an actual 90km marathon that takes place in Durban and Pitermaritzburg every year (alternating), and is without doubt the greatest ultra marathon in the world, attracting yearly fields of 15000. It is also well supported with crowds lining most of the 90km, it is basically a National Event. If you find the movie does not do the race justice, and you are interested in doing an ultra marathon, rest assured that this is the best there is, with support from runners world wide. I feel the movie let's the race down slightly, the acting is simply one dimensional and very few scenes get your emotions involved. 4 stars for non runners, 5 stars for running fans.

technolog Armin Mueller Stahl plays a running coach in South Africa to perfection. He tried running the famous 90 Km "Comrade Marathon" when he was younger but never completed it. Now he is trying his best to achieve that missed goal by training a young African woman to succeed where he has failed. This story is not just about running, but about exceeding limits that you set for yourself and doing things that you did not think were possible. It also gives you a picture of whites and blacks in South Africa today. This is an uplifting movie which can be watched by the entire family.

TimeForLime I rate this a "seven" because the film brings together several treatments which combine nicely.The best treatment is the study of Barry, played by ARMIN MUELLER-STAHL, an Old-Man-and-the Sea type, a monomaniac, misfit sports coach with a questioned past, slipping into oblivion. He clings to just one race as his reason for being: a tough 90 kilo run, hence The Long Run. This character study alone ranks the film as a watcher.The second treatment is the quiet and serene, still-waters-run-deep dignity of the African runner. This treatment is not enough to support the whole film. She is from Pretoria, and is an ideal-type, too-good-to-be-true. Character development is missing except in the one important sense that is key to the film. In the face of hardships both historical and current, and harboring some doubts as to what she is capable of, she grows in strength and breadth from the hardships of race preparation.The third treatment is fairly formulaic: the David-beats-Goliath sports film. From Hong Kong martial arts film to G-rated knock-offs, the combination of stalwart heart plus beloved underdog is successful again. In this film, other issues obscure the routine set-up, thus providing a slight sense of 'maturity'.The fourth and final treatment is Africa itself. Once or twice each decade,we are treated to a major Hollywood film bringing us the sights and sounds and smells of this most enchanting and provocative continent. THE LONG RUN was shot in South Africa. What we see in the background could just was well be viewed in several of the surrounding countries as well. Alas, the film's creators give us only meager examples of this land and life : a brick factory, some runners, and a taste of scenery. Much more could have been included.Propaganda angles surrounding any such film could damage it. It has not the robustness of, for example, HOTEL RWANDA. I was caught up in the beauty and the story. That was enough for me ,,, and I hope, for you.