This stands out as the definitive and only significant movie about downhill ski racing. Robert Redford delivered a strong performance portraying David Chappellet, a solitary figure from Colorado who competes alongside an American team striving for Olympic gold in Europe. Gene Hackman appears as the coach attempting to manage Chappellet's self-centeredness and dangerous pursuit of victory. "Downhill Racer" was released late in 1969 following Redford’s success with "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid." It didn't perform well at the box office due to inadequate marketing, but that shouldn’t discourage you; it is a genuinely excellent film deserving of your attention. Although created in 1969, the movie was quite innovative for its time and remains impressive today. Aside from the ski equipment and fashion, I don't find it dated at all—it possesses a fresh quality and feels like a documentary-style drama akin to "Saving Private Ryan," which came out almost three decades later. The film shares similarities with "The Blue Max" from 1966 in that both center on an unlikeable loner who is driven by ambition within their area of expertise, feeling out of place in the social settings they encounter. If you enjoyed "The Blue Max," chances are you’ll appreciate this one as well; both rank among my all-time favorite films. Downhill racing is a remarkably dangerous sport where skiers can reach speeds of 80 to 90 mph. A single misstep could have life-altering consequences. It's also an intensely individualistic pursuit, which the story highlights when a teammate criticizes Chappellet’s lack of teamwork and another responds, "Well, it isn't exactly a team sport, is it?" Success in downhill racing requires a particular kind of person—someone daring and bold, with a reckless nature balanced by the discipline needed to train and compete. Redford embodies this type of individual effectively. He rises through the ranks to become America’s primary hope; his coach tries to keep him in check while acknowledging that his individualism and recklessness are also what make him successful. Throughout the film, Chappellet and the coach seem to dislike each other intensely, which is true because Chappellet is a loner at heart. Ultimately, however, the coach supports the young racer: during the crucial Olympic run, he looks into Chappellet's eyes and confidently says, "You can win this." Pay attention to the stark contrast between Chappellet’s simple hometown in Colorado and the glamorous European ski resorts where he competes. There’s also a contrast between his girlfriend back home ("Do ya have some more of that gum?") and the sophisticated woman he becomes involved with in Europe (Camilla Sparv from "Mackenna's Gold"); she offers him a taste of his own flaws. His relationship with his distant father, a simple man who doesn’t understand his son’s passion for skiing or its lack of financial reward, is also noteworthy. While watching, I was reminded of Bill Johnson, the unexpected American gold medal winner in downhill skiing during the 1984 Olympics. Like Chappellet, he was confident and reckless and annoyed European competitors with his bold predictions of victory. I’m sure "Downhill Racer" was one of Bill's favorite films. Sadly, Mr. Johnson attempted a surprising comeback for the 2002 Olympics that ended tragically in March 2001 when he suffered a severe downhill crash, leaving him permanently brain-damaged and requiring constant care. My only minor criticism is that Redford portrays a character in his early twenties while he was actually 32 years old during filming and it shows. But this is just a small detail; Redford looks great at any age (and I say that as someone with a proven heterosexual record). The film has a running time of 1 hour, 41 minutes.

Source on TMDB