April 19, 2024
FILM: HARD MILES
DIRECTED BY: R.J. DANIEL HANNA
STARRING: MATTHEW MODINE, JACKSON KELLY, CYTHNIA KAY MCWILLIAMS
RATING: 2 ½ out of 4 stars
By Dan Pal
Hard Miles is inspired by the true story of Greg Townsend who took troubled boys from a chartered reformatory academy on a 762-mile bike ride to the Grand Canyon. Matthew Modine stars as Townsend who, at the start of the film, is dealing with his own physical limitations while breaking up fights at Ridgeview Academy. Initially he plans to go on the journey on his own as a way to attain some solitude. The father he is estranged from is dying and his brother seems to be in prison. He then decides to take four of the boys from the academy as a way for them to work through many of their issues. They’re all at odds with each other when the trip begins but, surprise, they learn how to work together as a team.
This is the type of inspirational story that has a lot of familiar beats. They argue and come together. They argue again and come together again. They each have their own issues but strangely, these are not given much narrative depth. One of them, Smink, has an eating disorder. Why this has put him in reform school remains a mystery. Therein lies one of the problems with the film as a whole: not enough information. We don’t know much about the boys and we really don’t know much about Townsend, except for a rough childhood with a pushy, abusive father. Information is not given as to where exactly Ridgeview Academy is. We know it will take 762 miles to get to the Grand Canyon but where does the trip begin? Why not show us the map they peer at periodically? The route they take covers some beautiful parts of the U.S. but it would have been nice to give us a more specific sense as to where they are along the way.
Certain logistical details such as these are regularly cast aside. Others include: Why specifically does Townsend pick these four guys? He doesn’t give them much training and yet very quickly they set off on a potentially rough ride up and down mountains. Are they really ready for this? Once they’re on the roads, there never seems to be a car attempting to pass them. They have open roads for days! At one point, they stop on the opposite side of the road at the top of a curve. Is this really a responsible decision?? Oh, and did I mention the weather is perfect?! No rain, no major winds, just beautiful sunny skies for hundreds of miles.
Director and co-writer R.J. Daniel Hanna’s script could have used a bit more polishing. More details could be given about Townsend’s physical condition. Why does he think he can make this journey? Does he plan the trip with the goal of visiting the father he hasn’t seen in two decades?
Here’s the thing though: many people will probably love and feel inspired by this film regardless of its missing pieces. It’s great to see comradery developing between some very different types of people. It feels good to see such determination and perseverance. But why not provide more exposition rather than just jump into the ride?
Matthew Modine is particularly good in the early scenes when he is at the helm of his students back at the academy. He comes across as a strong and tough teacher who clearly knows how to deal with some rough kids. Some of his more emotional scenes later in the film feel a bit forced. Perhaps a few more takes to perfect some of these moments might have not have been available to him. The actors who play the boys are all fine even if they are directed to be a bit too melodramatic at times. There are even some small roles from such familiar faces as Sean Astin (Lord of the Rings) and Leslie David Baker (The Office) which are nice to see.
The film as a whole leaves a lot of holes in story development and logistics but it remains a feel-good story for a wide audience.
Hard Times opens theatrically today.
FILM: HARD MILES
DIRECTED BY: R.J. DANIEL HANNA
STARRING: MATTHEW MODINE, JACKSON KELLY, CYTHNIA KAY MCWILLIAMS
RATING: 2 ½ out of 4 stars
By Dan Pal
Hard Miles is inspired by the true story of Greg Townsend who took troubled boys from a chartered reformatory academy on a 762-mile bike ride to the Grand Canyon. Matthew Modine stars as Townsend who, at the start of the film, is dealing with his own physical limitations while breaking up fights at Ridgeview Academy. Initially he plans to go on the journey on his own as a way to attain some solitude. The father he is estranged from is dying and his brother seems to be in prison. He then decides to take four of the boys from the academy as a way for them to work through many of their issues. They’re all at odds with each other when the trip begins but, surprise, they learn how to work together as a team.
This is the type of inspirational story that has a lot of familiar beats. They argue and come together. They argue again and come together again. They each have their own issues but strangely, these are not given much narrative depth. One of them, Smink, has an eating disorder. Why this has put him in reform school remains a mystery. Therein lies one of the problems with the film as a whole: not enough information. We don’t know much about the boys and we really don’t know much about Townsend, except for a rough childhood with a pushy, abusive father. Information is not given as to where exactly Ridgeview Academy is. We know it will take 762 miles to get to the Grand Canyon but where does the trip begin? Why not show us the map they peer at periodically? The route they take covers some beautiful parts of the U.S. but it would have been nice to give us a more specific sense as to where they are along the way.
Certain logistical details such as these are regularly cast aside. Others include: Why specifically does Townsend pick these four guys? He doesn’t give them much training and yet very quickly they set off on a potentially rough ride up and down mountains. Are they really ready for this? Once they’re on the roads, there never seems to be a car attempting to pass them. They have open roads for days! At one point, they stop on the opposite side of the road at the top of a curve. Is this really a responsible decision?? Oh, and did I mention the weather is perfect?! No rain, no major winds, just beautiful sunny skies for hundreds of miles.
Director and co-writer R.J. Daniel Hanna’s script could have used a bit more polishing. More details could be given about Townsend’s physical condition. Why does he think he can make this journey? Does he plan the trip with the goal of visiting the father he hasn’t seen in two decades?
Here’s the thing though: many people will probably love and feel inspired by this film regardless of its missing pieces. It’s great to see comradery developing between some very different types of people. It feels good to see such determination and perseverance. But why not provide more exposition rather than just jump into the ride?
Matthew Modine is particularly good in the early scenes when he is at the helm of his students back at the academy. He comes across as a strong and tough teacher who clearly knows how to deal with some rough kids. Some of his more emotional scenes later in the film feel a bit forced. Perhaps a few more takes to perfect some of these moments might have not have been available to him. The actors who play the boys are all fine even if they are directed to be a bit too melodramatic at times. There are even some small roles from such familiar faces as Sean Astin (Lord of the Rings) and Leslie David Baker (The Office) which are nice to see.
The film as a whole leaves a lot of holes in story development and logistics but it remains a feel-good story for a wide audience.
Hard Times opens theatrically today.