couple links:
http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-mcfarland-jim-white-19971201-story.html#page=1
http://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/McFarland-USA-review-Costner-wins-us-over-6089762.php
I respect this reviewer, he knows his stuff.
Could this finally be the 2nd hit movie about running? (Chariots of Fire).
It seems like running movies almost always suck, and contain unrealistic scenes, or mouth droppers like the runners racing the opposite way around the track, or, for Christsake, how many books and movies have their been where the writers decided to write a sports story with a gay athlete or coach, and the sport they picked? Track and field. It will be nice to see a just plain true and good story about cross country and running without all the phoniness of so many running movies.
I have to admit I am a long time Costner fan, obviously not for his flops -- for the reasons stated in the review linked above.
When he is in the right vehicle he is sort of a modern Gary Cooper. Earnest, humble All American dude.
(A Russian gal I once dated said "You Americans, you Californians, you're always so optimistic and positive." Give the alternative, I'll go with it.)
I rarely see wait to see movies in the theater any longer, this one, looks like it will be fun to see with a full crowd.
I hope it is a HIT, XC and track seem to be at a high point in HS's these days as well as the USA having something of a distance resurgence of late.
Enjoy the movie!