Customer Reviews

James Dean: Race With Destiny

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(17)

 

 

Sorry, but this film is rediculous. Casper Van Dien is awful in the role. It's obvious he doesn't know how to act and whoever said Van Dien looked like he did alot of research on the role has got to be out of there mind. It's even a horrible love story, it's often very corny and is horribly photographed. And seventy-five percent of the whole film wasn't even true. He never came on to Natalie Wood and never talked to Pier Angeli after she broke up with him.
To start with: Casper here, portrays the Hollywood legend as if he were some big time macho skirt chaser (as mentioned, in the film he came on to Natalie Wood), looking for trouble. James Dean was not a skirt chaser, he was shy and took his acting seriously. He wouldn't moon the camera (as at the beginning of the film he moons the camera when shooting for "East of Eden"). And when he's at Pier Angeli's house in the film. He turns on some Rock'n'Roll music. Jimmy listened to classical music, with classic singers like Frank Sinatra (not insulting Rock'n'Roll or anything, just noting it). Also, the racing sequences are horrible. It looks more like they're racing at a theme park. And also the film doesn't even cover Jimmys whole life, it didn't cover the years that effected his life. And at the end when the cars collide it's horrible. It shows the hero dead, it's really painful and heart breaking (even if it is pathetic Casper Van Dien) to see the hero die, especially when it's supposed to be James Dean.
As asnother reviewer said, I would recommend the bio-pic starring James Franco, although not totally accurate (but more accurate than this film) it shows James Dean for who he was. James franco is a real gifted actor (unlike Casper Van Dien) he has a bright future ahead if he keeps acting.

This film has got to be the single, most atrocious bio-pic ever put on film. I'm not exagerrating when I venture to say that it is one of the very worst films I have ever seen and I've seen many. This poor excuse for a movie focuses on mostly on the love affair between James Dean and Pier Angeli. The acting is awful. Casper Van Dien is laughable as James Dean. He tries but fails big time. Diane Ladd, who plays Mama Angeli, hits an all-time low. The competent, often excellent actress gives an amazingly terrible performance and happens to sport the single, most awful Italian accent ever in the history of movies. It's not just the acting that stinks but also the sloppy editing, the horrid direction, the stupid script and the laughibly lame songs that fill the soundtrack. This whole abomination has to be seen to be believed!

As James Dean's cousin,and a friend of Sal Mineo's,I can confirm that this film is not only poorly researched,but full of lies.But even as a fictional film, it could have served as entertaining, but this mess is so poorly scripted,directed,edited,and acted,it's a wonder the film was ever made.Definatly one of the worst movies I have ever seen.Casper Van Dein is laughable as James Dean,as is Diane Ladd's performance as Piere Angeli's mother.It is sad that an Acedemy Award winning actress,now accepts roles in such low-budgeted disasters such as this.She doesn't even keep her accent through-out the film,going in and out of character.Seriously,as a relative of James Dean,this is insultive.As a movie fan,It is a waste of film. Not even worth one star.

I am still in dis-belief after viewing this terrible excuse for a movie. James Dean,was such an icon,seeing him portrayed by such an incapable actor discusts me. Casper Van Dein doesn't even attempt to give a good performance.He says his lines with no emotion. Diane Ladd is just plain goofy,as is Connie Stevens.(possibly laughable). I also hated the way Sal Mineo and Natalie Wood were portrayed.This film has no respect for the dead,and in return,should get no respect from the living.

This film is extremely insulting to the memory of James Byron Dean, and attempts at presenting a "cool-legend" other than how Jimmy actually was. Bad, bad, bad stuff right here. Please, ... Casper? (I can't believe I can't get work acting (I look more like Jimmy than he does), this performance was pathetic and one-dimensional.) For a great and multi-layered portrayal of how Jimmy was check out "James Dean" starring James Franco (a role in which he won several awards). While the TNT film may have some factual slip-ups here and there, it does not romanticize and idealize James Dean. It presents Jimmy as a lonely boy with vast emotional problems searching for acceptance and love. (Which is exactly who he was)...

I think this is a good film, period!!!! I live in Indiana and I have been a Jimmy Dean fan for over half my life (I'm 36). The point here is that there will never be another James Dean, we all know that, so get over it!!!!! I'd never expect any guy to play Jimmy and capture his whole persona. Jimmy was too talented and special for that to happen. Casper is blond, blue eyed, medium-short height, and pulls off Jimmy's facial expressions and body gestures well. What else can you expect? I think Casper is a fine actor and he does a sensitive thoughtful acting job in the role of James Dean.

For starters, everyone knows Pier left Jimmy for Vic Damone (documented facts here, even Pier said so later). The story of Pier and Jimmy in this movie is considered by most Dean fans to be the true one. Pier's mother pushed her to marry Vic, end of story. Unless you subscribe to the story that Jimmy was gay and their relationship was a farce (for myself, I think the idea of Jimmy being gay is a farce in itself).

Yes this film has flaws. Sal and Natalie are depicted unfairly, but that is a judgement call depending on whose facts you choose to believe. I thought the jibe to both was unessesary. sal was gay and Natalie slept around, but Jimmy was no angel either. It was uncalled for.

Robert Mitchum and Connie Stevens are awesome in this movie as well as Carrie Mitchum (Casper's ex-wife). Diane Ladd was so good as Mama Pierangeli that I wanted to reach through the TV screen and punch her lights out. If you like Dean and are open minded enought to seeing someone play Jimmy, then you may find that you will like this film. It is meant to be an action-drama, not a serious hardcore bio picture. Lot's of cool scenes of Jimmy (Casper) riding a motorcycle and Jimmy's Porche's. The soundtrack can be overbearing at times, like alot of film's nowadays.

Poor Jimmy and Pier, I'll bet they are in heaven right now snuggling. I hope they are together finally.

Unbelievable. This movie is so incredibly bad that my hands are shaking as I type this. I felt I needed to give it a look as I am obsessed with all things Dean.........but this is too much to bear. Casper van Dien may be a Melrose Dawson Party Of 90210 pretty-boy, but he couldn't have been a worse choice to portray Jimmy. I was absolutely appalled by every facet of this misguided attempt at saluting the most influential, creative and sensitive film actor who ever lived. The right actor to play Jimmy (if there IS or WILL EVER BE one) has yet to surface. Until he does, and until a writer and director with the intelligence and sensitivity required for this type of project make themselves known, commiting a decent portrayal of Jimmy's life and career to film should not be attempted. Do yourselves a favor, folks, and STAY AWAY FROM THIS TRIPE. If you want to know about Jimmy, see his films! EAST OF EDEN, REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE and GIANT are amazing achievements on EVERY level. Treat yourself to one of the excellent JD biographies available, most notably JAMES DEAN: THE MUTANT KING by David Dalton (the best) and REBEL by Donald Spoto (also top-drawer). Enough said.

I was very shocked at how bad this film is.Bad acting,bad directing,bad editing,bad writing,and the list goes on and on. Thumbs down! WAY DOWN!

The acting was second rate. The story line (even though the characters and events could have and should have been accurate) was third rate. This figment of someone's imagination didn't even deserve one star.

I went into this expecting (at least) a halfway decent direct-to-video, or made-for-cable film; what I watched was a ghastly mishmash... poorly directed; poorly acted; poorly edited; just: poor! To anyone interested in Dean, this video is an insult (and to add insult to injury, the "filmmakers" dedicated the film to Dean in the end credits!!) And to think that this was Robert Mitchum's last film (and he does look very ill in the small part he played [as George Cukor] toward the end); that just adds to the travesty. Anyone looking to shell out the asking price to own this film: caveat emptor! Beware, at all costs!