The World's Fastest Indian

Hopkins unlikely speedster in ‘Fastest Indian’

ANTHONY HOPKINS in 'The World's Fastest Indian'

Burt Munro was a quirky but likable kind of guy.
He lived in southern New Zealand. He was a bit, well, strange.
For instance, when the grass in back of his and his neighbor’s house got too long, he poured gasoline and burned it. He was shocked when the fire department arrived to put it out.
But Munro was a fascinating guy and became the topic of a pretty compelling, fun film, “The World’s Fastest Indian.” Munro is played by the always versatile Anthony Hopkins.
It’s a true story about a guy who overcomes countless odds to achieve and go beyond his original goals.
Munro had a motorcycle, a 1920 Indian, that he enjoyed modifying and racing. His dream was to take it to the Bonneville Salt Flats.
But he had limited funds and angina, a particularly painful heart malady.
One day, he mortgaged his home and shipped himself and his motorcycle to America to attempt to fulfill his dreams.
He really doesn’t know the country, doesn’t know the currency and is soon ripped off from his limited funds by a cab driver and prostitute. He decides to stay at a cheap motel best rented by the hour, not the week.
Munro isn’t fazed by much. He doesn’t blink an eye when he discovers the friendly girl who helps him from the hotel is actually a cross-dressing guy.
He befriends a used car dealer who sells him a lemon of a car, but Munro’s mechanical talents quickly turns it into a winner. The car dealer asks him to stay and fix his other vehicles.
Along the way his cycle trailer falls apart, he is pestered by police and has similar troubles.
Burt is also befriended by a widow who misses her deceased husband, so he must fill in the best he can.
When he finally gets to the race, his motorcycle is ripped apart, figuratively.
It doesn’t have a chute, no brakes, no safety features. It isn’t even registered!
But Burt keeps his cool and plods along toward his goal.
Hopkins is such a good actor in everything he does. He is a chameleon in his various roles and becomes his characters. This is no exception.
His smiles, his mannerisms, his sighs. It’s all part of the character.
This film is a solid lesson on how to fulfill your dreams, how to overcome adversity when problems continue to mount.
Because of what the real Burt Munro accomplished in his life, the speeds he attained on his motorcycle are nothing short of extraordinary.
Yet he was a congenial guy who people liked to help.
Hopkins makes this movie, which came out six years ago but never got the publicity it deserves.
This is a great film for younger people to learn from. And even though it is 127 minutes long, you will be sorry to see the film end.
So if you haven’t seen “The World’s Fastest Indian,” it’s time to add it to your Netflix que. In fact, it is available for streaming. Watch “The World’s Fastest Indian” fast!

THE WORLD’S FASTEST INDIAN • Directed and written by Roger Donaldson • Rated PG-13 for brief language, drug use and a sexual reference • Runtime: 127 minutes • 4 stars out of 5