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Downhill Racer

Downhill Racer

Drama · 1969

An ambitious young skier, determined to break all existing records, is contemptuous of the teamwork advocated by the US coach when they go to Europe for the Olympics.

Movie details

Downhill Racer

“How fast must a man go to get from where he's at?”

1969 Drama 1h 41m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.0 / 10

Community rating

An ambitious young skier, determined to break all existing records, is contemptuous of the teamwork advocated by the US coach when they go to Europe for the Olympics.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Downhill Racer?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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The relationship of a couple who meet by chance in New York City is put to the test when they encounter a life or death circumstance.

Breath

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Drama · 2017

A pair of teenagers in Western Australia looking to escape the monotony of life in a small town take up surfing lessons from a guy named Sando.

The Chronology of Water

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Drama · 2025

Plagued by an abusive childhood, a woman finds escape in competitive swimming, sexual experimentation, toxic relationships, and addiction before ultimately finding her voice through writing.

The Cement Garden

The Cement Garden

Drama · 1993

After the death of her husband, the mother of Julie, Jack, Sue and Tom begins to suffer from a mysterious illness. Aware that she is going to have to go into hospital she opens a bank account for the children, so that they can be financially self-sufficient and will be able to avoid being taken into care by the authorities. Unfortunately she also dies and Julie and Jack (the older, teenage children) decide to hide her body in the basement so that they can have free reign of their household. Soon Tom has taken to dressing as a girl whilst Sue has become increasingly reticent, confiding only to her diary, meanwhile Jack and Julie sense an attraction developing for each other. However Julie's new beau, Derek, threatens to unearth the many dark secrets within this family as he becomes increasingly suspicious of Jack.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Michael Ritchie

Written by

James Salter

Robert Redford

Robert Redford

David Chappellet

Gene Hackman

Gene Hackman

Eugene Claire

Camilla Sparv

Camilla Sparv

Carole Stahl

Karl Michael Vogler

Karl Michael Vogler

Machet

Jim McMullan

Jim McMullan

Johnny Creech

Kathleen Crowley

Kathleen Crowley

American Newspaper Woman

Dabney Coleman

Dabney Coleman

Mayo

Court is in session

Put Downhill Racer on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Sincerity is not manipulation.”

The film risks embarrassment to make emotion communal, and that openness is harder than fashionable detachment.

The prosecution The Adrenaline Seeker

“The strings are showing.”

Every cue tells you exactly what to feel and when, leaving sentiment to do the work character should have done.