DVD Review

Downhill Racer (2009)

Reviewed by Chris Nashawaty | Nov 18, 2009

Chris Nashawaty

Chris Nashawaty is a senior writer for EW, and author of EW.com's DVD Insomniac column

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EW's GRADE

Details Rated: PG; DVD Release Date: Nov 17, 2009; With: Gene Hackman and Robert Redford

Image credit: Everett Collection

MOGUL EMPEROR Robert Redford on the mountain in Downhill Racer

Downhill Racer, released the same year as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and now debuting on DVD, is one of the great unheralded films of the late '60s. Robert Redford stars as David Chappellet, the selfish golden boy of the U.S. ski team whose ambition overshadows his teammates. He's a classic American figure — out for glory and defiant of authority (embodied by Gene Hackman's short-fused coach). Director Michael Ritchie (who reteamed with Redford for 1972's classic The Candidate) packs the movie with adrenaline-junkie POV racing shots that put you right in the skiers' bindings. The EXTRAS on this Criterion keeper include an excellent new interview with the star. A

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Originally posted Nov 18, 2009 Published in issue #1077 Nov 27, 2009 Order article reprints

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