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American Flyers

American Flyers

Drama · 1985

When Dr. Marcus Sommers realizes that he and his troubled, estranged brother David may be prone a fatal brain disease that runs in their family, he decides to make peace with his sibling, and invites him on a trip to the Rockies. There, the brothers bond over their shared enthusiasm for cycling and decide to enter a grueling bike race through the mountains. However, Marcus' health soon begins to fail, and David must compete without his brother at his side.

Movie details

American Flyers

“Two brothers challenge the road. And life itself.”

1985 Drama 1h 53m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

6.2 / 10

Community rating

When Dr. Marcus Sommers realizes that he and his troubled, estranged brother David may be prone a fatal brain disease that runs in their family, he decides to make peace with his sibling, and invites him on a trip to the Rockies. There, the brothers bond over their shared enthusiasm for cycling and decide to enter a grueling bike race through the mountains. However, Marcus' health soon begins to fail, and David must compete without his brother at his side.

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 American Flyers?

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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Where it lives

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

John Badham

Written by

Steve Tesich

Kevin Costner

Kevin Costner

Marcus Sommers

David Marshall Grant

David Marshall Grant

David

Rae Dawn Chong

Rae Dawn Chong

Sarah

Alexandra Paul

Alexandra Paul

Becky

Janice Rule

Janice Rule

Mrs. Sommers

Luca Bercovici

Luca Bercovici

Muzzin

Robert Townsend

Robert Townsend

Jerome

Court is in session

Put American Flyers 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.