On the Edge Dub Dol DVD with Bruce Dern, Bill Bailey, Pam Grier (PG-13) +Movie Reviews

Amazing film...even the edited version...

Jordan M. Stone | St. Louis, MO | 12/05/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I would contend that the first review on this page misses the boat. This new version is re-edited, but NOT for the reasons mentioned. I can guarantee you that the excising of Pam Greir's character from the film had nothing to do with the provocative nature of an interracial relationship. If they were willing to have Bruce Dern sleep with Pam Greir in 1985 (he's a lucky guy btw), then in today's far more open world, it would certainly not be an issue. Her character was removed from the film for one simple, obvious reason...There was no reason for her to be in the movie. Even back when I was young and watched this film, I always thought to myself, "Pam Greir is HOT, but why is she in this movie? She's a completely pointless character that offers NOTHING to the story?" Thankfully, they have removed her, which only makes this even more of a running movie, which I like. The DVD is grainy, and the audio wasn't synched well with the video, but this is an incredible movie made by runners, for runners. God, what a movie...."

SENSE OF '60s IDEALISM

Stephen M. Amy | Portland, OR United States | 12/22/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The premise is that of a talented long-distance runner having spoiled his career by naming too many bigwigs in the hierarchy of amateur athletics as having been "on the take". The runner's dad, an old marxist, didn't see the point of pursuing an athletic career, as opposed to struggling in the political arena, despite his son's carrying off his athletic commitment with a great sense of justice and fair-play.So, the son comes home and competes in a race he isn't supposed to be in & the old man, over time, gains a broader appreciation of human endeavor, as long as it's done with class & honesty.Maybe a somewhat predictable story, but Dern carries off the loner-hero-runner who would not close his eyes to corruption with great style (kind of Serpico meets Jim Ryun). I always thought Dern was great in roles that express baby-boomer social concern.Also, Pam Grier is Dern's girlfriend (that's gotta help, eh?).Rob Nilsson of San Fran directed this & also the excellent "Northern Lights"."

Where is Pam Grier and why is she gone?

Michael Shaun | chicago, Il United States | 02/24/2006

(2 out of 5 stars)

"I have been a distance runner for over 20 years, and have run countless marathons and other races, so I enjoy a good running movie. When I first saw this movie, 20 years ago, I thought it was great. It focused not only on the training and the sacrifices we go through to achieve our goals, but on how it affects other aspects of our lives. It takes a toll on the close relationships we have. It's hard for the ones we love to understand the sacrifices we make for that elusive mistress, the marathon. This movie in its original form explored those issues. What they have now is closer to a documentary, than trying to get to the Soul of running. Why did they have to screw up a good movie. Besides, Pam Grier is beautiful in the original version. Find an old VHS copy with Pam Grier and see the difference.

"

Great road runner movie

Jordan M. Stone | 06/03/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Although not quite in the league with Chariots of Fire, I think this is perhaps the best of the "running movies" that followed.
Bruce Dern plays "Wes Holman", a 44 year old former elite 10K track athlete who was driven from the sport by unfair circumstances. Wes attempts a comeback training for a somewhat unique race, a 14.2 mile mountain trail "handicap" race in which runners are started at different times dependent upon their age or sex. It is said that a real race in Marin County, "The Dipsea" served as a model for the movie. The movie chronicles the Wes' year of training, while also dealing with issues with his father and the athletic governing body, and has re-kindles a relationship with an old flame, played by Pam Grier. The best part of the movie is simply watching the training and finally the race. Some of the stuff with the race is kind of "corny", so to speak, but I think most runners would enjoy the movie just to watch the running."

OK Running Movie on a Real Running Course!

David Baltazar | SAN JOSE, CA United States | 04/28/2008

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This review is from; On the Edge

As a marathon & ultra-marathoner myself, I was pleasantly surprised to find a film that was filmed on a actual race course called "The Dipsea" (called the "Cielo Sea" in the film). I actually ran that course in 2000. Since 1905, the Dipsea race is the second oldest running race in the country (after the Boston Marathon).

The "Dipsea" race course is located along the coast & hills of Marin County which is just north of San Francisco. In the film you get some nice visual images on how tough the course is, but statistically the 7.1 mile course features 9,200 feet of climbing, 671 steps of stairs and the infamous "cardiac hill" at 1,360 feet (which is mentioned in the film). The "Dipsea" course I ran in 2000, was the "quadruple" version (28.4 miles!). Since I ran that course four times in one day, I got a true first hand perspective on how tough that course really was and it was much tougher than what the film could show!

The film features a runner named Wes Holman (played by Bruce Dern who is actuallly a runner himself) who is a 44 year old runner that has been banned from the sport due to a technicality of unfair circumstances, but he yearns to compete again after a 20 year absence from running competitively. Wes goes through a "Rocky-like" montage of training to get in shape for the next "Cielo Sea" race. Wes enters the race as an unregistered runner after all of the registered runners have already started. As he quickly begins to pass many runners from his dead-last start, race officials recognize the banned runner and make some attempts to remove him from the race, but they are unsuccessful largely in part to the protection provided by the other runners that are running near him.

Although the images from this film are somewhat grainy or blurry, keep in mind that this is a vintage film from the 80's. The image quality of the film has a documentary, visual quality to it. Not perfect, but watchable. The film also has a quirky soundtrack filled with electronic beeps & synthesizers like a bad science fiction soundtrack that you would hear from "Dr Who" or "Space 1999". The DVD also has informative interviews with director Robert Nillson (who is a runner himself) as well as interviews with Bruce Dern (from 1986) and some "Dipsea" runners (from 1986). The film's theaterical trailer is also included.

I heard the movie originally had scenes with Pam Grier as the love interest for Bruce Dern, but unfortunately they are not included on this DVD. I heard the VHS copy of this movie has the original Pam Grier scenes included. Although it was omitted, I think it would have been nice if the DVD would at least included the Pam Grier scenes in a deleted scene section. Having not seen the original version, I'm not sure what impact the lovely miss Grier would have add or subtract from the film, but the DVD's edited version is satisfactory to me. Serious runners may have an interesting time watching this one, while it may be of only of modest interest to casual viewers.

"

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	On the Edge Dub Dol Actors: Bruce Dern, Bill Bailey, Pam Grier, Jim Haynie, John Marley Director: Rob Nilsson Genres: Drama PG-13 2005 1hr 35min A once-promising runner who was unfairly banned from amateur competition twenty years ago sets out to recapture his lost glory and begins to train for one of the toughest races in America, the Cielo Sea.
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