AWFJ Movie of the Week, February 22-28: EDDIE THE EAGLE
Opening Feb. 26, AWFJ’s Movie of the Week is Eddie the Eagle, the big screen biopic of unlikely British sporting hero Eddie ‘The Eagle’ Edwards, who took the world of ski jumping by storm in the 1980s. Read on…
Directed by actor-turned-filmmaker Dexter Fletcher (the excellent Wild Bill and Sunshine on Leith), the film stars Taron Egerton (Kingsman: The Secret Service, Testament of Youth, Legen) as Edwards, a man who despite his heavy build and poor eye sight, was determined to become a champion skijumper. A lack of funding also proved a hurdle, but Edwards went on to represent Great Britain in the 1988 Olympics and become a poster boy for underdog heroics.
Written by deft feature screenwriters Sean Macaulay and Simon Kelton, the film also features a host of A-listers including Hugh Jackman as Edwards fictional coach Bronson Peary and Christopher Walken as his mentor Warren Sharp.
AWFJ Movie of the Week Panelists Comments:
Leba Hertz: My pick is Eddie the Eagle, an inspirational movie about a guy with no athletic ability who persevered to compete in the Olympics.
Anne Brodie: An inspiring true story brought to the screen, with a wonderful role for Hugh Jackman.
Jennifer Merin: Just after we picked Race as last week’s Movie of the Week, along comes another inspiring sports biopic that shows how fearless and determined British Olympic ski jumper Eddie “The Eagle” Edwards overcame physical disability and to the amazement of all doubters – including his parents– flew in the face of danger to triumph on the slopes. Eddie is pure inspiration, and the portrayal of him as he grew up and into the sport is golden.
Film Details:
Title: Eddie the Eagle
Director: Dexter Fletcher
Release Date: February 26, 2016
Running Time: 105 minutes
Language: English
Shooting Location(s): Bavaria, Germany & Pinewood Studios, UK
Principal Cast: Taron Egerton, Hugh Jackman, Christopher Walken
Screenwriters: Sean Macaulay & Simon Kelton
Production Companies: Marv Films, Saville Productions, Studio Babelsberg
Distributor: Twentieth Century Fox
Official Site
Trailer
AWFJ Movie of the Week Panel Members: Nikki Baughan, Anne Brodie, Candice Frederick, Pam Grady, Leba Hertz, Loren King, Cate Marquis, Katherine McLaughlin, Jennifer Merin, Nell Minow, Perri Nemiroff, Sheila Roberts, Liz Whittemore, Jeanne Wolf.
Other Movies Opening the Week of February 22 – February 28, 2016
Edited by Sandra Kraisirideja, AWFJ.org Associate Editor
