James Dean: Race with Destiny (1997)

I love this movie so much

That was an excellent one.

This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

James Dean: Race With Destiny is a biographical film about the movie legend that stars Casper Van Dien in the title role.It follows the time when he was Hollywood for only a short period of time while working in New York after the release of East Of Eden.There were no other aspect of his life tackled and it provides a major emphasis on his love affair with Pier Angeli.This is a disaster.Probably that it even an understatement.It provides nothing about James Dean nor does it give him any tribute at all.Added to that,it was poorly acted as Van Dien is the worst James Dean portrayal ever that is not even up to par with that of James Franco and Stephen McHattie.Finally,it was just one awful movie not only compared to Dean biopics but to any other released.This simply insults the movie legend and basically just capitalizes on Dean's legacy for a quick profit.

I am a movie pig. Meaning, I watch more than my share, hog the Net Flix Que in my house and have 100s of old video. Suffice to say, I believe I know how to judge. This movie, from beginning to end was so hard to stomach. The thing that hooked me was the story between Pier and Jimmy. So I watched. But, the accents by the "Italians" in the movie were so bad, they'd have been better just speaking in their native accents and letting us understand they came from Italy. The whole 50's feel was lost. One minute Casper comes across with the boyish ways of Buff and Bluff then he seems like a tooth paste commercial being cute! Sadly, even Connie Stevens and Mitchem who were good in their roles, the screen writers were doing high school drama! IT was just painful. I watched because I wanted to know what happened between he and Pier. I hope that who ever did the casting I really hope they have improved or decided on another profession.....OH AND THE MUSIC!!! WHat was that?????? There were these songs, I use the term loosely, that had horrible Muzak melodies and then lyrics that I think were supposed to tie in the scenes, maybe, I guess???? My 12 year old asked me if kids did this? No kidding? She was watching the movie with me. listening to the words & the music and innocently asked, "mom, is this a kids project?". OK, I am done, buy really, someone, take this story and do it, really do it well. I think there is so much to cover in the few short years and He and Pier make a great love story.

I loved this movie, Casper played the part so well. I loved the sound track for this movie too. I do not know much about James Dean, but this movie to me seemed to be so believable, even my Mother enjoyed this movie. Yes the ending was sad but that was not what made the movie for me. I enjoy the story, which in it's self is very believable.

Just shoot me now and get it over with. From the second this movie started, I hated it. Awwwww. An attempt at a dramatic sihlouette backlit by the sun. AWWWWW. And as the James Dean they chose an Anit-Dean. Van Dien seemed to mimick facial expressions Dean used in his films. STOP ALREADY! Stop imitating his facial expressions, you dope, and get into his philosphy. Become the character, screw the director, screw yourself. All that matters is that character. The worst part about it, they took real events from Dean's life(which you think would make it more authentic) and managed to make them seem like they were written for a tv movie. How pathetic is that. The movie is choppy and stale. There's no emotion, no heart, no soul. And what was up with Van Dien saying 20 ways till sunday, near the end. Fine, so Dean was heard saying 20 ways till sunday now and again. Doesn't mean you're doing character improvisation by repeating it. I would give it less than a one, but it had real events in his life, and that porsche spyder was near identical.