Fastest Indian gears up for race to Oscars

Anthony Hopkins in a scene from 'World's Fastest Indian'.

New Zealand film The World's Fastest Indian won't be having a widespread opening in the United States until February, but there's already been plenty of activity to promote star Anthony Hopkins as an Oscar contender.

Distributor Magnolia Pictures plans to give the film about Invercargill speed legend Burt Munro a qualifying run in Los Angeles and New York theatres the week of December 9.

The Los Angeles Times calls Sir Anthony a "wild dark horse in the Best Actor derby", quoting Pete Hammond, of the film industry bible Variety.

"They're doing screening after screening all over town, getting great responses, too," Hammond said.

"Hopkins got a major standing ovation at my Variety screening the other day. I'm telling you it's the most enthusiastic response I've seen so far for any performance this Oscar season ... It's one of those performances that, when you see it, is irresistible.

"He has a real shot at getting nominated if he gets the picture seen. But that's the key and Hopkins is doing everything he can to make that happen."

At the High Falls Film Festival, in Rochester, New York, the film won the narrative category audience prize (the only other category in the festival is documentary.)

The Des Moines Register's film critic Jeffrey Bruner's Oscar preview lists the film in the "They have a shot" grouping of contenders prepared to sneak in if a front-runner stumbles.

"This is the film you haven't heard about that will be getting buzz for Anthony Hopkins' performance," he writes. "Hopkins may grab an acting nomination, but tiny Magnolia Pictures doesn't have the bucks to make a serious push for Best Picture."

Among the most recent reviews, the Hollywood Reporter calls Fastest Indian a "pleasingly whimsical and slyly mischievous road movie that features an ageing, quixotic hero.

"Many should love the film, as long as they don't mind sitting through one of Anthony Hopkins' fussier performances."

"Few actors can fuss like Hopkins, sometimes to a point where a performance is all technique and no soul. But in Indian the fussing fits his character."

DenverPost.com (www.denverpost.com) calls the film "artistically mediocre but potentially crowd-pleasing".

- NZPA

* The World's Fastest Indian is screening now.