Rating: R
Genre:
Drama
Release Date: 01/08/2008
SubTitles: English/French
Dubbed: English
Sound: DD1
Run Time: 128 Minutes
Flags: Nudity, Adult Situations, Not For Children, Adult Language, Sexual Situations
Distributor/Studio: Warner Home Video
In 1982, there was a brief cycle of homosexual-relationship films, none of which were successful enough to form the basis of a trend. Producer/director/writer
Robert Towne's
Personal Best is one of the finest. It stars
Mariel Hemingway and
Patrice Donnelly as athletes participating in the 1980 Olympics. Growing ever closer during the training process,
Chris (
Hemingway) and
Tory (
Donnelly) fall in love. Up to this point,
Chris has been "straight," thus has trouble sustaining the relationship with older
Tory. Their relationship is counterbalanced with the attitudes held by their male coach,
Terry (
Scott Glenn). While the homosexual element of the film is secondary to the endless shots of athletes in training, the critics latched on to the film's romantic angle, which may have sabotaged its chances for box-office success (the world was a different place in 1982).
Personal Best was the directorial debut for
Robert Towne, who was not to direct another film until 1987's
Tequila Sunrise.
~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
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A reviewer
from Fort Lauderdale, Florida
An Athletic Lesbian Love Story.
Mariel Hemingway and Patrice Donnelly are the main participants in Robert Towne's lesbian drama in which they play two female athletes, who fall in love with each other during their training for the Olympics, but the one thing that could threaten their relationship is their strive for the gold. This was screenwriter, Robert Towne's directorial debut.