Racing Dreams Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		3.5
Audio		3.0
Extras		3.5
Overall		3.5

Racing Dreams Blu-ray Movie Review

A world without red shells.

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf May 31, 2012

For the uninitiated, karting is a beloved pastime for weekend warriors, encouraging a feeling of goofball abandon as rusted metal machines burn around a passively monitored, tattered track, with thrills and laughs the ultimate reward, not necessarily the glory of finishing first. However, there’s a subculture that takes the sport of karting as gospel, using the tire tracks laid out by the World Karting Association as a guide toward a career in NASCAR, with a gifted few hoping to drive alongside the miracle men of the league. Their dedication is extraordinary and their speed unrivaled -- these are kids not even old enough to see an R-rated movie by themselves, yet retain a command of racing that would put most adults to shame.

“Racing Dreams” is a documentary surveying the spirit of these precocious pre-teen drivers, children who’ve devoted their young lives to the sport of karting, traveling all over America to compete in the National Series -- often described as a little league for professional drivers, most harboring plans to take their burgeoning expertise to a higher level. We meet hotheaded Brandon (age 13), champion Josh (age 12), and outsider Annabeth (age 11), three charismatic kids who dare to dream of a future in NASCAR, where they hope their lust for the wheel might pay off with a circle of eager sponsors and flashy media attention, delivering the race-world glory they spend their every waking moment aspiring to achieve.

Directed by Marshall Curry (“Street Fight”), “Racing Dreams” is an unexpectedly gripping demonstration of youthful dedication in its purest form, set against a troubling backdrop of competition and turbulent hormones, making life on the track at speeds up to 70 mph feel easy as pie compared to the war at home, where the families face mounting bills, unreliable parental figures, and cross-country trips to support an unusual passion. Karting is life to these three young participants, but it takes a community effort to help realize such dreams, leaving Curry with plenty of decisive moments to pick from when shaping his story of aspiration and perspiration.

The core of the documentary isn’t about the speed achieved, but the mentality of the participants, who have arrived at an age when fun often morphs into bondage, especially for anyone not entirely sure that NASCAR is the dream they’ve always wanted. Curry has a delightful range of personalities to survey; three kids with unique perspectives on the karting obsession, who’ve embarked on the National Series at pivotal moments in their lives. For Brandon, the journey to the winner’s circle is fraught with difficulties emerging from his own issues with anger, a deadbeat father, and a future without the necessary funds to continue on the driving path. Josh is the rehearsed champion, studying the moves of the NASCAR stars, practicing not only his track presence, but his media savvy as well. Annabeth is the rare female in the sport, caught between family enthusiasm for karting and her burgeoning femininity, manifesting itself in peer pressure and a flirtation with Brandon.

The five races that make up the National Series form the spine of the documentary, capturing the nail-biting turns of fate and skill that ultimately decide who takes the next step toward NASCAR. The more intriguing aspects of the picture are found at home, where Curry’s cameras capture primal juvenile behavior from the trio as they struggle with the demands of their ambition. It’s poignant material, especially with Brandon, who has a strenuous relationship with his behavioral problems, a bad situation inflamed by the reappearance of his absentee father, which tears the boy further. There’s also serious financial strain on Josh’s family, who’ve pumped thousands of dollars into this lifestyle, reaching a point where karting naturally turns to traditional racing, forcing them to examine the validity of the boy’s dedication. For Annabeth, customary female pursuits of boys and friends block the view of karting dominance, requiring an extended period of deliberation to fully feel out her desires and demands from the race world. The kids are outstanding subjects, unpredictable and honest, displaying an enchanting sense of self for the camera that provides a distinct snapshot of genuine drive smashing into a wall of adolescence.

Racing Dreams Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (1.78:1 aspect ratio) presentation preserves the HD cinematography satisfactorily, sustaining the limited look of the documentary with a clean viewing experience. Colors are the star here, popping off decorated karts and racing gear, adding some pleasing neons to an otherwise natural look of grassy greens, blue skies, and oaky interiors. Hues are strong, keeping track competitors easy to spot, while skintones remain naturally pink, registering atmospheric changes. Detail is comfortable for this type of non-fiction work, providing expressive interview textures from the participants, while race world particulars are easily surveyed without extraordinary clarity. Interiors show a little more softness than exteriors, but the transitions aren't jarring, holding together as a cohesive visual event. Minor banding is detected. Shadow detail isn't crisply defined, but edge delineation is acceptable, good with car interiors.

Racing Dreams Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA sound mix doesn't provide the whooshing racing sensations one would hope for, with the surrounds reserved more for soundtrack selections, creating a circular feel for music to help ignite sequences of intense competition. Primary focus remains on interview audio, with the track navigating thick accents quite well, leaving thoughts and conversations easily understood (the production provides subtitles for the few moments that escape the microphones). Voices sound good without any noticeable depth. Low-end is limited to a few racing encounters, but remains largely absent from the track. The basics are cared for here, supplying an audio experience that's simple but only mildly rousing when the moment calls for a little boost.

Racing Dreams Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Deleted Scenes (4:40, HD) provides a "Cribs" parody with Josh as the host, showing off the limited confines of his trailer and his karting "rims," sold with a knowing mischievousness; visits to the 19th annual NASCAR Day in Randleman, N.C., where Brandon comes face to face with his racing idol, Richard Petty; and we meet up with Annabeth as she enjoys some time at summer camp.

• Q&A with Director Marshall Curry (11:30, SD) serves as a sort of commentary for "Racing Dreams," sitting down with the filmmaker to discuss the origins of the project and its thematic intentions when dealing with the tender age of the documentary's stars. It's also interesting to hear about Curry's interest in keeping the families comfortable with the finished project, making sure the final cut of the movie was honest to the time spent inside these households. Curry is direct and articulate about his work, supplying a brief but valuable understanding of creative choices and technical challenges.

• Behind the Scenes (11:33, HD) is a bit of a misleading label, focusing more on the publicity requirements of the finished picture and some postmortem interviews with the families. We follow Josh, Brandon, and Annabeth as they tour around a few film festivals (including Tribeca with executive producer Dwayne Johnson) and answer uncomfortable questions at post-screening Q&As. The conversations with the moms and dads of the documentary shed some light on personal sacrifices, with the troubled economy coming to dent these hopes for a racing future.

• "Where Are They Now?" is a text-based supplement catching viewers up with the young subjects, who've entered their teen years facing real-world demands on their time and financials as they look to keep their dreams alive.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (2:27, HD) is included.

Racing Dreams Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Marvelously shaped and sharpened by Curry, and teeming with concentrated racetrack suspense, "Racing Dreams" is a splendid picture that successfully digs into the various forces that drag this specialized four-wheeled ambition along (whether it likes it or not), one lap at a time.