Does this Indie, low budget, 100% American road movie winner of Motorcycle Film Festival, deserve our attention or not? The answer is…
…it does!
The plot is about a books writer that take the chance to ride his BMW powered (1960 R60/2) sidecar (why a sidecar?) through the US roads in order to edit a Bars Guide for thirsty travellers…Needless to say, the usual clients of those “characteristic” bars were mainly rednecks, motorcycle gang members, truck drivers and local bar flies. Well, such client portfolio hardly would go to into a bookshop looking for buying a book...
Moreover a couple of things are non-vital for the movie plot itself and not fully compliant with the indie movies mood as well:
First. The love story. By chance, can we imagine a movie without this romantic stuff? Probably not, but love stories are absolutely mandatory in Hollywood comedies only.
Second. Sanders, the lead character, features some mainstream US cinematographic topicis. He's a young modern hipster bearded guy, an old motorbike rider, a books writer of course, and also an army veteran. Moreover, he drinks all day long. Seriously. Has much more drinks than his old BMW... (Out of the record: maybe the stability is the real reason to ride a sidecar...)
We can of course get over this negligible issues, because The Best Bar In America, has some strong points that weights more than the above listed weak points, but, if Sanders was only a common man, a 9 to 5 slave that suddenly break the cage and start a journey because he wants to find finally some pages of True Life... it would have been enough and more believable.
The Best Bar in America, strong points.
During the journey, Sanders finds a mentor, and this important character gives him some good philosophy tips. For instance, that people are the lens through the reality that surround us is perceived. So, if a place (even a bar) looks a good place or not, it, depends also on who we are, and how we feel. Fair enough.
Last but most important, the road and motorbike theme, makes this movie unmissable for motors lovers. This part sounds both authentic and pretty epic (!). Music and images will stay in your mind for long time.
I could go wrong, but from a cinematographic point of view, this movie it is not extremely noteworthy. I can assure this is not the case. But as a motorcycle passionate rider, I can say that The Best Bar in America is something that you shouldn’t miss.
During the motorcycle traveling focused moments, besides an Easy Rider citation and Ernest Hemingway quote, the narration delivers some very precious lines. According to my opinion, one that itself makes the movie time and money worth is the following:
“Travel by motorcycle forces you to confront the present moment with each turn. It’s the sound of the motor in the wind, the rhythm of the road, the vibration, the smack of the air; these things constantly remind you to pay close attention. Catholics go to church. Motorcyclists hit the road.”
This is rider's pure gold.
Moreover a couple of things are non-vital for the movie plot itself and not fully compliant with the indie movies mood as well:
First. The love story. By chance, can we imagine a movie without this romantic stuff? Probably not, but love stories are absolutely mandatory in Hollywood comedies only.
Second. Sanders, the lead character, features some mainstream US cinematographic topicis. He's a young modern hipster bearded guy, an old motorbike rider, a books writer of course, and also an army veteran. Moreover, he drinks all day long. Seriously. Has much more drinks than his old BMW... (Out of the record: maybe the stability is the real reason to ride a sidecar...)
We can of course get over this negligible issues, because The Best Bar In America, has some strong points that weights more than the above listed weak points, but, if Sanders was only a common man, a 9 to 5 slave that suddenly break the cage and start a journey because he wants to find finally some pages of True Life... it would have been enough and more believable.
The Best Bar in America, strong points.
During the journey, Sanders finds a mentor, and this important character gives him some good philosophy tips. For instance, that people are the lens through the reality that surround us is perceived. So, if a place (even a bar) looks a good place or not, it, depends also on who we are, and how we feel. Fair enough.
Last but most important, the road and motorbike theme, makes this movie unmissable for motors lovers. This part sounds both authentic and pretty epic (!). Music and images will stay in your mind for long time.
I could go wrong, but from a cinematographic point of view, this movie it is not extremely noteworthy. I can assure this is not the case. But as a motorcycle passionate rider, I can say that The Best Bar in America is something that you shouldn’t miss.
During the motorcycle traveling focused moments, besides an Easy Rider citation and Ernest Hemingway quote, the narration delivers some very precious lines. According to my opinion, one that itself makes the movie time and money worth is the following:
“Travel by motorcycle forces you to confront the present moment with each turn. It’s the sound of the motor in the wind, the rhythm of the road, the vibration, the smack of the air; these things constantly remind you to pay close attention. Catholics go to church. Motorcyclists hit the road.”
This is rider's pure gold.
