where "wired to win" is/will be playing:
http://www.wiredtowinthemovie.com/venues.html I was in Seattle last weekend and saw that the IMAX movie "wired to win" (formerly known as "BrainPower") was playing at the Seattle Science Center (near the Space Needle). I saw the 12:30pm show on saturday -- there were 8 people in the theater (including me).
Brief summary: A film of how the brain functions to help a cyclist ride and overcome pain during the 2003 TDF. The film focuses on teammates Baden Cook and Billy Casper and is narrated by the annoying Alfred Molina.
http://www.wiredtowinthemovie.com/synopsis.html The film was partially funded by the NSF, Partners Health Care (Boston area hospitals associted with Harvard), and ortho mcneil neurologics.
It runs for 40 min... of the 40 min, it could be broken down roughly as follows:
5 min - credits/introduction (boy learing to ride a bike/Phil leggett (about 20 sec of scripted reading for Phil and that the other OLN guy))
15 min. of computer animation showing how the brain works and controls the muscles.
5 min of TV footage (OLN/France2) NOT shown in Full imax -shown on a portion of the screen
5 min of "FAKE" TDF footage/Interviews with Billy Casper & Baden Cook
1 minute showing a map of france and the route of the TDF - Very similar to what OLN does.
5-10 min of really good TDF footage in full IMAX.
http://www.wiredtowinthemovie.com/gallery1.html If you're going to see the movie to see great racing footage, you'll be disappointed. On the plus side, it's good enough for the casual fan (my girlfriend was struck by the scenary and mentioned a possible trip to watch the TDF in the mountains). There are some really striking shots in this movie; most shot by a helicopter.
Despite the fact that the film was originally produced to feature Tyler Hamilton and Team CSC
http://www.csc.com/features/2003/31.shtml , Tyler Hamilton and TEAM CSC appear only as members of the peloton (they get 20 sec. or less of screen time), and the film was re-written around Baden Cook and Billy Casper. The film was padded with footage that shows these cyclists in the "2003 TDF", however, they suspiciously appear on roads with minimal crowds (actually, can 1 guy be called a crowd?) and the film's website mentions that portions were filmed in the spring of 2005 (just after ortho mcneil neurologics became a financing partner).
It's really a shame that the best footage was probably of Tyler/csc and they cut it all out. Too bad we'll never see those outtakes on the DVD.
Despite my negativity, I'd say it was worth the $8 (although I wouldn't make a special trip)...