The film was really exciting (yes, even when I knew what was going to happen) but book because:
- the thorough exploration of Nazi propaganda in relation to the 1936 Berlin Olympics
- the glorious descriptions of boat building
- the tension (difficult to maintain when writing about sport yet Brown does it).
I agree! I thought the film was very well-done, but of course, it can’t capture all the nuances about boatbuilding, what it means to be part of a boat, the way the boys rowed together, etc, all of which are so beautiful in the book.
PBS American Experience did an excellent documentary of the book. It’s likely on youtube. I highly recommend it. I haven’t seen the movie yet, but probably will watch it eventually. I loved the book. And to think they did all that with no counselors, no therapy–that guy was amazing.
I waited until I’d seen the film (last night) to comment. I enjoyed it and thought it managed to suggest the backstory and context pretty well. By cutting two years of action it also avoided what was boring in the book (all the intermediate races). But there wasn’t much notable acting apart from the main coach.