Time, methinks, for a non-Australian review of this film. Released in pan and scan format to the American VHS market WAY back in the day, Coolangatta Gold (retitled clumsily The Gold and Glory for stupid Yanks) is a very predictable sports drama about two brothers (Colin Friels and Joss McWilliam) competing against each other in a bizarre marathon/canoeing competition on the Australian Gold Coast. They're also out to please their ogre of a father (Nick Tate) who placed a lowly second in the 1960 race and hasn't come to terms with his abject failure. Apparently this film cost a lot of money to make; it's hard, however, to see where the money was spent, unless most of the budget was used to reserve the beach for the duration of production. There's a pointless romantic subplot, ballet dancing, and some truly horrible 1980s fashions as well, but the cast take it seriously and don't embarrass themselves. If you enjoy sports movie clichés, you'll probably get some mileage out of Coolangatta Gold, which also features a hackneyed, bludgeoning Bill Conti score that will have you longing for a hint of Vangelis. I'm sure it all looks more impressive in widescreen, but you've seen the story a hundred times before.
Review of The Gold and the Glory
