Personal Best (1982)

74% of critics liked it
(23 reviews)
58% of users liked it
(1,154 ratings)

In 1982, there was a brief cycle of homosexual-relationship films, none of which were successful enough to form the basis of a trend. Producer/director/writer Robert Towne's Personal Best is one of the finest. It stars Mariel Hemingway and Patrice Donnelly as athletes participating in the 1980… More In 1982, there was a brief cycle of homosexual-relationship films, none of which were successful enough to form the basis of a trend. Producer/director/writer Robert Towne's Personal Best is one of the finest. It stars Mariel Hemingway and Patrice Donnelly as athletes participating in the 1980 Olympics. Growing ever closer during the training process, Chris (Hemingway) and Tory (Donnelly) fall in love. Up to this point, Chris has been "straight," thus has trouble sustaining the relationship with older Tory. Their relationship is counterbalanced with the attitudes held by their male coach, Terry (Scott Glenn). While the homosexual element of the film is secondary to the endless shots of athletes in training, the critics latched on to the film's romantic angle, which may have sabotaged its chances for box-office success (the world was a different place in 1982). Personal Best was the directorial debut for Robert Towne, who was not to direct another film until 1987's Tequila Sunrise. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: R, 2 hr. 10 min.
Directed By: Robert Towne
Written By: Robert Towne
Genres: Drama

In Theaters: Feb 5, 1982 Wide
On DVD: Jan 8, 2008
Studio: Geffen Pictures

Critic Reviews

Richard Schickel, TIME Magazine
Personal Best is likable precisely because it is so unembarrassed.
Variety Staff, Variety
Towne has a love of slow motion that's employed as if he's afraid you might miss one, rippling muscle. Worse than that, when people aren't exercising, they are often talking about exercising.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
This is a very physical movie, one of the healthiest and sweatiest celebrations of physical exertion I can remember.
Vincent Canby, New York Times
Unless you're fascinated by all of the prettified slow-motion footage of Chris, Tory and the other women athletes, your eye is likely to wander to your watch long before the end.
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
The characters have a fullness and vitality rare in American films of that period, but Towne has so much trouble establishing information visually that the film emerges as choppy, confused, ill-proportioned.
Cole Smithey, ColeSmithey.com
[VIDEO] Although screenwriter Robert Towne's directorial debut fell largely on deaf ears when it was released in 1982 "Personal Best" remains a powerful examination of high-stakes female athletes during the late '70s...
Jeremy Heilman, MovieMartyr.com
Endowed with remarkable performances, superb photography, and a clear vision of what matters to its characters, Personal Best is an underappreciated gem in a genre full of filler.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
...far too long for its slender story line.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
There's no questioning its authenticity.... However, the movie tends to make its points early and then repeat itself unnecessarily.
Derek Adams, Time Out
The sort of nerve required to produce an excellent screenplay like Chinatown seems to have deserted Towne in this, his directorial debut.
, Film4
An unusual subject to get the Hollywood treatment though, and as such it should be commended, while Hemmingway is always worth catching.
Dragan Antulov, rec.arts.movies.reviews
Hemingway excels in a difficult and risky role.
Nell Minow, Movie Mom at Yahoo! Movies
One of the best movies ever about competition, with wonderfully natural performances.

Read all 13 critic reviews

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Cast

            Mariel Hemingway as Chris

            Scott Glenn as Terry

            Patrice Donnelly as Tory

            Kenny Moore as Denny

            Jim Moody as Roscoe

            Kari Gosswiller as Penny

            Luana Anders as Rita Cahill

            Jodi Anderson as Nadia Pooch Anderson

            Maren Seidler as Tanya

            Martha Watson as Sheila

            Emily Dole as Maureen

            Len Dawson as Announcer

            George De La Pena as Raoul

            Jan Glotzer as Karen

            Deby La Plante as Trish

            Mitzi McMillin as Laura

            Robert Patten as Colin Sales

            Larry Pennell as Mr. Cahill

            Frank Shorter as TV Announcer

            Pam Spencer as Jan

            Apollonia van Ravenstein as Yelovitch

            Anna Biller
            
            Richard Martini as Meet Manager

            John Smith as Men's Team Member

            Charlie Jones
            
See full cast

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