Athletic inspirationalism by way of the Buddhist school of thought, a dizzyingly loopy path. The slo-mo nightmare of a world-class gymnast -- drops of perspiration detonating at the volume of thunder, his right leg shattering like crystal on his dismount from the rings -- comes more or less true, and he entrusts his rehabilitation to the aphoristic grease monkey (a furry Nick Nolte) at the Texaco quickie mart: "This is a service station. We offer service. There's no higher purpose." The story, from a novel by self-help author and former athlete Dan Millman, is purportedly "inspired by true events," and at the very least the quadrennial Olympic qualifying tournament could be said to be a true event. The rest is apt to cause difficulty swallowing. With Scott Mechlowicz and Amy Smart; directed by Victor Salva. (2006) — Duncan Shepherd
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