John Hancock is the title sponsor of the film being made by Jon Dunham (Spirit of the Marathon films) and produced by Academy Award nominee Megan William. Deena Kastor is an executive producer.
More details and a trailer of the film can be watched here.
I'm glad a film is coming out but the quote from Deena Kastor might be the most ridiculous PR quote I've ever read on so many levels..
Deena Kastor said:
“This just may be the most socially significant documentary of our time,†said Kastor. “Running is a common thread allowing people of all ages and abilities to get the best out of themselves and contribute to a better world. The Boston Marathon is the most prestigious race for every runner to aspire to running. For many, getting to the starting line is a victory in itself. For others, winning the event places them permanently among the world’s most accomplished runners. This race has such a rich history and the film looks to share that story to inspire and encourage all current and future runners and pay homage to all those who have shaped this glorious event.â€
Where to begin?
1. A documentary on running is the "most socially significant documentary of our time. Really? Yes, most documentaries seem to be about musicians but wouldn't an Inconvenient Truth or Fog of War top it?
2. "The Boston Marathon is the most prestigious race for every runner to aspire to running."
Really? The Olympics aren't bigger at a minimum? How many of the top marathoners in the world over say the last 15 years have ever run the race.
Khannouchi? No. Paula R? No. Haile G? No. Paul Tergat? No. Geb? No.
I'm not saying the Boston race isn't special. It's very special - but Boston please stop braging about how superior you are to everyone else.
While It doesn't look like it's going to a film on the greatest races in Boston history - now that would make a great 30 for 30 documentary - i'm glad it's coming out.
Some unsolicited advice. Have the film come out in the spring. If you have to wait until 2017 so be it. The natural marketing hook is the boston marathon. I just don't think our sport - even with a tie in with terrorirsm - has nearly enough mainstream appeal for this thing to get any traction unless it comes out right before the marathon.
rojo wrote:
While It doesn't look like it's going to a film on the greatest races in Boston history - now that would make a great 30 for 30 documentary - i'm glad it's coming out.
Some unsolicited advice. Have the film come out in the spring. If you have to wait until 2017 so be it. The natural marketing hook is the boston marathon. I just don't think our sport - even with a tie in with terrorirsm - has nearly enough mainstream appeal for this thing to get any traction unless it comes out right before the marathon.
Yeah, it'd have to come out a least a few weeks before Boston as part of the "hype" for the race.
Not expecting much from this doc to be honest. I really didn't like the spirit of the marathon except for maybe the first 1 minute intro
read the release wrote:
I'm not saying the Boston race isn't special. It's very special - but Boston please stop braging about how superior you are to everyone else.
Read carefully. This is a John Hancock brand enhancer, mate.
Spirit of the Marathon II was pretty good.
being on the payroll would make anybody enthusiastic about the film.
From the trailer it would seem very similar to the Spirit of the Marathon documentaries.
It you liked those films then this one you will also like, most likely.
It took the film director Jon Dunham a LONG time to raise the necessary money to finance the completion of this film. I looked at their donor page and despite pleas on Facebook for contributions, the list of contributors only numbered a dozen or so.
I don't like the general tone of the film. You're right Boston is just like any other race really, it just has the qualifying time and history to its advantage. I ran it as a qualifier for the first time this year and really didn't think much of it. I don't like that the film trailer shows the runner crowd that insist on wearing head to toe Boston gear as if they are gods special people for running the damn race. I don't like that the movie includes Obama in it either. He is a smoker not a runner.
The large infusion of cash by John Hancock manage to get this film finally to production. However based on what I observed at the Spirit of the Marathon II release, which was shown for one night only in a very limited number of theaters nationwide, I think people are tired of the marathon documentaries like this.
I dont get why a film is being made. Why isnt there a film about sandy hook? what just happened in cali? paris? etc...
i understand a ton of people lost limbs but i wouldnt consider the marathon bombing any worse than any of those... it just had a trending #bostonstrong phrase that people liked to say even though they werent doing sh*t to help anyone
read the release wrote:
I'm glad a film is coming out but the quote from Deena Kastor might be the most ridiculous PR quote I've ever read on so many levels..
2. "The Boston Marathon is the most prestigious race for every runner to aspire to running."
I imagine the quote is just a little messy. When Deena says 'every runner', I'm assuming she means the 'average runner.'
Look at Deena herself, she has one career finish at Boston (2007, also ran and won the Trials there in 2008) and three at London. So her own choices show it wasn't her #1 priority.
Almostbq wrote:
I don't like that the movie includes Obama in it either. He is a smoker not a runner.
Actually Obama hasn't been a smoker since the healthcare act passed.
http://www.gq.com/story/president-obama-bill-simmons-interview-gq-men-of-the-yearthat's kinda what I thought. an odd choice for sure.
rojo wrote:
read the release wrote:I'm glad a film is coming out but the quote from Deena Kastor might be the most ridiculous PR quote I've ever read on so many levels..
2. "The Boston Marathon is the most prestigious race for every runner to aspire to running."
I imagine the quote is just a little messy. When Deena says 'every runner', I'm assuming she means the 'average runner.'
Look at Deena herself, she has one career finish at Boston (2007, also ran and won the Trials there in 2008) and three at London. So her own choices show it wasn't her #1 priority.
and the reason Deena ran that one time - it was also the US Championships - I'm sure she was going for some double prize money and her asics contract money. There was no legit american competition for her in 2007, she even stopped to go to the bathroom in Newton, still ran a 2:35 for the top american win (winning by 3 minutes +).
Yeah, this is complete BS!!!! Freakin Deena Kastor. She clearly should have said "Boston is sort of a great marathon, but has faded in recent times to the now more prestigious London marathon. I only ran Boston when I had a chance to double dip on US only prize money. Only over achieving hobby joggers are really concerned about the Boston Marathon anymore. But it is fun to get a big pretzel from a street vendor after the finish as you make your way back to your hotel. I like mustard on mine. This is a pretty good documentary if you can get it for free as part of Netflix streaming or Amazon Prime. Otherwise, I wouldn't waste my money on it in the theater."
I'd run Boston if I didn't have to run with a bunch of people that signed up to run Boston.
Precious Roy wrote:
Yeah, this is complete BS!!!! Freakin Deena Kastor. She clearly should have said "Boston is sort of a great marathon, but has faded in recent times to the now more prestigious London marathon. I only ran Boston when I had a chance to double dip on US only prize money. Only over achieving hobby joggers are really concerned about the Boston Marathon anymore. But it is fun to get a big pretzel from a street vendor after the finish as you make your way back to your hotel. I like mustard on mine. This is a pretty good documentary if you can get it for free as part of Netflix streaming or Amazon Prime. Otherwise, I wouldn't waste my money on it in the theater."
I agree with you. I didn't find Boston to be all that special. I also felt rather bored watching "Spirit of the Marathon part II". I felt as if I had already heard the stories in general in the first movie and really did not need to have them rehashed with different characters.
I had the same knee-jerk response about the release time, but the more I think about it, the more a fall release makes sense.
1. A viewer who sees the movie in the spring and decides to run the race has only 4.5 months to run a qualifying time to run the next year's race. If the movie releases in the fall, then they have 10-11 months to train and qualify. A fall release should in theory mean a lot more people attempting to qualify for nearly a full year.
2. With a spring release, other March/April marathons would possibly be resistant to promoting the film, as it competes with their brand. In the fall, no such conflict, so all of your mid- to high-profile races would help get the word out about the film, maybe?