“The only thing I do fast is drive.”
Synopsis:
Shirley “Cha Cha” Muldowney (Bonnie Bedelia) battles discrimination and personal heartache as she becomes the top female drag-racer of all time.
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Genres:
- Beau Bridges Films
- Biopics
- Bonnie Bedelia Films
- Car Racing
- Dick Miller Films
- Feminism and Women’s Issues
- Sports
Response to Peary’s Review:
As Peary notes, Bonnie Bedelia turns in an “Oscar-worthy performance as drag-race champion Shirley ‘Cha Cha’ Muldowney,” the first woman to break the gender barrier in drag-race competitions. Director Jonathan Kaplan wisely avoids trying to hit all the “key points” in Bonnie’s life; instead, he takes the time to develop a three-dimensional character with real-life goals and heartaches. Shirley is portrayed as a strong, independent, driven woman who “finds disappointment in her relationships with men” yet continues to strive “for triumphs in her profession.”
Redeeming Qualities:
- Bonnie Bedelia’s excellent, natural performance as Shirley
- Beau Bridges as Connie Kalitta, Bonnie’s “unfaithful lover”
Must See?
No, but it’s recommended.
Links:
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One thought on “Heart Like a Wheel (1983)”
First viewing. Not must-see, mostly of interest to racing fans or those who like stories about women rising above in professions dominated by men.
It’s somewhat standard as a biopic (but not bad as such) – and Bedelia is notable in the starring role.
Also of note is Hoyt Axton as her dad (the sequence involving his passing is rather poignant); seeing him here reminded me of how much fun he is in the following year’s ‘Gremlins’.
There’s an interesting moment when Bedelia’s Shirley is watching tv – the Billie Jean King ‘Battle of the Sexes’ match with Bobby Riggs. The film of that story wouldn’t be made until 2017.