Movie Review-The Hard Road and Pro The Movie
by Trish Albert, March 2005
Thanks to a friend, I got to borrow two movies to watch this week while I
toiled away on the trainer in my living room. Jamie Paolinetti, a former pro
rider, directed both of the documentary style movies.
The Hard Road looks at the Net Zero Professional Cycling Team during its only
year of existance from the beginning of the season until the end. Jamie gives an
insider's view into what the life of a US based Division 3 Pro is like. Viewers
are taken behind the scenes to see daily life on the road, at home, and the
sacrifices the riders and their families make to pursue the dream of riding
professionally. Being pro on a Division 3 team (now Continental team) means low
pay, long hours, many sacrifices, and possibly working a second job in order to
pay the rent. The average salary of a D3 pro is about $10,000/year. The riders
often discover who they really are, what motivates them to race, and what it
takes to make it in the professional ranks.
The movie is a little rough around the edges. The sound and video quality are
occasionally poor. For some of the races, it appears as though a home video
camera was used instead of a production quality camera. During those times, the
unsteady and grainy video is distracting. This may be attributed to some race
footage being supplied by the race promoters. Also, the story jumps around in an
order that does not always make sense.
Despite a few shortcomings, The Hard Road is a movie for any cycling enthursiast
that wants to learn more about professional racing behind the scenes. Jamie
conveys the story of the triumph and heartbreak of the Net Zero team.
Pro the Movie is must watch for anyone that is into bike racing. Jamie
Paolinetti takes viewers behind the scenes of the Wachovia Cycling Classic, the
US National Road Race Championship, held each June in Philadelphia. The focus is
on several teams including Healthnet, US Postal, and Webcor. Cameras follow the
teams through "Philly Week" as well as to the homes of several riders as they
prepare for Wachovia. Viewers get a feel for what it is like for the riders
behind the scenes in Americas biggest race. It is easy to feel the hard work,
heartbreak, and rewards that come with riding professionally.
Pro the Movie was more professional-the sound quality of the rider interviews
was better, the sound track did not interrupt the story, and the video was
professional quality throughout. The narration and story line are more cohesive
and smoother.