On Any Sunday The Next Chapter should be the best news in motorcycling for years, but I’m a little concerned.
Dana Brown at workDana Brown, son of famous documentary director Bruce Brown who created the ultimate motorcycle film On Any Sunday, has produced the sequel. Dana has also produced the brilliant Baja 1000 documentary Dust to Glory, so expectations are high.
However, I had high expectations of the documentary Why We Ride but it turned out to be a tiring talkfest with too much slow-motion footage.
The greatest thing about the Academy Award nominated 1971 film, On Any Sunday, was the honesty and innocent humour in Bruce’s narration. Dana showed hints of that in his Dust to Glory narration, but the trailer for this documentary seems to be melodramatic and devoid of any wit or innocent charm.
While Bruce also devoted a lot of his original film to motorcycle racing of all descriptions, he went behind the scenes and delved into the leading riders’ psyche, including Hollywood star and accomplished motocross rider Steve McQueen. Bruce even filmed the racers at moments of “play” in the sand dunes. There is also a lot of motorsport footage here, but it looks like mostly stock TV footage.
There is no doubt a lot of the footage is new and brilliantly shot in 4K Ultra HD (whatever that is!), but there is a danger of too much art and not enough passion. I’ll wait to see the full film before passing judgment, but my fingers are crossed.
At least Dana says he covers all the motorcycle disciplines and styles, so no one should feel left out. He says he wanted to become a filmmaker not because his father had made On Any Sunday, “but because it was the coolest thing I had ever seen”.
“I had never imagined making another On Any Sunday. … the chance to tell a completely unique story that still has all the hallmarks of the original. The heart, soul and passion have not changed, but the level of performance and the technology to convey that certainly has,” he says.
One highlight for Aussie riders is the inclusion of our FX legend, Robbie Maddison, who is famous for his spectacular jumps including his 2008 New Year stunt on the fake Arc de Triomphe in Las Vegas. Watch the jump here.
Others featured are MotoGP champion Marc Marquez, former world champion Kenny Roberts, custom design guru Roladn Sands, AMA MX champ James “Bubba” Stewart, freestyle lunatic Travis Pastrana, Carlin Dunne who holds the Pike Peaks hillclimb record on an electric bike and deaf female MXer Ashley Fiolek.
The film begins screening in the US on November 7, 2014, but there is no word of worldwide dates, but stay posted.