Red Butte Gardens in Salt Lake City played host to something totally unreal, literally. Teton Gravity Research, along with Anthill Films, brought their latest mountain bike movie, “unReal” to Salt Lake City and played it before an enthusiastic crowd. Much like the TGR ski movies that screen at Red Butte, “unReal” amped up the crowd and made us all excited to ride bikes. I got to attend with beers in hand and was extremely impressed by the quality and entertainment value of what certainly is not just another mountain bike porn.
“unReal” is the story of escapism. For many of us, riding bikes is our primary form of escape in the summer months. The filmmakers illustrate this through their athletes as they are stuck in horrible jobs digging in a mine, dealing with a horrible boss, or hating life while flipping burgers. Their salvation is found outside, in the mountains, where their bikes set them free.
The cinematography is really the standout of this film, as it can, at times, be mind-blowing. The lens seems to focus more on sweeping landscapes, like glaciers and rain forests, while the riders themselves become mere elements of the scene. Each segment finds riders literally integrated into the outdoor canvas. The most memorable example is when two mountain bikers ride alongside wild horses in what has got to be among the most beautiful filmed scenes in mountain bike history.
The filmmakers have also raised the bar in movie technology with cameras flying though urban and outdoor scenes like a bird in flight. My jaw hit the floor in one sequence that follows a rider from the top of a mountain to the bottom in one long continuous take. I’ve never seen anything like it before and assume it was made possible by the use of drones. However they accomplished the shot, it was proof that fancy, quick-cut editing is not necessary to keep the adrenaline level on high, as watching this unbroken, fluid line from start to finish was the thrill of the night.
Along with filmmaking techniques, the mountain bikers themselves show progression in their talents. Along with the usual back flips and insane airs, the athletes threw in a few running-start cliff drop-ins. The act needs to be seen and I would only be more impressed if they did it with clipless shoes and pedals.
Although some parts of “unReal” wandered into elements of cheese (like when a mountain biker is chased by a grizzly bear) for the most part it stayed true to the spirit of the sport. It showed us what we already know – that riding bikes is pure joy. Only these guys are clearly having fun at a level us mortals can only dream of.
For more information, or to find a tour date in your town, visit www.tetongravity.com/films/unreal