Movie #280 Breaking Away *1979*

I hope this movie pacifies my Hoosier readers.  Growing up and living most of my life in Southern Indiana, apparently one rite of passage was watching Breaking Away.  This film was shot entirely in and around Bloomington Indiana.  The movie was also set there.  It tells the story of a group of recent high school grads enjoying the first summer of the "adult" lives.  They are wrestling with what it is they should be doing.  Each has a different outlook on life and a different way of handling things. 

If there is a protagonist in the movie it is Dave Stoller.  He dreams of being an Italian bicyclist.  He goes as far as to speak in broken Italian / English, shaving his legs, and dating a college girl who is under the impression that he is an exchange student.  All this is much to the dismay of his caring-yet-critical father who wants him to grow up and accept responsibility. 

The other characters are:
"Moocher" played by Jackie Earl Haley.  He has a secret girlfriend and want to get a job to support her.  He just can't tell his buddies because he is afraid they wouldn't understand.  He also has a Napoleonic complex.  He is short and has an even shorter temper.
Cyril, played by Daniel Stern.  He is the tall, lanky comedic buddy.  He seems to make jokes as a method of dealing with some serious parental issues.  There is a scene at the end of the film where he is looking around intently.  I am not sure if he is supposed to be looking for his parents, but that is how I took it and it was very saddening. 
Mike, played by Dennis Quaid.  He is the leader of the gang.  He has the biggest personality and the narrowest vision.  He is content muddling the rest of his life away.  He is the antagonist in the gangs rebellion against the local college students (IU being that college).  He hates them because of their success and even more so because of his short comings.

The movie was directed by Peter Yates.  This is a director with a varied filmography.   I thought the movie portrayed Midwest life pretty accurately and captured that post high school ma-laze in a way that was recognizable to anyone.  The bicycle stuff was motivational and it also provided a major character awakening that really shifted the tone of the film in a way that I wasn't expecting.

This is the point in this review where I should mention that I still have never seen the movie Hoosiers!  I just threw that in for the locals.  I give Breaking away ★★★1/2.