TT3D: Closer to the Edge
TT3D: Closer to the Edge is a high-octane documentary chronicling the months leading up to the TT – the world-famous motorbike race that takes place every year on the Isle of Man. The film follows several of the TT’s biggest stars, including the maverick rider Guy Martin, as they prepare for the 2010 competition and race to be crowned “King of the Mountain”.
From the opening scene, in which the audience is taken on ride through the eyes of a rider, you become aware that this isn’t a film for the faint hearted. Bikes race along public roads at 200mph, twisting and turning every step of the way, and there’s no FastPass to the finish – if you’re lucky enough to cross that line.
Closer to the Edge is a thoroughly entertaining film. After a fast start, the tempo does drop slightly as we move from the extraordinary world of racing to the ordinary lives of the riders, but with characters like Martin leading the way, there’s hardly ever a dull moment. With his Wolverine shag and his simple views on life, Martin is quite possibly one of the funniest, occasionally incomprehensible, slightly odd characters I’ve observed on-screen, and as the main protagonist he carries the movie along nicely, with a bit of help from his biker friends.
Funny, shocking, gripping and tragic, TT3D has the heart to capture everyone, even those reluctant to enter the world of sports.
4/5