The Flying Scotsman (15)

The Flying Scotsman tells the story of Graeme Obree (Jonny Lee Miller), the Ayrshire cyclist who broke long-distance speed records in the 1990s with a bike he designed and built out of washing machine parts. Co-starring Laura Fraser as Obree's wife, and Billy Boyd and Brian Cox as two of his friends, it's a frustrating film because half of its scenes are stirring and believable, but the other half are clunkers. As Obree swerves around the obstacles of manic depression and an obstructive Cycling Federation, there are some splendid views of Scottish towns and lochs, and Miller's intense performance is tremendous. But just as you're enjoying the ride, along comes some embarrassingly unsubtle exposition to shove a stick in the spokes.