EDDIE THE EAGLE Directed by Dexter Fletcher. Starring: Taron Egerton. Hugh Jackman. Christopher Walken. Keith Allen. Jim Broadbent. Tom McInnerny. Jo Hartley. I was kicked off of every team I was ever on before I had the chance to prove myself. - Eddie Against all odds, Michael “Eddie” Edwards became an Olympian ski jumper in the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics. Eddie (Taron Egerton) never stopped believing in himself in reaching his dream and never gave up. As a child he was crippled with his legs in irons, and he was never athletically gifted. Britain had never had a ski jumping representative at a Winter Olympics and he had never attempted a ski jump before. He was heavier than most ski jumpers, all of whom started at a very early age, he had no funding, very little training and his terrible eyesight meant that he had to attempt jumps while wearing glasses that would dangerously mist up mid-jump. Though his beloved mother (Jo Hartley) believed and encouraged Eddie, his father (Keith Allen) thought his son was stupid and would kill himself. Yet his indefatigable spirit prevailed. He begged and borrowed equipment and had the help of a rebellious and charismatic coach Peary Bronson (Hugh Jackman), a damaged, cynical soul, who was kicked out of the U.S. Winter Olympics team at the peak of his powers by his coach Warren Sharp (Christopher Walken). Peary is a hard drinking, chain-smoking American and former ski jumper who takes on Eddie, reluctantly at first, under his wing. He likes Eddie but thinks he is crazy, but relates to him. They’re both outsiders, they’re both been shunned by the world, and it’s a redemption tale for both of them. Through that growing friendship, Bronson starts to believe in himself again. In Calgary, although he was placed last in both events – the 70 metre jump and 90 metre jump – he became a media darling, he was quickly dubbed “Eddie the Eagle” by the tabloid press. He was famous for his unorthodox style, appearance and will to compete.
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