Rivalen (1990)

Rivalen: Directed by Sandy Tung. With Ricky Schroder, Brad Pitt, Carrie Snodgress, David Anthony Marshall. Two brothers: one a drug-dealing layabout, while the other is a hardworking “model son.” When the one begins straigtening himself out by becoming a high school track star, the other is jealous and retreats into alcohol.

“Joe Maloney (Brad Pitt) is an all-star runner on his high school track team. Billy Maloney (Rick Schroder) is a troubled youth who is in with the law, and about to be kicked out of the family. Trying to be a good older brother, Joe asks Billy if he wants to run with him in the mornings before school. Billy gives it a shot, and much to everyoneu0026#39;s surprise turns out to be quite a little runner. Joe convinces Billy to try out for his schools track team (Billy is in a different school because heu0026#39;s caused too much trouble in previous ones) and itu0026#39;s a good thing he does, because that sets up the rest of the movie. Itu0026#39;s a pretty cliché tale of everyone struggling but overcoming their inner demons at just the right moment. Carrie Snodgress does do a great job as the mom who refuses to move on from the point where her husband died. Overall, Iu0026#39;d say it is worth a shot; you wonu0026#39;t learn anything new but you will feel better about yourself and life around you. As a last thought, the only problem I had was that as soon as the protagonist made the decision to change they didnu0026#39;t have to face the past. So the movie was a little fantastical that way, but that can be pretty easily overlooked. Rating: 24/40”