Just finished watching this movie and I thought it was very well done. Barry Pepper was probably the the best actor for this movie, he pulled off the look perfectly. This movie did a great job of retelling Dale Earnhardt's life story. They also did a great job of mixing old race footage into this movies footage. Some things I didn't like, I thought the story was a little rushed, and some of the important events were left out. The racing wasn't as intense as that in Days of Thunder, but the story made up for it. If you don't know why they called this guy the best in Nascar you better watch this movie, great movie I give it a 7/10.

Several years ago ESPN made a decision that they were going to expand their vision and focus to include original entertainment programming. This has led to a slew of made-for-TV films, dramatic mini-series, and specials about fictional or historical sports personalities and events. Although the acronym ESPN has always stood for Entertainment Sports Programming Network, ESPN never had the desire, budget, or ability to produce this type of original entertainment. Just like MTV has become less about music videos and more about reality TV, dramas, soap operas, and animated series, ESPN seems to be headed down the same wrong path. That's why when I saw the trailers for '3' the last couple weeks, I figured it would be poorly done and over-dramatized just like every other original project ESPN has touched. Surprisingly, that wasn't the case. Barry Pepper, who has been good in everything else I've seen him in, puts on a good performance this time too. I've never been a fan of auto sports, or Dale Earnhardt for that matter, but I was entertained by this movie every bit of the way.

I will preface this by say I have been a Dale Earnhardt fan since nearly the beginning of his NASCAR career. Dale was born 2 day before me, which I initially thought was cool, but later became an inspiration to keep at it, always do your best and never give up or accept second best. Additionally, he owned a Chevy dealership which sold vehicle, some of which were made in the GM plant where I work. Fully half of my NASCAR collection is Earnhardt memorabilia.

They casted this movie well, especially Dale. The older race footage was great. Many of the regular scene were well done. But as for the character development...I feel that Hollywood invention was used a little too often, and too many known points were omitted. Granted, much of Ralph Earnhardt had to be created using sketchy material. Surely, there was not a long line of eye witness/friends/acquaintances to draw from. However, there was a lot of Dale info that seems to have been passed over.

Overall, this was not a happy story, start to finish. Yes, there were a few bright moments, but never any happy periods. And there was always a club waiting to knock down any happiness that dared to raise its head. While it makes for a good movie, there are far too many factual stories that create a happier, more optimistic person than the one created in this movie.

Known stuff that coulda/shoulda made it into the movie.

Dale was a AVID hunter and fisherman...not just a person who enjoyed it. He was once quoted as saying the only 3 things he wanted to do his whole life was race, hunt and fish. He also said he couldn't picture a time when he wasn't racing anymore. He frequently appeared on hunting and fishing shows. It was more than a pass time to him. And anyone who saw him on these shows saw a happy, not melancholy individual.

Dale was also a very accomplished guitar player, and a fair singer. Videos of him playing with some of Country Music's biggest star exist. They played one at his funeral. His guitar sat prominently beside his coffin.

Teresa, behind Dale and with Dale built a powerful business empire, including DEI and the aforementioned Chevy dealership. Teresa has a very skilled business mind. Anything with him or his name on it was licensed through DEI. The company made millions off his name, and will for years to come.

Dale loved racing of all kinds, he would be up early talking to other racers about races from all over the world he had listened to on the shortwave or satellite the night before. His veins and arteries were filled with race cars instead of blood.

Dale used to love his fans as much as they loved him. He signed autograph and took pictures more than almost anyone else. One of my friends has a stunning full face of Dale in his car getting ready to go onto the track for practice. When Dale saw the camera, he smiled and waved to my friend. It is poster grade and worth a mint if he ever decides to part with it.

Dale did as much or more to bring up young drivers than anyone else. He loved to see other success as well. Junior, Rob Hornaday, Steve Park, Kevin Harvick are just a few he aided. Despite the way the built and played on the animosity angle between Dale and Darrel Waltrip, who did more to help Darrel's brother Michael? Dale gave the perpetual also ran Michael a ride and coached him to be a winner, lest we forget Michael got his first career win after hundreds of starts just seconds after dale's fatal crash.

Kelly might be the best driver of the Earnhardt kids. Anyone who follows racing knows Kerry has never made it, while Junior is right there at the top. Several people who know the Earnhardts claim Kelly is the best driver of the three kids, but being a girl, never received a chance to prove it.

Aside from that, my one complaint with the movie is the created race action.

It was like Rocky or any martial arts film. While you can bump and grind a lot at a Bristol, Martinsville or other short tracks, the kind of interaction between cars on the bigger tracks just doesn't exist, at least without a crash occurring. It makes for good movie, but the crunches they show on the bigger tracks are fantasy, any true race fans know it.