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Hidalgo 2004 |
Review by Jonathan Cornwell |
Directed by Joe Johnston
PG-13, 135 min. (adventure violence, some mild innuendo) |
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Starring: Viggo Mortensen, Omar Sharif, Zuleikha Robinson, Adam Alexi-Malle, Louise Lombard, Saïd Taghmaoui
Producer: Casey Silver
Screenplay: John Fusco
Cinematography: Shelly Johnson
Distributor: Touchstone Pictures
Released: 3.5.04 (Wide) |
Rating:
  (out of ) |
Hidalgo tells the tale (as it turns out to be not a completely accurate story as Disney would have us believe) of
Frank T. Hopkins and his famous mustang pony Hidalgo, who defied odds and competed in the world's most grueling long distance
race across the Arabian Desert. A legend in America in the late 19th century, Hopkins and his trusty companion could be
found performing in Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, finding an outlet for his free but troubled spirit. Of course the film juxtaposes
Hopkins and Hidalgo's mutual struggle for acceptance since both were of mixed heritage - Hidalgo a mustang and Hopkins
half Indian and half white. And to that end, especially during the latter stages of the race itself, the film becomes a strangely
inspiring story of the underdog finding light at the end of a dark tunnel of personal discovery.
Directed by Joe Johnston (Jurassic Park III, October Sky),
Hidalgo has a hint of nostalgia in the way it portrays its swashbuckling hero and the events surrounding him. The
desert race, arid conditions, nefarious rivals, sword play, gun play, and heroic rescues all espouse the film's desire to
awaken a childlike experience at the movies. To experience the sometimes too broad canvas that screenwriter John Fusco paints
is to understand that the filmmakers wear their hearts on their respective sleeves. It may seem a bit sentimental, but
the true action-adventure film is one of the more neglected genres in cinema today. That Hidalgo maintains its dignity
throughout its long running length is enough to merit a tip of the hat to its creators.
When Hopkins (Viggo Mortensen, fresh off his final Lord of the Rings appearance) and Hidalgo arrive in Aden, they find
most of the Arab world amused at their presence. Sheik Riyadh (Omar Sharif), who invited Hopkins to compete against
the world's best thoroughbreds, has a vested interest in seeing his legendary horsing lineage triumph over the West's
best participant. But when his rebellious daughter, Jazira (Zuleikha Robinson), is caught in the tent of Hidalgo during a break
in the race, Hidalgo must earn back his honor by rescuing her when she is kidnapped by a rival of Riyadh. Meanwhile,
Lady Anne Davenport (Louise Lombard), whose horse is among the favorites to win the race, will stop at nothing to see her
financial aspirations come to fruition - she even attempts to seduce Hopkins at one point in an effort to convince him to
withdraw from the competition. In the end, however, it's Hopkins' inner battle that will determine the fate of himself and his
stubborn horse.
The performances are solid, from Mortensen's lonely cowboy looking for inspiration act to Sharif's struggle to keep his
honor intact despite a daughter that espouses the winds of change upon her people. And Davenport and Robinson also
make a tangible impression with their supporting roles. The film's sleek look of the imposing desert and the rawness of
the culture mesh nicely with the character arc instituted for Hopkins' journey. Johnston gives his camera room to breathe,
and the cast responds with a relaxed but controlled effort.
Most of all, Hidalgo harkens to the adventurous spirit that makes
moviegoing an enjoyable and uplifting experience when the right combination of story, characters, and direction converge
to form the foundation of a crowd-pleasing tale.
© 2004 Jonathan Cornwell
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 | Masterpiece - Film perfection |
| Excellent - A Must See |
| Good - Highly Recommended |
| Fair - Worth seeing |
| Average - Viewable, but not recommended |
| Below average - View at own risk |
| Poor - Avoid at all costs |
| Very poor - An embarassment to the film industry |
| Zero | Awful - One of the worst films ever made |
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