Hidalgo Movie
Storyline
TAGLINES
The True Story Of A Man Who Went Halfway Around The World To Find Himself.
Experience the incredible true story of a man who left behind the world he knew, and found the courage to do the impossible
Unbridled. Unbroken. Unbeaten.
Frank Hopkins was a rider for the Army, who was at the Wounded Knee Massacre, which would haunt him for life and he copes by turning to the bottle. He joins Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, and is billed as the greatest horseman and his horse, Hidalgo is billed as the greatest horse in the world because of the countless races he has won. But an Arab questions that claim because they have not competed in a race like the Oceans of Fire which is very grueling. Hopkins decides to join it. So he travels to the Middle East to enter and has several rivals and there are those who don't want him to win. And Frank gets to face some of the demons that plague him.
| Viggo Mortensen | Frank Hopkins |
| Zuleikha Robinson | Jazira |
| Omar Sharif | Sheikh Riyadh |
| Louise Lombard | Lady Anne Davenport |
| Adam Alexi-Malle | Aziz |
| Saïd Taghmaoui | Prince Bin Al Reeh |
| Silas Carson | Katib |
| Harsh Nayyar | Yusef |
| J.K. Simmons | Buffalo Bill Cody |
| Adoni Maropis | Sakr |
| Victor Talmadge | Rau Rasmussen |
| Peter Mensah | Jaffa |
| Joshua Wolf Coleman | The Kurd |
| Franky Mwangi | Slave Boy |
| Floyd 'Red Crow' Westerman | Chief Eagle Horn |
| Joe Johnston |
6.50 out of 10 (14678 votes)
Visitor Reviews
The Moose Hole - Review of Hidalgo
posted on 16 Aug 2009What does a motion picture essentially need to be successful? Is it eye-popping special effects? A sovereign leading man? A rousing and inspirational story that attracts people from a variety of demographics? Well, yes, but now adays there seems to be an even more vital ingredient … controversy. The predominant pictures seem to be quite ripe with it including the one leading the charge, The Passion of the Christ. Now a new feature film enters the fray, on an obviously different level but arousing controversy none the less. Not too long after Walt Disney Pictures announced the start of production for their $90 million epic horse feature, Hidalgo, based on the memoirs of Frank Hopkins, a newspaper printed an article that seemed to dispute the outstanding claims of Mr. Hopkins. In the Times Argus article, it is revealed that Hopkins' claims were unsubstantial and there seems to be no evidence to back up those extraordinary claims made in his unpublished autobiography. But there is no real evidence to dispute them either. Can this hurt the film? Only if you go with some knowledge of what the truth may have been.The story, as was recorded in Frank Hopkins' unpublished memoirs, tells of a man who, despite overwhelming odds, wins one of the greatest horse races of all time and becomes an American legend. Frank T. Hopkins, a cowboy and dispatch rider for the US cavalry, is a man at odds with himself. Hopkins was born into a family that consisted of a white father and a Native American mother. But he is ashamed of his Indian heritage at time in American history when the Native Americans are being pushed further away from the lands they had settled on for centuries. After witnessing the massacre that occurred at Wounded Knee, he joins Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show but as time progresses and alcohol enthralls him, Hopkins loses all sense of who is. Then at the urging of The Sheik, he and his horse Hidalgo enter a 3,000 mile survival race known as the Ocean of Fire. For years Frank Hopkins had claimed to be one of the greatest horse riders the world had ever seen – now it was time to put his foot his mouth was and compete in a race that not only test his endurance, but his sense of pride and honor as well. The story for Hidalgo, all disputes on whether the tale was accurate or not aside, is inconsistent and tiresome. There is no clear idea at what the filmmakers are trying to get across as they seem to throw several interesting concepts into the fray and hope splashes of exhilarating action sequences will level things out in the end. Johnson, who directed such weak performances as October Sky and Jurassic Park III, doesn't seem to show improvement in directing another feature with no sense of direction. After such an excellent start with Honey I Shrunk the Kids, what the heck went wrong?If you're going to this feature looking for big name stars, you're only going to find one and that is if you are really interested in what a star of The Lord of the Rings trilogy has up his sleeve after the mega-smash film series. Viggo Mortensen, best known for his portrayal as Aragorn in the LOTR film series, has able opportunity to showcase his acting chops outside an audience consisting of nothing more then outlandish Tolkein freaks decked out in elvish ears and hobbit feet. Okay … That was a little extreme but you get the point. Mortensen does as best a job as he can with the material he is given but the character he plays ends up coming out flat and uninteresting. Hopkins was to be presented as man conflicting with who he is and though he, in the end, discovers what his true heritage lies, there was no real significant event within the two hours to provoke such a result. All it does is leave you with more questions about the man then answers. Louise Lombard, who portrays Lady Anne Davenport, isn't featured long enough to get quite a sense of her acting her skills, but, as expected, the feature wasn't to focus too primarily on the supporting cast as the true focal point was the leading man. The only disappointment coming from her character, once again the fault of the filmmakers and not the actor, was the motivation behind the actions of Lady Davenport. Why is she so determined to win this race? No real specifics are given and only assumptions can be made to her true nature. Granted this is a minor squabble but one large enough to be worthy of note.Overall, Hidalgo stampedes over the line of believability and crosses the finish line with nothing more then an over embellished, inconsistent and, ultimately, flat tall-tale. Even if you go into this feature with no knowledge of the controversy it has created, the filmmakers continuously throw amazing event upon amazing event that, after time, begin to grow more outrageous and unbelievable as the film progresses. Granted the tale was `conceived' during the 1930's when people were apparently a lot more gullible but in today's modern retrospective, we thankfully know a whole lot better and therefore the tagline `Based on a True Story' can be greatly disputed. Outside the outlandish events depicted in the feature film, the moral lessons of `equality' and religion come off as being too preachy and some scenes feeling over exaggerated. Perhaps if the filmmakers explained the time period in which the film is set a bit more to describe the reason for such events, there may be a bit more understanding of the actions of certain individuals, whether they were right or wrong. Bottom-line is that Hidalgo is nothing near close to the artistic quality of Seabiscuit nor is its action sequences in comparison to those of The Lord of the Rings series. Much like Hopkins himself, the audience is left lost and searching for answers.My Rating: ** ½ out of 5 (Grade: D+)
Viggo and Omar rock (as does this movie)!
posted on 14 Aug 2009Viggo Mortensen plays Frank Hopkins, the ex-Pony Express rider who made a name for himself in Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show late in the nineteenth century, with his horse, (the titular animal in question). Like "Seabiscuit," don't look for much more than the Hollywood version of actual history, although Hopkins does witness the bloody injustices of the Wounded Knee massacre in the film's first dramatic scenes. Unlike the biscuit, though, the story kicks into high gear adventure when Hopkins and his horse are invited to a race across the desert (through Iraq, no less), at the behest of a Western obsessed Sheik (Omar Sharif, who, forty years on from "Lawrence of Arabia," gets to swing quite a mean sword! Go, Omar!). Along the way, there are lovely women: Zuleikha Robinson (whom we two or three fans of the short lived X-Files spinoff, "The Lone Gunmen," will remember as Yves Adele Harlow) and Louise Lombard, but it's really all about a man and his horse. Another film to adequately tide you over until the next Indiana Jones flick. In fact, maybe Spielberg would consider recasting with a certain former Aragorn.? Hey, he could knock another twenty years out of that franchise, don't you think?
Mustang sally, or Been through the desert on a horse ...
posted on 06 Aug 2009"You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink." That's how I felt going into "Hidalgo". The trailer, or preview, turned me right off. That shot of an approaching sandstorm reminded me too much of the silly special effects in "The Mummy". My roommate had to bribe me to see "Hidalgo". He paid my admission, and I said I'd pay him back if I liked the movie.Well, he won the bet, and so does Frank Hopkins (Viggo Mortensen) in the film. He races his painted horse, a wild mustang, against the finest purebred Arabian steeds in the world. Damned if he doesn't reach the finish line first after crossing a stretch of desert known as the "ocean of fire".But you knew that, didn't you? No spoiler there. To quote another saying, "Getting there is half the fun" -- and "Hidalgo" takes us for quite a ride.The cinematography is breathtaking, except for the obligatory slow motion as Hidalgo enters the final stretch. There were also several annoying shots of the horse gazing straight at the camera. I kept expecting Hidalgo to say, "This is the screwiest picture I've ever been in!" (Shades of the camel in "Road to Morocco".) Or else they were setting Viggo Mortensen up as Wilbur Post to Hidalgo's Mr. Ed.The costumes are splendid, especially the 19th-century hats, veils and bustles worn by actress Louise Lombard.Even the acting is pretty good. (Early on, however, Viggo Mortensen seems to be channeling John Wayne, right down to the trademark swagger, drawl and loose wrist.)The story may be based on a true-life adventure, but the plot is far-fetched at times. (I felt cheated when the film invoked a "deus ex machina", a divine intervention, to save Hopkins and his horse at a crucial juncture.) As for the score, don't get me started. It's a retread of the music from every Hollywood western since Tom Mix.Every so often, a movie comes along that causes me to ask myself, "Why was this film made and released at this particular time?" "Hidalgo" is such a film. The story took place a century ago, but has a certain resonance in our time -- one that left a bad taste in my mouth. The tale of an American who beats the Arabs at their own game was quite simply too reminiscent of the war in Iraq. Indeed, Iraq is mentioned a couple of times during the film. To top it all off, one of the two leading female characters, a sheik's daughter, is named Jazira. This echoes the name of the Arab news network, Al-Jazeera.(By contrast, last year's "The Last Samurai" tells a different story. It is set in the same time period, with a similar hero, who adapts to a foreign culture and learns from it, instead of the other way around.)To be fair, the villains in "Hidalgo" are of all races and nationalities -- from the American cavalrymen who massacre the Sioux at Wounded Knee, to the dastardly Aziz and Katib (brother and nephew to the sheik), to the ice-cold Englishwoman, Lady Davenport.The heroes also span the spectrum -- from the urbane sheik (played by the incomparable Omar Sharif), to his intrepid and freedom-loving daughter Jazira, to the wise Sioux chief.Movies have the potential to be more than just entertainment. They can create evocative images and convey meaningful messages with the power to shape our culture, the way we think and feel. In the wrong hands, "Hidalgo" could have dealt in negative stereotypes. It is to the director's credit that he does not go down that slippery slope. Rather, he shows how vastly different cultures can share each other's wisdom and join their hands in friendship.
A film for horse lovers and those of a romantic bent
posted on 31 Jul 2009This is simply the story of a horse race across the arabian peninsula.Frank Hopkins is the lead character on his mustang "hidalgo". Both hopkins and his horse are misfits both in their country and in the romantacised Arabian peninsula that Hopkins races in. (omar sharif plays a 'leader' of sorts who spends most of his time in his fine tent lamenting the loss of princely sons) He is of course the first "westerner" to race in such a prestigious race, and many of the characters in the film remind me of the multiple characters in the "wacky races". Some are devious, others are warm and helpful.Overall this is really a film for those who loves horses. There are a few good scenes involving the horses, but the film on the whole is too sparse and particularly at the beginning too slow.There are a few good "action scenes" halfway through the film, but if you don't like horses, it is just a bit too slow.
As Fiction? Good...but NOT true.
posted on 25 Jul 2009I voted for this movie (giving it a 7) before I learned that it was a big hoax. The first hoax was by Frank Hopkins and then by the producers of the movie. It might have made a nice yarn, if they had left it at that.The producer even created a fictional website for Frank Hopkins as if it were created by fans. A nice hoax. I thought I knew my history of the Wild West pretty good and was shocked when I saw a 'true' movie about someone I had never heard of. The reason? He was a hoax. Mortensen does his usual job of underacting. One cannot be sure if it was more from his lack of talent or that he secretly knew he was promulgating a hoax. Omar Sharif was much better as The Sheikh Riyadh who sponsored the race of 3000 miles across the desert.The movie had great cinematography and was worth one viewing for that. The acting was fair, with my vote for the best actor? The Horse that played Hildago. See the movie and enjoy the very good cinematography, but don't believe a word of it as being true.if you are interested in the True Life of the charlatan Frank Hopkins I suggest you visit the following website...http://www.thelongridersguild.com/hopkins.htm
Did we see the same film?
posted on 23 Jul 2009In reading the previous review, I guess the writer and I did not see the same film. I saw an excellent outing from Viggo Mortensen, who rides so well that he seems like part of the horse ... and some beautifully trained horses in the vein of Trigger or Koko. I know there are a lot of people who are cynical about Frank Hopkins' claims ... and I think most people accept that claims about the "Wild West" are rarely verifiable. However, I did find the film quite entertaining. I've seen it twice, and am considering doing so again this very weekend. It's a definite "must-have" for our collection at home. I think that people have given this film short shrift due to the controversies over Hopkins' claims raised by the Longriders' Guild, and that's truly unfortunate.
This race was not hard
posted on 23 Jul 2009First of all, I have rode horses. This movie was so over the top. The horse does ALL the running and all Viggo does is sit there. I was mad that Viggo pretended like he was tired all the time. How can he be tired when all he does is sit on the horse? The horse does all the work and the rider just sits there and takes in the sights. Viggo has obviously been in Aragorn mode too long. In middle earth, the way they rode horses was a lot different than in the old west. Why did Viggo ride like Aragorn? He needed to realize that no ring wraithes were on his tail. I noticed that the way he was riding was a lot like how he rode in return of the king. I was very mad about that. But the fact remains, that horseback riding is as easy as riding a car. You sit there, do not use really any energy and it's not all that hard. Shame on you Viggo. Shame on you!!!!
Beautiful picture and nice entertainment... for kids!
posted on 21 Jul 2009The first thing to jump into eyes at first frames is that picture work is done with lots of taste and artistry, and it doesn't disappoint us through the whole movie – from the first scene of a melting ice on the water, through the gorgeous sunrises and swiftly moving clouds in the desert (a ready set for gorgeous PC wallpapers, hey!), stitched with awesome lighting on main character's face at crucial moments and till the final series of not so obvious but so subtle foreground-background self-speaking plans unleashing on us the powerful drive of wild nature and a human feeling and understanding it.Another pleasant thing about the movie is Viggo Mortensen's play of the main character. And I am very happy for Viggo! You know, after being used for years to see his face on second plans as some evil guy, I was surprised when they took him for one of the main good guys in the Lord Of The Rings, but he did a perfect Aragorn, he was above praise, above expectations. It was a discovery, I guess for many spectators. It is only to be happy for actors who come to it at last, not being probably so perfect in their looks nor extravagant as persons to make their way right to the Milky Way (much more sad for me was the discovery of Leonardo di Caprio, when I saw that as teenager he had shown himself as an ingenious actor while later they made rather a baby-doll from him). The above mentioned success had put Mortensen into the limelight, and here we see him starring again, and the actor himself now advertises for the movie, well like it happens to stars. Not to mention that after watching the documentary about horses for LOTR I guess Viggo was an obvious choice for this role if not the inspiration for the idea! :-) And he does not disappoint! He was wonderful. As strange as it can seem, although I don't feel too much sympathy for the character, I totally admire Viggo's work. How can I say it again in different words? He was fascinating! And other characters in majority were also very very well done, they were very bright and picturesque.But what of the story? It seems absolutely unreal through the whole movie. The characters are so conventional and so typical, the main hero charisma is so much a cliché that I didn't stop to ask myself what were they thinking of when making this movie? To remake an old western? I mean, "Nobody touches my horse" thing was at its top when I was a kid 25 years ago... And the conflict is too typical: our guy ain't bad, he wished bad to anyone, but everyone wishes his death and he stubbornly is going to make it however! And in the end all bad guys are either dead or turn out to be not so bad if not even good and his friends. Some moves in the plot were so exemplary, that they were beyond my expectations – so simple, so banal, so noble... A fairytale, what to say. But in the end I discovered that it was actually based if not on a true story then on a true person's life... Amazing! There is one more inconsistency with my expectations that I discovered right at the beginning of the movie: the movie title is not about the man on the poster – it's his horse's name! I just wasn't aware of that and it became a surprise. And this finally gave me the clue (the day after it) – I remembered our favourite movies when we were kids, about all those wonderful animals – and I think that's it: I was probably prey to commercialization mistake, and the film didn't seem all right as a normal movie if you compare with how they make it now (heroes with more cultural or intellectual depth, complex characters without obvious good/bad absolutisation). I think it will be a great new movie for kids like we haven't seen for a long time – for them everything is in place: no ambiguity, not much psychology, kindness to Indians, central relationship man-animal, beautiful pictures, generous adversaries... And I guess for anyone who loves horses it will be a great movie too! A song of a horse and a rider's journey of will for victory...
Burn the disc now
posted on 15 Jul 2009This was a horrible movie, with a lot of missed potential. Good acting, bad script and direction. Any true movie lover should at least agree with the following: 1. The character development was the worst. You never feel like you get to know the characters, and they only seem to have superficial connections to each other. 2. Things happen with no explanation. Fight scenes where people suddenly have new weapons appear from nowhere, the slave boy that he purchased (or did he????), his connection to the Indians (alright, he's half Indian, but why not let me know this before the mid point of the movie so that I can at least begin to relate). 3. The villains have the most basic of motives.Bad director! Go sit in a corner and think about what you've done.
Well worth the time
posted on 27 Jun 2009Hidalgo. A horse with spirit, pride, and eyes that communicate scriptlines as coherent as any spoken. Viggo Mortensen is a charismatic and very persuasive actor and talented man. Omar Sharif, "Let in the light"... the scene at Wounded Knee is thought provoking. Hidalgo is one I would recommend highly. I do not see how a mustang from America could have any chance though in such a race. It would be unaccustomed to the new climate, and could possibly get sick and die just from the change of environment.
It would be racing against horses who have been on these sands all their lives... it would be at a great disadvantage. Remember the movie Lucas? Where at the end he finally gets to play football and nearly gets killed? Reminds me of those kind of odds.This movie has many subtleties that go unspoken that are the signature of a great film. I'd like to point one out.1. The amount of the purse is unspoken until halfway thru, which leaves the mind open to experience beyond the material aspect.I love the goat herder whose punishment for stealing milk is to work for the American. We see objectively thru the eyes of Frank the positives and negatives that arise from different cultures, including our own.. and this honest experience, gives the film great character.Overall a very enjoyable film. I give this film a 8/10
Pleasantly surprised.
posted on 21 Jun 2009I went in not expecting to enjoy this film at all,but came away pleasantly surprised.It is a compelling story of legendary rider Frank Hopkins and his mustang,Hidalgo.They reached this legendary status by winning many a cross country race,and are asked to test this legend abroad in the hot desert sands of the middle east.The film takes on the typical atmosphere of good guys against the bad guys,but with film goers such as myself who grew up before the whole "shades of gray" theory came along,this is not a bad thing at all.Viggo Mortensen is very credible as Hopkins,and he is given reasonably good support,most notably from acting legend Omar Sharif.Overall,a good(though not quite great)film.
Any connection between reality and this film...
posted on 09 Jun 2009The story of American cowboy Frank Hopkins and his win of a 300o mile race across the sands of Arabia is at best an inflation of the facts. More likely than not the whole thing was made up by Hopkins. There have been dozens of stories since the movie was announced and more since its release taking Hopkins and his claims apart. The most serious problems with his story being that the race apparently never happened.That said, how is the movie?If you can ignore the huge "inspired by a true story" at the start of the film you're in for a fun ride. This is a movie of the sort that they were churning out in the old days of Hollywood, huge spectacles that are perfect to sit and eat popcorn while watching. Of course they have no real basis in reality, and I doubt this film comes close to Hopkins tissue of fabrications, but ts a very good adventure film.The film is not with out its flaws, it behaves like an old Hollywood film so things happen bit too neatly. The film is also probably 20 minutes too long, with the climax actually coming at the halfway point of the race.Still if you're up for a good popcorn film to disappear into for a couple of hours try Hidalgo.
Great story, fantastic action!! A must for Peter Mensah fans!!!
posted on 07 Jun 2009Hidalgo is a story of a man coming to terms with inner conflict. It is nicely written, and proceeds at an easily-viewed pace. Allowing the viewer to fully experience a dramatic rebirth, the movie fulfills the need for a rich and spiritual film. But carefully placed in the story is the character of Jaffa, a loyal servant of the sheik, and bodyguard to his only remaining offspring Jazira. Through Mensah's magnificent features, we understand that there may be a lot more than a simple duty to the beautiful daughter. It represents a quiet and pure love. Unfortunately the relationship isn't permitted to unfold, but the viewer is treated to its power in an unparalled fight sequence.Mensah turns in the action role of the year in a no holds barred fight with scores of villans carrying weapons of all sorts. Once again, Peter Mensah proves he can handle dramatic roles, as well as excite the viewer with visual magnificance. A must see.
Not too shabby - worth seeing
posted on 03 Jun 2009This is a good movie - it avoids a lot of the cliches you'd expect in this type of film. The Arab characters are not stereotyped - the script treats them, their religion and their culture respectfully. In fact, I can't recall a major Hollywood movie that had this much Arabic in it - it's very nice to listen to, and it give the film authenticity. Omar Sharif was terrific - he swings that sword pretty well for being over 70.The film has some minor weaknesses. There are a few cheesy "one-liners" dropped here and there. The cinematography is pretty much Hollywood 101 - it didn't do a good job of providing a good feel for scale of the landscape. I did notice that the sky was faked in a few big action scenes (you can always tell when they do this - the sky looks a little too blue, too perfect; and the light on the actors just doesn't seem to fit). They relied a little too heavy on digital effects - I think a little creative shot taking could have been more effective than seeing two obviously digital cheetahs on the attack.The movie makes up for these shortcomings with actual character development and a good script that's not a sell-out, which are two things many action movies lack these days. While it won't win any Oscars (tm), this film is signifigantly a few steps above an average action flick, which makes it worthy of the $8.00 investment.
A dispatch rider lives in two worlds! He is 1/2 Indian 1/2 white. He needs to reconcile those two worlds in himself to succeed in a race for his life and a big purse!
posted on 01 Jun 2009I just wanted to state that this movie is very enjoyable, no matter how many times I watch it. I am impressed in how the filmmaker portrayed the very sensitive topic of the Wounded Knee Massacre! It was handled tactfully and with sincere empathy! Additionally this film shows an American traveling overseas! He learns of new customs and great differences in cultures. No matter what situation he finds himself in, he is courteous, polite and he accepts that these are the customs of these people! He doesn't try to change the people or push his ways on them, he knows he is a guest in this country and as that, he is downright charming! It is refreshing to see people carry themselves well and with honor, rather than being the "wild Americans" foreign countries have come to expect us to be! Well done Viggo, Joe Johnston and John Fusco!
Hidalgo provides a splendid evening of entertainment for lovers of the old west and those that respect the Sioux, western and Arabic cultures.
posted on 18 May 2009Much has been written about whether the events in the movie Hidalgo are true or even feasible. Whether they are true or not is irrelevant as this is a movie made for entertainment. The cast and crew of Hidalgo have done a tremendous job of creating an entertaining and enjoyable film that is respectful of western, Sioux and Arabic cultures. The characterization of Frank Hopkins in this film is one of the best depictions of cowboy behavior in recent history. Cowboys are respectful, courteous, loyal, hard-working and yet, they do play hard. Inclusion of Lakota Sioux and Arabic dialects with large and easy-to-read English subtitles did not detract from the flow of the film. Some reviewers have commented that Mortensen mumbles too many of his lines. One that is accustomed to listening to Native American dialects might find that the softness, quietness and blending of the sounds is characteristic of this native language. The director did an excellent job in casting this diverse group of actors and each brings distinctive touches to their performance. The cinematographer should be commended for capturing the beauty of each locale, and the scenery is gorgeous. Hidalgo delivers the story of a valiant horse who happened to be owned by a man that stumbled, fell and yet through arduous effort regained his sense of self and place in the world.
A Class Act, for a cowboy movie.
posted on 12 May 2009Audiences love having an underdog to cheer for, and Frank Hopkins and his little painted Hidalgo give them that. Pitted against some of the most legendary Thoroughbred horses the arabian nation has to offer, the cowboy and his little mixed blood horse look like a joke at best, at worst an insult to the prickly pride of both foreign breeders, and the Arab racers, and they do their best to assuage their bruised pride.I thought this was a fabulous movie. It had all the trappings of a traditional cowboy movie, one man against rough odds, trying against hope to pull through in the end, but Viggo's character actually had some class and self esteem. He knew he was being laughed at, but shrugged it off. He didn't feel required to test his manhood against any challengers that may walk by, nor did he feel the need to get between every woman's legs either. He was happy to do what he came there to do, and that was to prove himself.The cinematography was awesome, there was real development of Viggo's character, and a blood stirring race to watch. I was quite pleased with it, and would recommend the movie to anyone.
Hidalgo is not a bad movie, for a sham...
posted on 08 May 2009I have to agree with sci-fi action thinker guy's comments, almost to a T. I rate the movie as a "6", then agree that it should be docked a point for the phony "true story." However, I then ADD a point back because (WARNING SPOILER) Mortensen does not end up bedding the Bedouin princess, nor does he rescue her from her misogynistic culture and return with her to America. I always think it's great when a film thumbs its nose at the most predictable plot elements - kind of like (WARNING SPOILER) "A Few Good Men" refused to put Tom Cruise and Demi Moore in the sack. If this causes too much tension for those of you who can't stand being deprived of experiencing a climax vicariously, gee whiz, rent a porno or something.However, the life of Frank Hopkins (Mortensen) in truth might make for a good movie in its own right. I could imagine a movie of a man telling stories about his adventures to some credulous Hollywood producers in the '50s in order to cash in on the cowboy craze. Offers are solicited, contracts are signed, Hopkins becomes a "real-life" technical adviser about the Old West, only to have it ultimately exposed as a sham. Then, the movie could explore the psychological motivations behind a man who would so ardently sell his fantasy life as real - Ne'er-do-well trying to make a quick buck? Latent homosexual trying to shore up his low self-esteem? In the end, despite the exposure, the character continues to live the life of the cowboy he never was.On top of that, Hopkins-the-sham would have many opportunities to bed '50s Hollywood wannabees who come to believe he is a person of some importance.But then I would have to dock the movie a point...
Beautiful, old-fashioned movie
posted on 30 Apr 2009Hidalgo, starring Viggo Mortensen, for me, was an entertaining adventure. The story tells of Frank Hopkins, an American man from the "Old West" with a mustang horse, who travels to the Middle East where the Bedouin tribes have an annual race called "The Ocean of Fire" where they travel by horse for thousands of miles across the desert, all the way to the sea, to win riches and the Sultan's daughter. Frank, of course, accepts the Sultan's challenge, and heads of with his horse, while others have purebreds. Hidalgo is a great adventure story, and it's only problems are that it sometimes takes twists into sub-plots and sub-sub-plots.Grade: 8/10MPAA Rating: PG-13My Rating: Ages 10 and up (violence, some suggestive references)
Looks great from every angle
posted on 24 Aug 2009I had no idea what this movie would be about before I went but being a Viggo Mortensen fan I was expecting to be impressed, however I must say that even I was surprised by how good this move is. The cinematography is absolutely top-notch. The desert has never looked as beautiful and desolate as it does in Hidalgo. Though the authenticity of the story may be debatable, I found that while watching the movie I was so engrossed I swallowed it hook, line and sinker.Viggo, as always, out does himself. He is simply superb as Frank T. Hopkins, his real-life bond with the horse, Hidalgo, is evident and quite something wonderful to observe. Viggo is in his element here and by all accounts a very gifted actor. A fine figure of a man in that outfit too, I might add!The horse, TJ, who plays Hidalgo, is full of screen presence and charisma! If there was a best actor Oscar for an animal he'd be the winner.*Warning, possible spoiler!*The kidnap scene came slightly out of left-field, but was necessary to keep the tension active and the story moving. The relationship between Frank and Jazira was treated with the uptmost respect. I'm glad it stayed in the realm of understanding between kindred spirits and didn't become farcically romantic (and hollywoodish!). The scene near the end where Frank sings to his ancestors is slightly twee, but ultimately works. My heart was breaking for the horse as he was clearly struggling, but the fact he was willing to try for Frank brought a tear to my eye.Strong performances from all the other actors and fair treatment of all the cultures involved make this a very enjoyable movie. As a horse lover and a Viggo lover, I recommend this movie to everyone. I've seen it twice at the movies and intend to see it at least twice more. Do yourself a favour and go and be entertained.