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Hidalgo is an epic, rousing adventure, the kind
of film that makes going to the movies worthwhile. It is a tale
of a brave man and his horse, Hidalgo, the best long distance racer
in the world. Haunted by his past and languishing away in boredom,
the pair makes one last run for greatness. Viggo Mortensen chose
wisely in his follow-up to Lord of the Rings. His portrayal of Frank
T. Hopkins is the stuff of a true leading man, rugged and versatile,
hearkening back to the performances of Steve McQueen, Clint Eastwood,
and Alan Ladd. There has been a lot of criticism, especially from
The Hollywood Reporter, about the way Arabs and Persians are portrayed
in the film. I disagree with their assessment and argue that they
missed the whole point of the film. The filmmakers make no sweeping
indictments of any race or culture. They focus on the weakness of
some and compare it to the courage of others. We are meant to embrace
a classic hero, fighting the odds and those out to stop him. Do
not let these errant observations dissuade you from seeing this
film. Hidalgo is by far the best film being released this weekend.
The time is 1890 and Frank Hopkins is the greatest long distance
rider in the America. He runs dispatches for the US military and
unknowingly brings the order that commences the massacre at Wounded
Creek. A half-Indian himself, the slaughter of Wounded Creek bears
heavily on his soul. He takes his horse, joins Buffalo Bill Cody’s
Wild West Show, and descends into alcoholism. Fortunes change when
an emissary from Sheik Riyadh of Saudi Arabia (the great Omar Shariff)
challenges Hopkins to enter the world’s most dangerous horse
race. The sheik takes great umbrage in the claim that Hidalgo is
the world’s best long distance horse. His Arabian, Al Hattal,
is bread from the purest bloodline and the most revered horse in
Persia. He wants to see Hidalgo race the finest horses in the deadly
three thousand-mile race from Arabia to Iraq. It’s a thousand
dollars to enter the race with the victor receiving one hundred
thousand dollars in silver. Hopkins’ compatriots in the Wild
West Show pony up the entrance fee and convince him to give it a
shot. He boards a steamer to Arabia and the adventure of his life
begins.
There are numerous characters in the story from many different
races. The charge of stereotyping comes primarily from the way the
Middle Eastern characters view Hopkins and women in general. Hopkins
is thought of as an infidel and incapable of winning the race with
his impure horse. Also, they engage in trading slaves and have very
strict interpretations of a woman’s place in their society.
People who charge racism in this film are totally off base. Many
characters, especially the white ones, exhibited treachery and greed.
The whites slaughter the Indians in America and are totally duplicitous
in their schemes to win the race. I don’t want to reveal the
story, but a white female character is the primary antagonist, not
an Arab. The whole point of the story is overcoming obstacles. Hopkins
proves that desire and courage, not breeding and society dictates
what a true winner is. His actions speak volumes to those around
him and he soon gains the respect of all that doubted him.
The film is beautifully shot. The editing, cinematography, and
seamless integration of visual FX are quite impressive. Joe Johnston,
the director and a mainstay of Hollywood FX films, reaches the pinnacle
of his career here. He nails two important concepts that provide
an authentic feel to the story. The first and most important is
the race itself. It is a brutal, deadly trek through treacherous
desert terrain. We feel the struggle of the race; it is not glossed
over. There is scene after scene of characters fighting the environment
to survive. It’s a wander to see, with cinematographer Shelly
Johnson using many filters to enhance the barren look of the desert.
Also, Johnston (the director) uses time lapse to speed up and slow
down certain important events. The overall effect is visually stunning
and adds to the pace of the film. The second thing that Johnston
does is to keep the action a part of the story. The film never takes
a break to endeavor into a useless action scene. The action is well
done and fits perfectly into the plot. I never got the feeling that
the action was driving the story. It’s the other way around.
The race is on and Hopkins is out to win it. His adventures from
start to finish are great, but winning the race is what he’s
all about.
Hidalgo takes place on the precipice of the 20th century. The
film does a good job of hammering that in. The Indians have been
defeated, humiliated, and are being rounded up to the reservations.
The horse culture of the west is on the verge of being wiped out
by industrialization. Hopkins is the last of a breed and he knows
it. The race in the desert is the last great hurrah for Hidalgo,
a final race to prove he’s still got it. The horse is the
champion here. Hopkins is supremely faithful to Hidalgo, never letting
anyone belittle or harm is horse. Hidalgo is the spirit and mettle
of the team. Horses have a lot of personality and champions are
not easily broken. They want to win more than their riders do. I
loved the emotional aspect of the film, a man and his horse against
the world.
The story is loosely based on the real exploits of Frank T. Hopkins
and Hidalgo. I’m not sure how true it is, but this is a movie
and purists shouldn’t get worked up. Viggo Mortensen establishes
himself in this film. Lord of the Rings was a spectacular achievement,
but Hidalgo proves his strength on screen was no fluke. Mortensen’s
career spans twenty years on film and he’s finally getting
the A-list roles he deserves. Hidalgo is an adventure tale for the
whole family to enjoy, filled with emotion and quality entertainment.
I highly recommend it.
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