Running time: 137 minutes
Starring: Viggo Mortensen, Omar Sharif, Louise Lombard, Zuleikha Robinson
Rating 4 out of 10
Hidalgo is the name of a legendary American horse that took part in the notorious Arabian desert race of 1890, the first non-Arabian animal to do so. When it won against all the odds, both the horse and notorious owner/rider Frank Hopkins carved out their own legend in the annals of early American horse-racing. Joe Johnson's film on the subject takes an old-fashioned look at an old-fashioned tale, where heroism in the face of adversity is the order of the day.
Viggo Mortensen plays Hopkins, and from the early scenes we learn that he is a man with all the attributes of justice, courage and kindness that you could ever want. The half-bred son an Indian mother and cowboy father, Hopkins keenly understands the Native American plight at the hands of marauding white invaders. So much so that when he sees his family slaughtered he retires to the circus to live out a drunken life as a performer with his special equine friend. That is until his claim to own the world's greatest horse is challenged by a wealthy Arab prince who invites him to participate in the world's most gruelling long distance horse race.
Hopkins accepts and on the voyage to the Middle East encounters a mysterious wealthy Brit (Louise Lombard) who is also entering a horse in the race. Once he is safely on very dry land he is invited to the tent of the local leader (Omar Sharif) who has both a vested interest in the outcome of the race as well as the marital fortune of his remaining unwed daughter, the beautiful Princess Jazeira (Zuleikha Robinson). Once the race is underway, Hopkins is threatened by a gang leader and his feelings for the new ladies in his life fill him with contradictory choices.
There is a definite old-style Saturday matinee feel to the way the film is shot, and in his first solo lead role since he became a worldwide icon with Lord of the Rings, Mortensen certainly proves that he has a suitable old-fashioned charm to match. Sharif makes a welcome return, lighting up the screen with every appearance. The film also takes an interesting and understanding look at the Arab culture, somewhat removed from the usual Hollywood stereotyping.
Nevertheless, it is overlong at 135 minutes and tries to be too earnest: the crowbarring of an ecological theme comes back to haunt the film-makers when Hopkins encounters his spiritual ancestors in a rather embarrassing vision in the desert. The special effects are too often rather underwhelming and the most interesting aspect of the film, the actual race itself, turns into a predictable cat and mouse game between Hopkins and his nemesis.
Many have questioned the veracity of the film which claims to be based on fact. It is argued the Hopkins made up much of his own folklore. Whether or not this is the case, the film is ultimately rather a forgettable affair.
Viggo Mortensen plays Hopkins, and from the early scenes we learn that he is a man with all the attributes of justice, courage and kindness that you could ever want. The half-bred son an Indian mother and cowboy father, Hopkins keenly understands the Native American plight at the hands of marauding white invaders. So much so that when he sees his family slaughtered he retires to the circus to live out a drunken life as a performer with his special equine friend. That is until his claim to own the world's greatest horse is challenged by a wealthy Arab prince who invites him to participate in the world's most gruelling long distance horse race.
Hopkins accepts and on the voyage to the Middle East encounters a mysterious wealthy Brit (Louise Lombard) who is also entering a horse in the race. Once he is safely on very dry land he is invited to the tent of the local leader (Omar Sharif) who has both a vested interest in the outcome of the race as well as the marital fortune of his remaining unwed daughter, the beautiful Princess Jazeira (Zuleikha Robinson). Once the race is underway, Hopkins is threatened by a gang leader and his feelings for the new ladies in his life fill him with contradictory choices.
There is a definite old-style Saturday matinee feel to the way the film is shot, and in his first solo lead role since he became a worldwide icon with Lord of the Rings, Mortensen certainly proves that he has a suitable old-fashioned charm to match. Sharif makes a welcome return, lighting up the screen with every appearance. The film also takes an interesting and understanding look at the Arab culture, somewhat removed from the usual Hollywood stereotyping.
Nevertheless, it is overlong at 135 minutes and tries to be too earnest: the crowbarring of an ecological theme comes back to haunt the film-makers when Hopkins encounters his spiritual ancestors in a rather embarrassing vision in the desert. The special effects are too often rather underwhelming and the most interesting aspect of the film, the actual race itself, turns into a predictable cat and mouse game between Hopkins and his nemesis.
Many have questioned the veracity of the film which claims to be based on fact. It is argued the Hopkins made up much of his own folklore. Whether or not this is the case, the film is ultimately rather a forgettable affair.
