hidalgo

THE FLICK: Frank Hopkins and his horse, Hidalgo, are a dying breed. So is their movie. An old-fashioned adventure story without any monsters, foul-language or showy special effects (well, maybe one or two), there was a time Hidalgo would have made every kid’s top-ten list. Now it stands out simply because of its simplicity. A past-his-prime cowboy slumming in a Wild West show, Hopkins (Viggo Mortensen of LOTR) accepts an invitation to an endurance race across the Middle East on the back of his famous painted Mustang, Hidalgo. The competition resents his infidel horse’s impure blood and look for every opportunity to put him out of the race. But Hopkins trudges on through sandstorms, locust swarms and a family feud between warring nobles. A bit too epic for its own good (I could have done without Hopkins Indian identity crisis), Hidalgo picks up at about the 45-minute mark with the start of the race. The film makes full use of the stunning locale – rolling dunes and worn riders silhouetted against the setting sun is a favorite shot of director Joe Johnston. And every new adventure seems to top the one before. Mortensen, in his first starring role outside of Middle Earth, downplays his dialogue with a raspy whisper. But he has just the right dusty appearance. Omar Sharif brings some class and a crooked smile to his role as the “Sheik of Sheiks” who has a thing for dime novels. Other than some painfully computer generated cheetahs (you’ll spot ‘em, oh man, will you spot ‘em!), the movie proudly takes the path less traveled as far as action movies go. It’s exciting without the overwhelming need to be edgy. THE FEATURES: Surprisingly light on materials for a movie based on a supposedly true story (Frank Hopkins was known to embellish quite a bit), extras are limited to a 10-minute documentary, Sand & Celluloid, and a DVD-ROM enhanced feature titled America’s First Horse which covers the history of the Mustang (the horse, not the car). The doc runs quickly through the rigors of shooting in a desert environment, the construction of historically accurate sets made of mud, and a recipe for edible locusts (mmm, MMM!). If you look around, there’s an easter egg interview with an Indian who recollects the Hopkins/Hidalgo legend. Still, where’s the commentary? Where’s the History Channel special? Curious. FINAL SCORE: Hidalgo deserves much more attention than it garnered in theaters. Its sweeping story requires a bit of patience, but the journey picks up momentum along the way. The DVD looks nice but is light on extras.