Hidalgo Review
by Homer Yen (homer_yen AT yahoo DOT com)March 15th, 2004
"Hidalgo" – Ride-em Cowboy
by Homer Yen
(c) 2004
As I watch actor Viggo Mortensen in this film, I can't but think about his participation in the "The Lord of the Rings". And thus I can't really focus on his character in this film, an introspective yet lost soul, without thinking about his role as the king of Middle Earth of that Hobbit film. That becomes a distraction, at least for me. I take nothing away from his good screen presence. However, there's a strange sense of déjà vu that handicaps an otherwise stately film.
And then again, I am also distracted by its focus on a little-horse-that-could, which brings back recent memories of Academy Award nominee, "Seabiscuit". As those two films are still fresh in my mind, I can say that those two films were higher quality offerings. "Hidalgo" is a competent and well-made film. But as far as its ability to really win you over, it's a dark horse.
More a tall tale than a historical account, this film tells the tale of a durable team whose legend is intertwined with stories about Buffalo Bill Cody, Annie Oakley, and other Wild West personalities. One of the team member is Frank Hopkins (Mortensen), who has been jaded by his previous service in the Army and now finds himself a circus entertainer. It seems that his only source of inspiration is his partner, a beautiful brown-and-white mustang named Hidalgo. In a previous period, their claim to fame has been their success at long-distance races. Before both retire, perhaps they may have one grand race left in them. In this film, they compete in the mother of all races.
The event is located half a world away. It spans 3,000 miles across the Arabian dessert, known more colorfully as the Ocean of Fire. The cinematography is the highlight of this film. The racers enter cities made of sand and stone, gallop across rolling dunes, and ride steadily across the expansive and arid plains. Just as there is beauty, there is also danger. These sequences are envisioned nicely as a sky-darkening locust swarm or a blindingly deadly sandstorm. The visuals are all handsomely presented.
Less impressive, though, are the characterizations. Two other predominant characters are at the forefront of this story. One is the Lady Anne (Louise Lombard) who hopes victory will enable her to further her personal business ambitions. She is as conniving as she is eloquent. And she gives credence to the thought that sometimes the most beautiful things are also the most deadly. The other character is the regal Sheik Riyadh (Omar Sharif) who sponsors the race as well as one of the horses that is racing in it. The inclusion of this veteran star automatically elevates this from a routine amazing race to a higher level of moviemaking. In fact, watching the scenes in which Frank and Hidalgo struggle to soldier forth, you can almost discern a sense of majesty.
In the end, the onscreen events, happily, do feel more like the Tour de France and not so much like a comical Speed Racer. The film is beautiful-looking and has the kind of grace that reminds you of films populated by the likes of Errol Flynn and Douglas Fairbanks. Viggo Mortenson has defined himself as a bona fide screen presence. However, "Hidalgo" seems a bit overly ambitious, curiously underwhelming and a bit too lengthy. You come away wishing that the film were a bit more taut and a bit more fun.
Grade: B-
S: 0 out of 3
L: 0 out of 3
V: 1 out of 3
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