By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3.5 cats
Director: Euros Lyn
Starring: Damian Lewis | Joanna Page | Karl Johnson | Nicholas Farrell | Owen Teale | Peter Davison | Siân Phillips | Toni Collette
Country: united_kingdom
Year: 2021
Running time: 113
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9883996/reference
Chris says: “Based on a true story, this film about a middle-aged Welsh woman (Toni Collette) breeding a prize-winning race horse is thoroughly predictable but considerably engaging fluff. You’ve seen all this before: the protagonist who interrupts her everyday tedium by taking a risk, the experienced but troubled mentor (here played by Damian Lewis) assisting her and the provincial community that comes to her support where together, they beat the odds and accomplish something extraordinary. In light of all those tropes, what makes DREAM HORSE watchable is its utter sincerity and wholeheartedness. As a film critic, I give it 3 cats for not offering anything particularly new, but might add another half-cat as it’s a perfectly fine example of guilt free, feel good entertainment.
“(Screened at IFFBoston 2021.)”
Michael responds: “I’m in complete agreement with Chris’ review. It seems the Brits handle this type of film pretty well (think WAKING NED DEVINE, FULL MONTY).Toni Collette’s strong performance helps any movie she’s in as well. Not really that much to say about it, but a solid 3 cats seems right to me.”
Thom says: “While there is nothing extra special about this dramatic biopic I gave it a high rating due to a few very subjective reasons. Mostly, I so admire Toni Collette and she invariably enchants in almost every role she attempts and she shines bright in this dynamic role of Welsh barkeep Jan Vokes as the head of a small-town syndicate that breeds a thoroughbred horse that becomes a steeplechase champion. Secondly I have been a ginormous fan of horseracing almost my entire life, obsessively so at times. I also met and became friends with wonderful Bruce Kingsley because of horse racing, although he rather went off it the last few years of his life. Thirdly, being a huge fan of BILLIONS, I was interested in comparing Damian Lewis’ acting smarts here playing a businessman who buys into Jan’s dream, much to the consternation of his wife, whereas in BILLIONS he is Bobby Axelrod, a super-rich, super-piece-of-shit corporate monster, who loves to ruin people’s lives. The film is made with love and care and it was haunting looking back at the documentary made on the same subject DARK HORSE (2015). I liked that they didn’t Hollywoodize the project, keeping the proceedings close to the truth. There is little more to rave over, simply an admission of extreme prejudice in favour of the material. 4.5 cats“