Customer Reviews

Dreamer-Inspired By a True Story [VHS]

5 star:		(84)
4 star:		(38)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

My wife and I both agree, that this is about the best horseracing movie we've seen, all the way around--cast, direction, script, soundtrack. The premise is a movie cliche, of course, and the end is mighty predictable. What makes this movie rise above all the others is mostly the marvelous cast.

Kurt Russell looks like a Kentucky horse trainer. His run-down farm looks like the real thing. Kris Kristoferson is his distant and mouthy father, a splendid choice for the role. Dakota Fanning and Elizabeth Shue are just right in their parts--archetypical rather than stereotypical. The string music speaks of Kentucky, but not of the hills.

Morse plays the instrument of the sellout, money, power, and corruption, a voice that small time horse trainers will recognize as true. The conflict here is between values, the slick money men vs. flesh-and-blood people. The Saudi princes get a role in here, but they are neither bashed nor glorified. Kentuckians will recognize many bit players in here too, including jockey Tammy Fox.

Based on a true story, as they say. The first half of the movie could be based upon a lot of true stories. A lot. The last half of the movie is a fantasy, but we happen to know some fantasies that came true.

Not just that an independent smalltime horseman can win a big race, although that happens now and then--no, more often the way this fantasy works out is, that someone who loves horses gets to spend a lifetime working with them, while supporting their family, and free of the corruption of drugs and the cheap and commercial fast buck.

Independently poor--but by God independent.

Dakota Fanning's new horse film, "Dreamer", was not a movie I was planning to see. The trailer was kind of boring and while I enjoy a good horse yarn there's a lot out there right now. But I got free tickets, so I went. And while "Dreamer" doesn't approach such gold standards as "National Velvet" or "The Black Stallion", the film is a well-made and ultimately thrilling story of a horse and its girl.

Fanning stars as Cale Crane, the latest in a long line of horse people in the Crane family. The Cranes have fallen on hard times: their horse farm is being sold off piece by piece, Mom has to pick up shifts in a diner, and when one night a horse Mr. Crane is training takes a bad fall Dad loses his job and inherits the busted-up horse to boot.

Universally advised to put the horse down, Crane (Kurt Russel) instead plans to fix her up just enough so he can breed her. How that rather reasonable plan evolves into a plan to race the horse, whose name "Sonador" means "dreamer" in Spanish, is the fun of the movie and what makes it a notch above the typical "inspirational" story.

The first half of the film drags a bit (shots of clouds going by and grass standing still don't help), but it gets better, and Fanning as usual is great. I thought the young kids in the audience I was with would be bored by the relatively slow tone, but they absolutely loved the movie, and for the entire last five minutes of the film they were cheering and yelling and you couldn't hear what was going on in the film. Based on that reaction I give this film four stars and recommended it to families, especially those with any horse-loving girls. Just explain to your kids that jumping off the house roof onto hay bales is a bad idea, no matter what Fanning does.

GRADE: B

This is a very good fact based drama. The story is solid, but what makes this film outstanding is the cast chosen, and not enough good things can be said about them. Kurt Russell is a horse trainer from Kentucky. His look and mannerisms are spot on, and he carries this role well. Dakota Fanning is the daughter and the heart of the movie with Elizabeth Shue cast as mom. Kris Kristoferson is the father/grandfather, and no one could have played this role. His gruff unbending exterior is flawless.

When I asked my son why he liked this movie so much, he simply said that it was very exciting (he didn't add that it also moved him deeply, a fact I know because I saw him trying to hide his tears at one point).
As many viewers may know by now, Dakota Fanning is one major talent, a child actress who seems both believable and unique, a special soul who is so intensely involved in her performances that it is nearly impossible not to get caught up in her spell.
In this film, she plays the daughter of a man who is down on his luck, unable to catch a break. Somehow she manages to convince him that one horse is worth saving and then, possibly, able to race again.
Gotta give credit to Dakota Fanning and Kurt Russell for keeping this one believable and not letting it sink into the realm of sentimental pap. But it does not, resulting in a magical film which is also inspiring.
Try to catch this one on the big screen, as the racing scenes are much more intense that way. It'll still be good on DVD but I think this is one film which deserves to be seen in theatres.

"Dreamer" is the story of a racehorse that suffers a terrible accident during a race. Because of his daughter, a man decides to keep the horse rather than putting it down. Through hard work and time, the horse is worked back to health and in condition to race again. Now owned by a little girl, played by the wonderful Dakota Fanning, the horse is entered in the Breeder's Cup.

Even though you might guess at the movie's ending just by knowing the basic plot, so is the same with almost every other movie in Hollywood.

The movie itself is very well done with an amazing acting performance by Dakota Fanning and by others in the cast. The plot is interesting and doesn't drag at any moment leaving the entire film interesting.

This is the perfect family movie or even good for a date or anyone who just enjoys good movies.

This was basically the first horse movie I had ever seen and liked. I didn't like the movie version of "Seabiscuit" or the various other horse films made throughout the years. This wasn't the top on my list of must-see movies, but I went anyway.

First off, the trailers (particularly the super-long one shown on evening tv) did this film a major dis-service. The trailers show Dakota Fanning and Kurt Russell in cheesy, lame moments, so I was expecting this of the movie. Not so. The story of a good horse who is injured, then fixed, then injured again, then fixed for good was terrific. In parts in was hilarious, and the supporting cast fit in perfectly with the two main stars (I especially liked Kris Kristofferson as "Pop"). For the most part, you know what's going to happen, but it doesn't matter. It's fun to watch them struggle and learn, and at times it is very..touching.

And about the cheesy moments..they're not cheesy in the context of the film. It is very enjoyable from start to finish, and the dialogue, for the most part, is believable. I would recommend this one for anybody, unless you don't like horses. Well, that's it for me. Farewell, and happy trails...

Ben Crane is a horse trainer who works for money-grubbing, corrupt owners. When the owner's prized philly takes a hard spill during a training run, Ben is advised to put the horse down. Instead, he decides to adopt the horse, and takes her to his farm for rehabilitation. Although Ben comes from a long line of Kentucky horsemen, his farm is rather run-down, and his finances are in dire straits. His wife has to work odd shifts in the town diner, and his relationship with his father and daughter is strained. Soon after adopting the horse and making several unsuccessful attempts to mate her (which can bring in some serious money because of her lineage), he begins training her to race again. To make a long story short, the process of bringing the horse back to the racetrack is what this movie is all about. ALL of the characters interact well together in this movie. Despite their hardships, they are loyal and committed to each other....wonderful qualities for children to see. I especially loved watching Dakota Fanning on the big screen. Her character is cute, smart, and downright sassy, and her performance is nothing short of phenomenal.

Dreamer is a movie that you can watch with your family again and again and love it every time. This is a story about second chances, commitment and courage.

Enjoy

........that Hollywood has given us a truly wonderful, feel good, delightful movie without profanity, obscenity, or other vile behaviors. The acting seemed natural and real to me, with the usual highs and lows that Life delivers, along with a fantastical, exciting ending. With Dakota Fanning (a child genius in the acting world}, Kurt Russell, and Kris Kristofferson, it would be a shock if the acting was not good! The photography and music were excellent with both adding immensely to the finished product. Miss Fanning is brilliant in her role. Clearly, she has more talent in her little finger than most adults who have worked many years at their craft. Four of my grandchildren, ages 5 to 10 (2 boys, 2 girls) were enthralled through the entire movie. I've seen it twice and am about to go a third time, within 10 days, with 3 other little ones. Yes, I loved it THAT much! I urge everyone to go see it! Enjoy!

By now you know what Dreamer is about so I will just talk about our reaction to it. From the youngest (7) to the teenager (15) to the Dad (60) & Mom (?) we all loved it! There are so few movies these days that are appropriate for the whole family & this fit the bill. The audiance loved it also. At times the whole theater clapped & cheered. Dreamer is definitely a feel good movie.

I love this movie, but then again, after all I had read about it, I thought I would. It didn't disappoint me, except I didn't play close enough attention to the word "inspired" in the title because, unlike the story of Seabiscuit, this isn't what really happened.

It's based on a nice comeback story a real racehorse, "Mariah's Storm," which did make a great comeback from a serious injury but not to the extent of what happens here in this movie. This was exaggerated to the hilt for dramatic purposes, but that's okay once you know that because the story is, indeed, "inspirational."

Most important, this is about as nice a modern-day film as you will ever find. There's nary a swear word, hardly even a raised voice. There are nice characters and a sweet, family-friendly tone to it with a tear-in-your-eyes Seabiscuit-type tale and ending.

Dakota Fanning once again demonstrates why she is the greatest child actor of her generation. Kurt Russell is excellent, too. Ole Kurt must be mellowing these days playing subdued nice guys like this. It's good to see. The same goes for Elisabeth Shue. This is a far cry from her role in Leaving Las Vegas. Even Kris Kristofferson holds his tongue in this film! Amazing.

Like Seabiscuit, this also is beautifully filmed. I wonder if any sport is filmed and is just surrounded by all this beauty in real-life, too, like horse racing? It IS "the sport of kings." There is some spectacular scenery in here, much of it in Kentucky and where better to be when filming a horse racing story?

So, if you and your kids - or just you - want to settle in for nice film, and you're looking for a pleasing, nice-looking, feel-good story you absolutely cannot miss with this film. Very highly recommended.