Hidalgo
Director: Joe Johnston
Year Released: 2004
Rating: 1.0
A cowboy goes to Arabia to teach them about the "American Way" - using brute force and determination as opposed to 'prayer,' Divine Intervention or 'pure' bloodlines - and beating them at their own game: horse racing across the desert. Viggo Mortensen's character is too depressed and distracted to work as a captivating lead - which is why the movie is named after his more charismatic horse - and the plot is that of a long endurance test broken up by some in-fighting and, of course, a kidnapped girl. It isn't unattractive by any means, but there isn't a much of a pulse: sure, there are CGI sand storms and elaborate tracking shots, but it doesn't feel like a lot is at stake.
