UNBRIDLED. UNBROKEN. UNBEATEN.
In 1890, cowboy Frank T. Hopkins (Viggo Mortensen) travels to Arabia to compete with his horse Hidalgo in a race to Damascus; some of his competitors are ruthless. Joe Johnston is a reliable craftsman; this film is an exciting, old-fashioned adventure flick suitable for family audiences. It was reportedly based on reality, and features an engaging performance by Mortensen; the supporting cast is less charismatic (even Omar Sharif), but this still feels like a project everybody has taken on with enthusiasm. Gorgeously shot in the desert… but the story is ultimately overlong.
2004-U.S. 135 min. Color. Widescreen. Directed by Joe Johnston. Music: James Newton Howard. Cast: Viggo Mortensen (Frank T. Hopkins), Omar Sharif (Sheik Riyadh), Louise Lombard (Lady Anne Davenport), Saïd Taghmaoui, Peter Mensah, J.K. Simmons. Cameo: Malcolm McDowell.
Trivia: After the shoot, Mortensen allegedly purchased the horse playing Hidalgo.