DREAMER

US, 2005, 98 minutes, Colour.
Kurt Russell, Dakota Fanning, Kris Kristofferson, Elizabeth Shue, David Morse, Freddie Rodriguez, Luis Guzman.
Directed by John Gatins.

Dreamer bears the subtitle, Inspired by a true story. Just as well, because it does seem a bit far-fetched. However, we have seen Seabiscuit and know that horses which have been injured and written off can rise to occasions and become champions. The press book gives information about the story on which Dreamer is based and the real horse seems to have been even more successful in races than Sonyador in the film.

Director John Gatins has made a career of writing sports films. They include Coach Carter (basketball) and two baseball films, Hardball and Summer Catch. He knows the successful formula for a heart-warming sports film.

However, this reviewer’s heart turns a little cold when Dakota Fanning appears on screen. A journalist described her as ‘the whey-faced girl with the frightening work ethic’. This work ethic is to the fore in Dreamer. We know she is a little girl who likes horses but she comes across less as a child than as a mini-adult in the way she bears herself, walks and talks, She has no scruples in emotionally blackmailing her father after he did the right thing in letting the horse go – and, not only does he buy the horse back, he makes her a major owner with power to make decisions, front acceptance boards and confront a tycoon owner. She also has to face up to a tycoon sheikh to get over $100,000 dollars to enter her horse in the championship race. Of course, she does. She is never plagued by self-doubt.

So, if you don’t mind Dakota Fanning and her precocious presence, the rest is standard ‘family’ fare with Kurt Russell agreeable as the father, Elisabeth Shue with less to do as the mother and Kris Kristofferson as the grumpy then kindly grandfather. There are some exciting race and training sequences which make it a pleasantly standard racing film.

1.The perennial appeal of films about horses? Children? Racing? The popular formula?

2.The focus on the horse, the races, the injury, the work on the horse, the challenge for its recovery, the racing, the opportunity for success?

3.The Kentucky settings, the farm, the racecourses? The musical score?

4.The intended audience, children, family? Horse and racing lovers?

5.Cale and her voice-over? Her explanation of the family, its history, her grandfather, father, training of horses? The difficulties? The differences between her father and grandfather? Her father and his employers, the experience of Sonador? Sonador and the race, the warning, the fall? The horse coming to their stable? Her love of horses, her interest in Sonador, the training? Her regret when her father had to let it go? Her tantrum and demands? Her being part-owner, major owner? Her decision? Her dream of its success – fulfilment?

6.Cale and Dakota Fanning’s screen presence, her age, acting like an adult, her relationship to her father, to her mother, to her grandfather? Her observing the training, her shrewdness, watching the horses, the race, her dismay at the treatment of the horse, her ownership? Her confrontation of the board? Confrontation of Palmer? Her success?

7.Ben, his hard work, giving Palmer the information about the horse, its collapsing? His relationship with his father and the tension? His being sacked, his deal with getting Sonador? His getting information from the vet? Horses with similar injuries? Trust? His father helping? Balon and Manolin and their being sacked, working with him, caring for the horse? The horse’s development, training and timing? The decision to enter it in the race, its success? The decision to enter it in the big race – and the discovery that the horse had been sold? Ben and his relationship with Cale, getting the horse back? The risk, the ownership? The negotiations for the money, going to the prince, the success and the winning of the race? His relationship with his wife – tensions, her work, love for her?

8.The grandfather, the clash with his son, love for his granddaughter? Sardonic, pessimistic about the horse? The growing interest, the help? His mellowing? His regrets about his relationship with his own son and Ben’s dreams?

9.Lily, at home, loving mother, at work, supportive? The renewed relationship with Ben?

10.Manolin and Balon, Hispanic, their work, being looked down on by Palmer, working with Ben, helping with the horse? The part-ownership?

11.Palmer, his arrogance, racist attitudes? The injury of the horse – and his deal with Ben? His later confrontation with Cale?

12.The Arab sheikhs, the brothers and their rivalry, the failure of Sonador? Ben going to the rival brother, his giving the money?

13.The photographing of the races, the excitement, success?

14.A popular family film – according to the racing formula?