2004 ( USA |Morocco ) ( Action, Adventure, Biography)
DIRECTOR: Joe Johnston
STARRING: Viggo Mortensen, Omar Sharif, Zuleikha Robinson
The movie is a fictionalised version of the life of a real cowboy named Frank T. Hopkins. Hopkins was a half-Indian cowboy who bonded with an uncommonly talented mustang pony named Hidalgo while labouring in Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show. He then decided to risk everything to travel to the Saudi desert and enter the “Ocean of Fire,” a legendary race across the sands for a $10,000 prize. The race is so gruelling that many men and horses die, and some are murdered by their rivals. The story requires a significant suspension of disbelief, as Hopkins and Hidalgo make some amazing escapes, daring rescues, survive shootouts, traps, a plague of locusts, a sandstorm, ambushes, double-dealing and cheating by other riders. High adventure, interesting characters and great scenery combines to make this an enjoyable ride.
(2hr 16min)