Dir. Joe Johnston, USA/136 mins
Cast: Viggo Mortensen, Omar Sharif, Zuleikha Robinson, Louise Lombard, Adam Alexi-Malle, Saïd Taghmaoui, J.K. Simmons
Set in the 1890s, Frank T. Hopkins (Mortensen), a half Sioux dispatch rider, spends his days in a drunken haze and making a living performing in Buffalo Bill's (Simmons) Wild West Show. Hopkins has never come to terms with the fact that he delivered the orders to soldiers to quell a Sioux rebellion, resulting in their massacre.
Hopkins ' horsemanship - and the claims on the billboard that he and his mustang, Hidalgo, are the world's greatest long-distance racers - rouses the interest of Aziz (Alexi-Mille), a visiting representative of Bedouin horse breeders. He orders that the billing be changed, or Hopkins proves the claim by entering the hazardous Ocean of Fire race. With a huge sum of prize money on offer, Hopkins accepts the challenge.
However, all does not go too smoothly. He is scorned by the Arab riders who are insulted that Hopkins - the only westerner in the race - could consider himself and his Mustang any match for their purebred Arab steeds. Not only does Hopkins have to deal with the desert staples of sandstorms and locusts, he also faces strong competition by riders who will stop at nothing to win. These include Prince Bin al Reeh (Taghmaoui), who has been promised Sheikh Riyadh's (Sharif), daughter Jazira's (Robinson) hand in marriage should he win and Lady Anne Davenport (Lombard), an English aristocrat who is backing another horse. But Hopkins biggest obstacle is he as he embarks on a journey of self-discovery that may bring him the peace he craves.
'Based on a true story'. Just how much trouble can these five little words cause for a film? Heaps it would seem! Before Hidalgo has had a chance to bolt from the gate under starter's orders, it has run into controversy. 'Experts' in Frank T Hopkins, Native American histories, and all things horsey, have got their knickers in knot about the authenticity of the Hopkins' story. Whatever the validity of the complaints, Director Joe Johnston (Jumanji; Jurassic Park III) and Screenwriter John Fusco (Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron; Young Guns) have done what filmmakers do all the time - exercise their creative license. And what they offer is a take on the myth around Hopkins rather than the truth.
Hidalgo is served up as an adventurous romp in the style of Indiana Jones. The sandstorm, locusts and rescue of Jazira provide the film with great visual effects, action and horsemanship from Mortensen. However these scenes are too few in providing respite from a race which is more of a plod, hence you never get a real sense of Hopkins ' zest to win.
The film also touches on cultural and race issues, and again much criticism has been levelled at the Muslim portrayal in the film. It could be said that given the current political climate, that the complainants are being a bit sensitive? If anything, Hidalgo addresses the issues in a balanced way. For example, Hopkins, being of mixed parentage and a westerner!! is referred to as an 'infidel' by his Arabic competitors. However he is treated with respect by the Sheikh, but not before he threatens to remove Hopkins' testicles when he's caught with his daughter!
Mortensen, back from his wars in Middle Earth (Lord of the Rings) is fine in a part that doesn't really require him to do much. He's denied the chance to play the emotional dramas and given that Hopkins' is trying to come to terms with a tragic past, this is an unfortunate oversight in the scripting. Sharif is excellent as the Sheikh who loves Wild West stories and gives Hopkins a sympathetic shoulder to lean on. The biggest problem with the characterisations is Jazira. She is far too 'western' in her ideas given the time the film is set. Still, with her father's curiosity and embracing of western ideas himself, Fusco's script just about gets away with it.
While Hidalgo has been described as an epic, Lawrence of Arabia this is not. Instead, Johnston delivers a watchable family film that will provide more than enough entertainment on a rainy afternoon.
Sandi Chaitram
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