"The Rider" (2017 release; 104 min.) brings the story of Brady, a rodeo cowboy somewhere in South Dakota's Badlands. As the movie opens, Brady is popping pills as he is recovering from a serious rodeo accident that led to a broken skulls (now reinforced with a metal plate and staples). We also get to know his family, as he lives with his dad and his sister 15 yr. old sister Lilly who has Asperger's syndrome. His mom passed away a few years back (we don't know from what). Hanging out with his friends, they wonder when he'll return to the rodeo competition. Then one day Brady's fingers claw up, and something seems very wrong. At this point we're less than 15 min. into the movie but to tell you more of the plot would spoil your viewing experience, you'll just have to see for yourself how it all plays out.
Couple of comments: this is the second movie from writer-producer-director Chloe Zhao, who previously gave us the excellent "Songs My Brothers Told Me". Here the Chinese film maker (who has lived in the US the past 2 decades) tackles a very American topic: the Big Sky cowboy mentality, with its horses, rodeo, macho and of course gun culture. Brady Jandreau, the real life bronco rider who almost died in real life, plays a thinly veiled version of himself as Brady Blackburn, who in the movie is trying to find a way in life after suffering the almost fatal accident. When Brady is hanging out with his buds, one of them comments "I've had at least 10 concussions,; by NFL standards I should be dead by now", and the group chuckles. Remarkably, Brady's family are also portrayed by his real life dad and sister, and in fact there isn't a single professional performer in the movie. Which makes Brady Jandreau's performance in the lead role all the more remarkable. He is in virtually every frame of the movie, and truly carries the movie on his shoulders. The movie's photography is pure eye-candy from start to finish. With this film, Zhao confirms, and then some, what an enormous talent that she is, and I can't wait to see what she will bring next.
"The Rider" premiered at last year's Cannes Film Festival, and received a US theatrical only last month (I have no idea why it has taken so long, but better late than never). The movie finally opened at my local art-house theater here in Cincinnati this weekend, and i couldn't wait to see it. The Friday early evening screening where I saw this at was PACKED, much to my surprised. Who knew there was a pent-up demand for this movie? In the age of never-ending Avengers, Deadpool and Solo/Star Wars installations and rehashes, "The Rider" feels like a breath of fresh air. I see a lot of movies, and this one for me is the best film of the year so far, period. I'd readily encourage you to check it out in the theater (if you still can), on VOD, or eventually on DVD/Blu-ray, and draw your own conclusion. For me, "The Rider" is a WINNER all the way.
Couple of comments: this is the second movie from writer-producer-director Chloe Zhao, who previously gave us the excellent "Songs My Brothers Told Me". Here the Chinese film maker (who has lived in the US the past 2 decades) tackles a very American topic: the Big Sky cowboy mentality, with its horses, rodeo, macho and of course gun culture. Brady Jandreau, the real life bronco rider who almost died in real life, plays a thinly veiled version of himself as Brady Blackburn, who in the movie is trying to find a way in life after suffering the almost fatal accident. When Brady is hanging out with his buds, one of them comments "I've had at least 10 concussions,; by NFL standards I should be dead by now", and the group chuckles. Remarkably, Brady's family are also portrayed by his real life dad and sister, and in fact there isn't a single professional performer in the movie. Which makes Brady Jandreau's performance in the lead role all the more remarkable. He is in virtually every frame of the movie, and truly carries the movie on his shoulders. The movie's photography is pure eye-candy from start to finish. With this film, Zhao confirms, and then some, what an enormous talent that she is, and I can't wait to see what she will bring next.
"The Rider" premiered at last year's Cannes Film Festival, and received a US theatrical only last month (I have no idea why it has taken so long, but better late than never). The movie finally opened at my local art-house theater here in Cincinnati this weekend, and i couldn't wait to see it. The Friday early evening screening where I saw this at was PACKED, much to my surprised. Who knew there was a pent-up demand for this movie? In the age of never-ending Avengers, Deadpool and Solo/Star Wars installations and rehashes, "The Rider" feels like a breath of fresh air. I see a lot of movies, and this one for me is the best film of the year so far, period. I'd readily encourage you to check it out in the theater (if you still can), on VOD, or eventually on DVD/Blu-ray, and draw your own conclusion. For me, "The Rider" is a WINNER all the way.