The Cup (2012)

Critic Reviews

• Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times

  A tale of heart-wrenching tragedy and uplifting triumph that never quite hits its stride.

• Joe Leydon, Variety

  Although it canters down a well-trod path toward a predictable finish line, The Cup sustains interest through the smooth efficiency of its storytelling and the engaging performances of its lead players.

• Barbara VanDenburgh, Arizona Republic

  Even the most ardent lover of feel-good biopics would have a hard time backing this horse.

• Soren Anderson, Seattle Times

  It's a very decorous picture in which a sense of conflict is largely lacking.

• Mike McGranaghan, Aisle Seat

  I found The Cup to be a pleasant-enough viewing experience. At the same time, I was never as riveted as I have been by other, similarly-themed films. It makes you feel good without ever truly stirring the soul.

• Calum Marsh, Slant Magazine

  One wonders who the audience is for a film this far removed from the dirt and grime of the reality it claims to be based on, and why they find anything so squeaky-clean appealing.

• Luke Buckmaster, Crikey

  Director Simon Wincer, who also co-wrote the screenplay, was not the right person to avoid certain temptations, like dunking the audience's noggins into a honey pot of clichés.

• Jason Di Rosso, MovieTime, ABC Radio National

  The hybrid feel of it all works, and the inevitable uneven moments didn't bother me, nor did the odd story cliché.

• Matt Neal, The Standard

  I wouldn't back this donkey.

• Sandra Hall, Sydney Morning Herald

  It's a shamelessly old-fashioned picture but if you like horses and fancy cantering off into the land of wish-fulfilment for a couple of hours, why not?

• Leigh Paatsch, Herald Sun (Australia)

  The Cup has certainly been released at the right time to cash in on Spring Racing Carnival fever. But not all paying punters will be pleased with the final dividend returned.

• David Stratton, At the Movies (Australia)

  There's a lot of interesting stuff here but in the end it's a bit disappointing.

• Matthew Toomey, ABC Radio Brisbane

  The Cup doesn't dig deeply enough into its characters. Everyone is portrayed in a positive light and it's as if the writers were too afraid to challenge the audience.

• Jim Schembri, The Age (Australia)

  Let's face it, better to be a crowd pleaser than a critic pleaser.

• Margaret Pomeranz, At the Movies (Australia)

  The problem is that everyone is so nice. It's as if the film has to pussyfoot around not to offend any of the people depicted in the film because they are mostly still alive, so the tension is really all internal,

• Simon Miraudo, Quickflix

  Director Simon Wincer is unable to convey this tale in a manner that would elevate it beyond the experience of reading the condensed, chronological series of events on Wikipedia.

• Tom Ryan, The Age (Australia)

  Talk about product placement: there are times when The Cup resembles a feature-length advertisement for the race itself.

• Erin Free, FILMINK (Australia)

  Driven by Stephen Curry's brilliant lead performance, this deeply moving story is told in an accessible but powerful manner.

• Brad Gray, MovieFIX

  The Melbourne Cup captures the public imagination, but unfortunately the same can't be said for this film, which in the end, finishes a few lengths short.

• Don Groves, sbs.com.au

  Tale of a Melbourne Cup triumph is reduced to a corny horse opera

Read all 20 critic reviews