Jockey

Jockey is a very intriguing movie. In terms of sports films it sits alongside peers like The Wrestler. The focus isn't the sport but the man, exploring the affects of his sporting life on his psyche, his relationships, and his body. Clifton Collins Jr gives an incredible performance as ageing and injured jockey Jackson. It's a very deep, layered, and enthralling performance, with lots to dig into. A very well written character with a brilliant actor in the saddle. Supporting performances from Moises Arias and Molly Parker are great, but Collins Jr steals the show. The story is good, maybe could have explored a few elements a bit more and gone a bit farther, and somehow felt a bit drawn out despite being only 90 minutes long. However there are many great emotional beats and lots to connect to. Overall a very solid and engaging screenplay. What is really beautiful about this film though is the photography and style. Simply put it looks gorgeous and is a treat to look at. The slow pace and relatively lack of story points may not be for everyone, but the meditative and reflective style, the stunning cinematography, and the stellar leading performance make Jockey a fantastic watch in my book.

Seems so real. Such interesting characters.

Jockey is an achingly beautiful and beautifully acted film about one man trying for one last shot at glory. Jackson Silva is a jockey who rides out in Arizona. He is successful at that level but a career of falls has left his health at a low ebb. Medical advice says he should retire but he seeks one last moment of glory. He teams up a with a trainer who has a young horse full of talent that he can ride with confidence. Also in the mix is a young jockey who dreams big too but also reveals that he is Jackson's son. This wistful and melancholic film should appeal to even non sports fans. It is more about the human struggle than the winning post. It is beautifully shot too and the racing scenes are handled with care. Clifton Collins is great in the lead role. His low key persona is perfectly suited to the role. This film reeks of authenticty and is a reminder that even small drama that make a large impact.

I think the entire movie rests on the performance of Collins. Obviously not a jockey, but he does a good job of impersonating one. Otherwise, the movie lacks resonance and the character's life seems pointless. It's a sad dark movie with a minor uplifting ending and and irony. The horse racing world is full of people portrayed here, especially in the lower echelons of the game. There are the colorful characters that add some comic relief to the dark saga but not much else. It's not a movie you want to see over and over again.

This is a great movie. On the face of it a simple story: aging jockey with poor health coming to the end of his career and a possible long-lost son just starting out in horse-racing. But like all good films, the acting, direction, pacing and photography elevate this to a lovely and enjoyable film. The 3 main cast members Clifton Collins, Molly Parker and Moises Arias are all excellent. Well worth a watch.

Clifton Collins Jr. is perfect as an aging jockey who finally gets the chance to ride a career-defining horse while mentoring a young jockey who may or may not be his son. Take your time with this one and enjoy the beautiful cinematography, languid pace (the silences rival the dialog), and true-to-life details of a jockey's life--the broken bones, the flipping to make weight, the trash-talking card games, and the rest. Rarely have I seen a horse-racing movie that gets all the details right (my career was in the world of racing). A riveting movie, and a brilliant star performance.

A true-to-life look at the life of thoroughbred jockeys and trainers in a small track. The cast is absolutely outstanding with an excellent script and directing.

Excellent performances and you'll go away with a lot of respect for jockeys. Their injuries are legion and yet they ride on.

'Jockey' starts out strong out of the gate thanks to the charismatic performance of Clifton Collins Jr., but struggles down the stretch with tonal shifts and a poor casting decision. I love Molly Parker, but she is blatantly miscast as a horse trainer. She has zero chemistry with Collins, and those scenes are nails on a chalkboard. When the film stays focused on the relationship of Collins and Moisés Arias it's best. At times formula, at others anything but, this drama is a mixed bag. It is part sports film, but at the center is one of the best performances of the year by Collins. The jockeys look like jockeys. The scenes around the track come off authentic. Clint Bentley, whose father was a jockey, co-wrote and directed and for his first film, it is a very well framed effort. It's off the radar and flawed, but completely worth watching for Collins. Final Score: 7/10

The characters aren't very liekable nor memorable, but it's got some nice cinematography and horses.