Jockey

Jockey finishes a first-place winner without even needing to run an actual race.

Jockey sweats authenticity from every dust-impacted pore.

It sounds cheesy, but the novice writer-director Clint Bentley, whose father was a jockey, brings a radical realism to the tale.

What elevates it most is Collins, a familiar supporting actor with an air of Johnny Cash whose nuanced, soulful work as star makes the whole film ring true.

Collins is quietly mesmerizing, his mannerisms so small that they hardly register. But the work is there, as it has always been. You know his face, and now with "Jockey," you'll know Clifton Collins' name, too.

It's a movie that gets by (and then some) on an intense and focused performance by character actor Clifton Collins Jr, and a truthful-feeling sense of place.

Worthy successor of Rocky's spirit and Clint Eastwood classicism, Jockey may not surprise too much, but even on well-trodden ground, it displays a sensitivity, rigor, and nobility that are undoubtedly enjoyed and appreciated. [Full review in Spanish]

Jockey, riding on the talents of its lead, is a wonderfully moving, honest, and thoughtful film, while also offering a plaintive cry.

Jockey hits a few familiar beats, but Clifton Collins Jr.’s captivating lead performance gives the film a raw power that’s impossible to resist.

Creates a compelling sense of authenticity that casts its own spell.