Hidalgo offers
quite a ride even if it travels off course
Hidalgo is the sort of old-fashioned
adventure they say Hollywood doesn’t make any more. It has cowboys and Indians,
a beautiful princess, sword fights, killer leopards, a daring rescue, a villain
sporting a black goatee, and much more. You would think that the central story,
that of a man attempting a grueling 3,000-mile race across the Arabian desert,
is compelling enough. However, screenwriter John Fusco manages to bulk up the
proceedings, as well as the delicious supporting performances, by giving his
hero a few extra tasks to perform along the way.
That hero is Frank T. Hopkins (Viggo Mortensen), a guilt-ridden sot reduced
to performing in Buffalo Bill Cody’s Wild West show after witnessing the Wounded
Knee massacre. An opportunity for redemption arrives in the form of Aziz (Adam
Alexi-Malle), an emissary of wealthy Sheikh Riyadh (Omar Sharif), who invites
Frank and his pure mustang, Hidalgo, to compete in a deadly long-distance horse
race across an area known as the Ocean of Fire.
While Hopkins is scorned by the competition for being an outsider from the
West, the Sheikh, an avid reader of dime novels, finds the cowboy a fascinating
novelty. And although he threatens to castrate Frank when he and his daughter,
the curious Jazira (Zuleikha Robinson), are discovered together without a chaperone,
it is to Hopkins the Sheikh turns for help when Jazira is kidnapped and held
for ransom.
Loosely based on a true story (Hopkins did, in fact, exist), the screenplay
by John Fusco is a bit rambling and unfocused, a flaw that slicing 15 minutes
off the running time might have fixed. As the tight-lipped hero, Mortensen is
one of the few actors today who seems convincing in an Old West setting, while
the rest of the cast have a good time with the lean caricatures Fusco has created
for them to play.
What other critics are saying. . .
Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London [PG] Frankie
Muniz is secret agent Cody Banks on his second adventure. “Agent Cody Banks
2 may have a difficult time appealing to young girls without Hilary Duff
on board.” (Ed Gonzalez, Slant magazine) ShowPlace West, ShowPlace East
Barbershop 2: Back in Business [PG-13]
Spend another day with the crew at Calvin’s [Ice Cube] barbershop on Chicago’s
South Side. “Cube is still adorable, but the potentially poppin’ battle between
the shop and big-box competitor Nappy Cuts gets obscured by sloppy chronology
and flat, cartoonish politicos.” (Laura Sinagra, Village Voice) White
Oaks
Cheaper by the Dozen [PG] The Baker family moves from a small Illinois
town to the big city after dad gets his coaching dream job. Steve Martin and
Bonnie Hunt star in this remake. “Martin and Hunt, reliable pros though they
are, don’t stand a chance against the force arrayed against them: the bald cliches,
unspeakable dialogue, and cheap sentimentality of the script . . .” (Jim Lane,
Sacramento News & Review) White Oaks
Cold Mountain [R] A wounded Confederate (Jude Law) embarks on a perilous
journey back home to Cold Mountain, N.C., to reunite with his sweetheart (Nicole
Kidman). Based on the novel by Charles Frazier. “Cold Mountain reiterates a
universal truth, and a message of hope.” (Chuck Koplinski, Illinois Times.)
Parkway Pointe
Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen [PG] Lola’s family moves from New
York City to the burbs in New Jersey. Lola sets her sights on winning the lead
in a school play while fantasizing about her favorite rock group. When she gets
word the group’s disbanding, she pulls out all the stops to make their farewell
concert. Not reviewed. Parkway Pointe
50 First Dates [PG-13] Veterinarian Henry Roth (Adam Sandler) enjoys dating women on vacation, but leaves his playboy life after he meets Lucy (Drew Barrymore). Alas, Lucy suffers from short-term memory loss, forcing Henry to woo her every day. ShowPlace West, ShowPlace East
Hidalgo [PG-13] The story of a Pony Express courier (Viggo Mortensen)
who travels to Saudi Arabia to compete with his horse, Hidalgo, in a dangerous
race for a massive contest prize. “Nothing kills my Viggo jones like a bad western
set in the Arabian Desert.’ (Jeanne Aufmuth, Palo Alto Weekly) ShowPlace
West, ShowPlace East
Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King [PG-13]
Final part of trilogy, as hobbits Frodo and Sam journey to Mount Doom in Mordor.
“As a model for how to bring substance, authenticity and insight to the biggest
of adventure yarns, this trilogy will not soon, if ever, find its equal.” (Kenneth
Turan, Los Angeles Times)ShowPlace
West
Miracle [PG] The story of the U.S. hockey team that beat the favored
Soviet team in the 1980 Winter Olympics, then went on to win the gold. “An effective
exercise in flag-waving nostalgia.” (Mark Caro, Chicago Tribune) ShowPlace
West, ShowPlace East
The Passion of the Christ [R] Mel Gibson’s version of the last 12 hours
of Jesus Christ’s life. “The sacrifice Gibson’s Jesus makes is purely physical.
The violence to which he is subjected is portrayed to the point of being gratuitous
and manipulative.” (Chuck Koplinski, Illinois Times) ShowPlace
East, Parkway Pointe
Secret Window [PG-13] A recently-divorced writer
(Johnny Depp) is stalked by a man who claims he stole his idea. “Johnny Depp
is hotter than ever, so scheduling a movie like this to open so soon after the
Academy Awards is a very clever move on Columbia’s part.” (Ed Gonzalez, Slant
magazine) ShowPlace West, ShowPlace East
Spartan [R] Two detectives
(Val Kilmer, William H. Macy) must rescue the president’s kidnapped daughter,
but as the case gets complicated, they uncover another crime with roots in the
White House. “A white slavery ring? Yippie! David Mamet tackles another hot-button
issue.” (Ed Gonzalez, Slant magazine) Parkway Pointe
Starsky & Hutch [PG-13]Two streetwise cops (Ben Stiller and Owens Wilson) bust criminals in their
red-and-white Ford Torino with the help of police snitch called Huggy Bear (Snoop
Dogg). Based on the ’70s TV series.”Finally,
the out-of-the-closet Starsky and Hutch!” (Victoria Alexander,Filmsinreview.com) ShowPlace West, ShowPlace
East
Touching the Void [NR] The true story of two climbers and their perilous
journey up the west face of Siula Grande in the Peruvian Andes in 1985. “The
photography is awesome, inspiring many ‘How did they get that shot?’ moments.”
(Jami Bernard, New York Daily News) Parkway Pointe Art
Twisted [R] Jessica (Ashley Judd) portrays a police detective who finds herself at the center of an investigation after all her past lovers start dying off. To add to the drama, Jessica’s dad was a serial killer. “Characters get distorted and motivations warped in this police thriller in order to keep bodies piling up and clues pointing in all directions.” (Kirk Honeycutt, Hollywood Reporter) ShowPlace West, ShowPlace East
This article appears in Mar 11-17, 2004.
