text: Review of Hidalgo (**) by Matt Anderson - Movie Habit
  Hidalgo is loosely based on the somewhat true-life adventures of Frank T. Hopkins, a messenger in the cavalry and a member of Buffalo Bill's posse. Even with an untamed mustang as its title character, though, this film could use a lot more giddy-up in its horse power.
  As for Hidalgo himself, he's an aging, untamed Spanish mustang with some fight still left in him. He's also Hopkins' ticket to ride.
  Amidst the thunder of horses' hooves and the zing of gunshot, the loudest noise coming from Hidalgo is that generated by David Lean rolling over in his grave. No doubt the master of the cinematic epic would be dismayed by the use of artificial filtering to redden the desert sands and skies and, even worse, the use of computer-generated cheetahs and horses.
  On the bight side, Omar Sharif brings the same elegance and suave demeanor to the "Sheikh of Sheikhs," Sheikh Riyadh, that he brought to Sherif Ali ibn el Kharish 42 years ago in Lawrence of Arabia.
  Further congesting the film's pace is a subplot involving Riyadh's daughter, Jazira (Zuleikha Robinson, Timecode). Jazira needs Hopkins to win the race, thereby dissolving a pledge to marry a man she can't stand, who also happens to be the odds-on favorite to win. It's as if the burden of repaying his tribe back home weren't enough pressure for Hopkins.
  Hidalgo is merely inspired by true-life events; most of the film's content is pure Hollywood contrivance.
  There was indeed a Great Horse Race of the Bedouin in 1890 and it did feature a competition among 100 racers and 3,000 miles. In reality, the race took 68 days. But, unlike the film's shameless photo-finish climax, second place came in a full 33 hours after the victor. Aside from that, the known facts surrounding the event are limited. The film tries to cover a lot of ground, including cultural clashes amongst cowboys, Native Americans, and Bedouin. In the early going, the story feels like it will gel together nicely, particularly when stars of the era, including Buffalo Bill and Annie Oakley, make cameo appearances.
  At one point, the spirits of Hopkins' Sioux family visit him in the burning wasteland of the Arabian Desert. While those spirits were able to find Hopkins, the true spirit of adventure repeatedly eludes the film itself.