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Wonderful Movie

Absolutely Fantastic

Great movie. Not sure what people expected but I found it highly entertaining.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

There is a lot to like about The Rider; The cinematography is gorgeous, with a lot of shots showing the treeless meadows that reflect the protagonist's feeling of loss and emptiness. Brady Jandreau's acting is so genuine and honest. There are some truly great moments that will make you instantly engaged with every character in them. I don't even want to say anything about these scenes, I don't even want to mention the characters they include, because they are unbelievably effective and very poignant. The movie's message of perseverance and determination also should be considered and appreciated.The grave issue I have with this movie is its tone. I love character-driven stories, because they make me close to the main character. In other words, they put me in the protagonist's shoes, or even make me inside his mind. But The Rider's tone is so lifeless, and the story is almost uneventful. Of course, the movie should reflect the gloominess and bleakness of its subject matter, but the tone doesn't pick up even when the story do. Add to that, the movie lacks in dramatic intensity. Aside from some very touching scenes that can break your heart even if you haven't seen the entire film, the movie is so boring and phlegmatic. Honestly, I was bored most of the time while watching it. The dialogue also could have been better. it's so weak and clichéd.All the performances are good, especially Brady Jandreau as Brady Blackburn, except for the actor who played his dad. His acting is very weak as his bland and flat character.I had mixed feelings about The Rider. I found it monotonous, and I was bored to death. Nevertheless, I cared about the main character and almost every character around it, I appreciated its message, I was fascinated by its stunning cinematography, and I adored its tear-jerking ending.(7/10)

This is a film about Oglala Sioux in the Dakotas today one century or so after the end of the genocide and hardly fifty years after the end of total segregation and ten years or so after the final lawsuit giving all Indian reservations the compensations and « reparations » they were entitled to get after all the treacherous exploitation they have been the victims of. If there is any improvement since Wounded Knee, it is because American Indians have taken their own lives and their own future in their own hands and have decided to claim their heritage and a fair position in society as well as a fair and just independence and freedom on their reservations that are theirs and no one else's. Yet nothing is simple since Trump has managed to authorize the crossing of Indian land in Montana and the Dakotas for a pipeline that has no guarantee not to be a polluting hazard. The film is beautiful and at the same time very sad. Beautiful because of the human feelings these men feel and express for each other and one another. Beautiful because these young men want to stand tall, speak out and be what they dream to be and become. But beautiful too because on this rough road there are accidents and one has to accept one's lot and one's neighbor's lot because that neighbor is a brother of sorts, a brother in humanity and in ambition or dream. When a horse is wounded in a way or another he has to be shot out of misery. But human beings are supposed to cling to life and everyone is supposed to help the wounded man to survive and even live with his dream, even if this dream is now frustrated.This humanity is rare among human beings but it seems to be a rule among these Indians. And the sister and daughter, who is slightly handicapped is made as comfortable as possible and is protected against accidents that could happen in this life, accidents that could come along with harassment or even worse.It is true it is a world of men, and women are not very present in this environment. That's probably the shortcoming of the film because Indian women are essential in this renascence, this rebirth of a nation beyond its annihilation, because they can bring the traditions back, the theater, the dancing, and the music and then women and men are equal and have original contributions that are absolutely complementary. But since the film is centered on rodeo and horse training, it seems obvious women are not very present in this activity. Cowboys are boys and cowgirls have not been born yet. Next generation might change this.This film is a dramatized real story in which the main actors more or less live their own real lives as if they were true fiction, true to life and yet fictional by the dream invested in this true life.Dr. Jacques COULARDEAU

In a Lakota Sioux reservation in South Dakota, Brady Blackburn (Brady Jandreau) is recently recovering from brain damage due to a rodeo incident and finds it difficult to adjust to a safer lifestyle as he's not allowed to ride horses any more. Periodically, Brady visits a friend Lane (Lane Scott) in a care facility. Lane was also injured in a rodeo incident but much more severely than Brady.In the genre of "macho" films, "The Rider" is unique in a couple of ways. Firstly, the movie begins after the injuries rather than leading up to them as climactic moments. Secondly, rather than glorifying the sport of rodeo, it focuses on its aftermath after things go terribly wrong. Director/writer Chloé Zhao is courageous in taking this unconventional approach."The Rider" has a very serene quality to it aided by scenes that include beautiful sunrises and sunsets. Its subtle approach to the heartbreak of shattered dreams is slow-moving yet still effective. This film might have been dull but Zhao has a special touch to keep the viewer interested. She is well aided by Jandreau in the lead role, especially as Brady sees the reflection of his strong personality in a horse who is difficult to train. He also personifies the inner strength of the working poor.The film would have been richer if it addressed the issue of cruelty to animals used in rodeo. Despite this shortcoming, it is still a sweet, unconventional film.

Oh boy this film did not hit well for me. I can see how others like it, but it hit so many negative biases I grew up with. Country culture, ranching, wrestling, forced masculinity, it was all there. I was quite touched by a few moments with his bull-riding friend but felt zero sympathy for the main character's situation. I could not wait for this movie to end, but I understand that many others could find this film charming and enjoyable.