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Amazon.co.uk Review
The title is a mouthful, but Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story hits the winner's circle as a warm and inspiring family film. Ben Crane (Kurt Russell) is a Kentucky horse trainer who watches in horror as a championship filly breaks its leg during a practice run. Ordinarily that means curtains, but today Ben's daughter, Cale (Dakota Fanning), is at the track, and Ben impulsively buys the horse and loses his job in one fell swoop.
The rehabilitation process is almost too much for a farm that's already struggling to survive in a modern economy, but the horse turns out to be a much-needed salve to the nearly broken family, including Ben's wife (Elisabeth Shue) and father (Kris Kristofferson). The cast is excellent, especially Fanning, and the film is well-paced by director-writer John Gatins and beautifully shot by cinematographer Fred Murphy. Surely the ultimate fate of the horse and the family won't surprise anyone, but young girls who love horses often don't need a surprise ending. They need a reason to cheer, and Dreamer delivers all the way.-- David Horiuchi
DVD Description
Ben Crane (Kurt Russell) was once a great horseman whose gifts as a trainer are now being wasted on making other men’s fortunes. Sonador ‘called Sonya’ was a great horse whose promising future on the racetrack is suddenly cut short by a career-ending broken leg. Considered as good as dead to her owner, who also happens to be Ben’s boss, Sonya is given to Ben as severance pay, along with his walking papers.
Now, it will take the unwavering faith and determination of Ben’s young daughter, Cale (Dakota Fanning), to bring these two damaged souls together in a quest for a seemingly impossible goal: to win the breeders’ Cup Classic. However, the true miracle might be that, in helping this injured horse, what they are actually healing is their own family.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
24 of 24 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I'm always on the lookout for good old fashioned family movies with no innapropriate moments that I can share with my family - and this is one of them.
However this film is better than I suspected it would be from the synopsis, and has quite a lot of emotional depth - especially in the relationships between Kurt Rusell, his father as played by Kris Kristofersen (inspired casting) and his daughter as played by Dakota Fanning (who incidentally gives a very strong performance). Dreamer neatly avoids most of the traps of sugary sweetness that characterize this type of film when made by (for example) Disney, and instead takes a fairly honest look at dysfunctional relationships, dissapointment and the hard choices which adults are forced to make which don't always make sense when seen through the eyes of children. The result is a nicely layered film which has something to offer both adults and older children. In addition both the cinematography and music are great, and the rest of the cast give strong performances, Elisabeth Shue, David Morse (who manages to do quite a lot with a little screen time) and Freddy Rodriguez (Federico from Six Feet Under). 4 stars instead of 5 only because the end is a little rushed compared to the rest of the film, but if I could give it 4.5 stars I would. Overall this is a great family film.
However this film is better than I suspected it would be from the synopsis, and has quite a lot of emotional depth - especially in the relationships between Kurt Rusell, his father as played by Kris Kristofersen (inspired casting) and his daughter as played by Dakota Fanning (who incidentally gives a very strong performance). Dreamer neatly avoids most of the traps of sugary sweetness that characterize this type of film when made by (for example) Disney, and instead takes a fairly honest look at dysfunctional relationships, dissapointment and the hard choices which adults are forced to make which don't always make sense when seen through the eyes of children. The result is a nicely layered film which has something to offer both adults and older children. In addition both the cinematography and music are great, and the rest of the cast give strong performances, Elisabeth Shue, David Morse (who manages to do quite a lot with a little screen time) and Freddy Rodriguez (Federico from Six Feet Under). 4 stars instead of 5 only because the end is a little rushed compared to the rest of the film, but if I could give it 4.5 stars I would. Overall this is a great family film.
35 of 36 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This is a beautiful film that both my 7 year old daughter and I absolutely love. The cinematography is wonderful and the story is strong enough for kids and adults alike. All the performances are superb and it is definately one of my favourite Kurt Russell films now. This really is a classic family film - a modern day National Velvet - but with a little more bight and a sparkling script - you will feel elated every time you watch it.
22 of 23 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Dreamer is inspired by a true story, i was hooked from the opening credits!! i love true stories and when there combined with horses im in my element. soniador a well bred race horse is the centre of our heart warming story, following a tragic accident on the racetrack she is rescued by kurt russells character. Dekota Fanning plays russels daughter and strikes up a bond with this pretty young mare. I wont spoil the story but i will say the road to salvation has many twists, For such a young actress dekota deliveries a very mature performance, i feel at times she definately out shone her adult counter parts. tear jerker - must see for all horse lovers out there!!!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Katie+TheWanted!NathanSykes!+ShowJumping!
arr what a heartfelt lovely story of a girl and her horses wonderfully emotional I loved it so much so cute and I say this as a horse lover and owner what a truly old fashioned... Read more
Published 4 months ago by !StarLightShOwJuMpInGHoRsEsWarHorse!!
You like sentimental you'll like dreamer
Oh go on call me sentimental but I really enjoyed it.Good acting, bit predictable, but who cares sometimes it's just nice to lose yourself (or should I say wallow)in a nice film
Published 7 months ago by D FERRIS
Family Films
Films based on true stories are always of interest. This is not a fast moving film but neither does it drag its feet. Read more
Published 16 months ago by pops6479
DREAMER
I WATCHED THIS WITH MY GRANDCHILDREN WE ALL ENJOYED IT A GOOD FAMILY FILM WE COULD ALL WATCH TOGETHER.
Published on 1 Feb 2010 by line dancer
Excellent
Quick delivery, gave info on the region of the dvd. This is my favourite film & so glad i have it now on dvd,thanks!
Published on 12 Jan 2010 by N. Garbett
Absolutely enchanting!
This was just a total delight from start to finish. Excellent performances from all the actors, particularly Kurt Russell and Dakota Fanning, in what is a film for all the family. Read more
Published on 30 Dec 2009 by Alison Petrie
A Really Super Film
This is a really super film and probably the best Kurt Russel film I've seen since Overboard. Dakota Fanning is a great little actress without being sentimental and overall the... Read more
Published on 25 Oct 2009 by S. Jacks
Great Movie
This is a great film which all the family will enjoy; Kurt Russell puts in a great performance as the cantankerous horseman who puts his job first then his family. Read more
Published on 18 Oct 2009 by kdog
Good
Good story. The family can watch it. Also quite sad. It had a happy ending.
Published on 23 July 2009 by Online shopper
Every 10-year old girls dream
Unlike many of the 'horsey' movies, this one actually has a decent story line and is full of people who can actually act. Read more
Published on 10 Jun 2009 by C. Turner
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