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Dreamer

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Dreamer (2005)

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Reviews Counted:115

Fresh:71

Rotten:44

Average Rating:6.2/10

Consensus: Though formulaic, this horse story's saving grace is its strong performances.

Rated: U [See Full Rating] for brief mild language.

Runtime: 1 hr 46 mins

Genre: Childrens

Theatrical Release:21-10-2005

Synopsis: Kurt Russell ("Miracle"), Dakota Fanning ("Man on Fire") and Kris Kristofferson ("Blade I & II") star in a drama about a father who, for the love of his daughter, sacrifices almost everything to... Kurt Russell ("Miracle"), Dakota Fanning ("Man on Fire") and Kris Kristofferson ("Blade I & II") star in a drama about a father who, for the love of his daughter, sacrifices almost everything to save the life of an injured racehorse and bring the promising filly back to her former glory. Ben Crane (Kurt Russell) was once a great horseman, whose gifts as a trainer were now being wasted on making other men's fortunes. Sonya was a great horse whose promising future on the racetrack was 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. Kristofferson stars as Ben Crane's father whose strained relationship with his son is bridged by their mutual hopes for Sonya. The main cast also includes Oscar® nominee Elisabeth Shue ("Leaving Las Vegas"), David Morse ("The Green Mile"), Freddy Rodríguez (HBO's "Six Feet Under"), Luis Guzmán ("Anger Management") and Oded Fehr ("The Mummy"). The film was written by John Gatins, who is also making his directorial debut on the movie. Michael Tollin ("Radio") and Brian Robbins ("Varsity Blues") are the producers, with Ashok Amritraj, Jon Jashni, Bill Johnson, Stacy Cohen and Caitlin Scanlon executive producing. The film will be distributed domestically by DreamWorks Pictures, with Hyde Park Entertainment handling the international release. --© Dreamworks [More]

Starring: Dakota Fanning, Kurt Russell, Kris Kristofferson, Elisabeth Shue

Starring: Dakota Fanning, Kurt Russell, Kris Kristofferson, Elisabeth Shue, Luis Guzman, Freddy Rodriguez, David Morse, Oded Fehr

Director: John Gatins

Director: John Gatins
Producer: Michael Tollin, Brian Robbins
Composer: John Debney
Studio: DreamWorks Distribution LLC

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Reviews for Dreamer

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1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
06/24/06
Time Out
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
04/01/06
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

In short, Dreamer may be shot through with cliches but they're good ones and, more importantly, they work. This is feel-good family entertainment of the first order and if you loved Seabiscuit, you'll love this too.

Full Review Source: ViewLondon | comment Comment
10/29/05
Matthew Turner
Matthew Turner
ViewLondon

Despite thoroughbred work from Dakota Fanning, by the time the movie hits the final furlong it's only good for the glue factory.

Full Review Source: BBC | comment Comment
10/25/05
Neil Smith
Neil Smith
BBC
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

All the characters are familiar, the story is familiar, but it is well-constructed and the actors do a good job with the material.

Full Review Source: Laramie Movie Scope | comment Comment
12/30/06
Robert Roten
Robert Roten
Laramie Movie Scope

Dreamer is loaded with enough clichés and formulas to choke a horse. But truly, it works.

Full Review Source: Christianity Today | comment Comment
09/22/06
Carolyn Arends
Carolyn Arends
Christianity Today

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Sacramento News & Review | comment Comment
05/12/06
Jim Lane
Jim Lane
Sacramento News & Review

It is a movie that will captivate children, yes, but it will also capture the hearts of the grown-ups, too.

Full Review Source: DVDTalk.com | comment Comment
03/31/06
David Cornelius
David Cornelius
DVDTalk.com

simply feels more professional than most family fare

Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com | comment Comment
03/27/06
Christopher Null
Christopher Null
Filmcritic.com

Screenwriting manuals have taught us that every film is (or should be) a Hero's Journey, but writer-director John Gatins takes that gospel so literally it's hard to know whether to admire his purity or marvel at his lack of imagination.

Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | comment Comment
03/04/06
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile

The charismatic Fanning proves she is the best child actress in decades.

Full Review Source: Video-Reviewmaster.com | comment Comment
12/11/05
Steve Crum
Steve Crum
Video-Reviewmaster.com

A quiet and poignant story.

Full Review Source: Tooele Transcript-Bulletin (Utah) | comment Comment
12/09/05
Audrey Rock-Richardson
Audrey Rock-Richardson
Tooele Transcript-Bulletin (Utah)
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Boston Phoenix | comment Comment
12/06/05
Boston Phoenix
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Sure, it's as goopy as Kris Kristofferson is grizzled, but families might find a genuinely warm experience in the simple story of a child following her heart %u2014 especially in the rare moments when we're not told how to feel.

Full Review Source: Tyler Morning Telegraph (Texas) | comment Comment
11/21/05
Jonathan R. Perry
Jonathan R. Perry
Tyler Morning Telegraph (Texas)

This is a slow track of wish-fullfillment fantasy and all who come through the turnstiles will wear a happy face.

Full Review Source: Cinema Signals | comment Comment
11/15/05
Jules Brenner
Jules Brenner
Cinema Signals

Painfully earnest and aggressively sappy, it requires an outrageous suspension of disbelief, and becomes even more far-fetched as it goes along.

Full Review Source: Denton Record Chronicle (TX) | comment Comment
11/09/05
Todd Jorgenson
Todd Jorgenson
Denton Record Chronicle (TX)

Ah. Here’s the family film we’ve been dreaming of all year long.

Full Review Source: KWQC-TV (Iowa) | comment Comment
11/02/05
Linda Cook
Linda Cook
KWQC-TV (Iowa)

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Zap2it.com | comment Comment
10/29/05
Hanh Nguyen
Hanh Nguyen
Zap2it.com

It manages to be a watchable, even enjoyable movie about and for girls, and in our world of candy-coated sparkly pink crap, that’s a rare and commendable thing.

Full Review Source: Austin Chronicle | comment Comment
10/29/05
Marrit Ingman
Marrit Ingman
Austin Chronicle

“Seabiscuit” it ain’t, but “Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story” is one of those harmless horse movies that will entertain the kids.

Full Review Source: Sympatico.ca | comment Comment
10/26/05
Angela Baldassarre
Angela Baldassarre
Sympatico.ca
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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