Every week, I turn to the film reviews written by Justin Chang of The Los Angeles Times to get his keen, witty and sometimes provocative opinions on new films. His deep affection for a film comes through in his reviews. Such was the case when he reviewed THE RIDER. Justin Chang's article on that contemporary western was practically a love letter. Other notable critics had the similar feelings and added THE RIDER to their "Best Films of 2018" lists. Owen Gleiberman of Variety was one of those critics. Former U.S. President Barack Obama was asked to put together his list of Best Films of 2018. Some films on Mr. Obama's list were BLACK PANTHER, BLACKkKLANSMAN, ROMA, Debra Granik's LEAVE NO TRACE, the documentary WON'T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR? and... THE RIDER. Gleiberman, by the way, criticized the Obama list for being too, shall we say, upscale. Did Owen write that same criticism about the lists from critics at The New York Times? No. THE RIDER made several "Best of" lists from top film critics in December of 2018.
I saw it last night. Oh my Lord, what an exceptional piece of work. It's brutal yet lyrical, unadorned yet complicated and quite profound. I feel it's ultimately a tale simply told about moving on. THE RIDER, focusing on a young cowboy who has survived serious injuries from rodeo circuit riding yet wants to compete again, was directed and written by Chloé Zhao. She was born in Beijing. Zhao left China to attending a boarding school in London and then moved to Los Angeles to finish high school.
The first thing we see in close-up in THE RIDER is the pensive face of bronco rider Brady Blackburn. With the deep scars on his scalp, you'd think he was a war veteran who had come back home. He was once in a coma. He has seizures in one hand. Brady Blackburn is a devoted friend who visits Lane, a buddy and former fellow rodeo circuit cowboy. Lane suffered severe brain damage in a bullriding accident and now lives in a health care facility. He's young, just like Brady. Brady lives with his sweet autistic sister and his critical widower father.
Brady gets a job as somewhat of a horse whisperer. At the same time the young cowboy, who never graduated from high school, is breaking in horses, we see that he has the hunger to return to the rodeo circuit. It's not for glory, for applause or for stardom. It's something that he does and has done, although it's left him severely bruised and near death. He wants to get back on the horse and "Cowboy up" -- be a man, as he's been taught by his dad and the male community. Is his dream a nightmare that he refuses to realize? How many of us have given our all to a profession or a person over and over even though what we get in return is more disappointing than fulfilling?
First-time actor Brady Jandreau plays the young, unhappy rodeo cowboy. He has a countenance to his face that reminds you of the late Heath Ledger in BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN. Brady Jandreau draws you into to the young man's battered body and wounded heart. A memorable performance in an outstanding film.
Director/writer Chloé Zhao based the rodeo cowboy character on Brady Jandreau's real life.
Like Debra Granik's LEAVE NO TRACE, THE RIDER is a film directed by a woman that should have received Oscar nominations for Best Picture and Best Director. I highly recommend this film.
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