Hidalgo hits the mark
HIDALGO, starring Viggo Mortensen, is loosely based on the life of wild west legend Frank T Hopkins.
Set in 1890, Mortensen plays the former cavalryman and Pony Express rider who is reduced to eking out a living as a side-act in Buffalo Bill Cody’s Wild West Show.
Despite his fall from grace, his legend as the greatest long-distance rider lives on and he is invited to take part in the Ocean of Fire, a 3,000-mile race across the Arabian Desert.
Arabian Sheikh Riyadh (Omar Sharif) has sent his emissary, Aziz (Adam Alexi-Malle), to try and persuade Hopkins to take part in the gruelling event.
The Sheikh believes that Hopkins’ mustang is no match for his pureblood thoroughbreds and wants to prove his point once and for all.
The $100,000 winning purse finally persuades Hopkins to travel half-way round the world.
The race itself is a fairly drawn out affair with sandstorms, locusts, sword fights, and an assortment of baddies trying to defeat the “infidel.”
Mortensen does a surprisingly good job as the scruffy hero, but Sharif steals the show as the decadent Sheikh.
Their performances, along with some decent special effects, particularly the spectacular sandstorm, make Hidalgo well worth watching.
Action, 12. 3/5
