There's nothing particularly original about "Jockey"; we've been down this Indie road numerous times before and yet Clint Bentley's debut feature is a constant pleasure nevertheless, a throwback to something Bob Rafelson might have made in the seventies and which Chloe Zhao has been turning out in the last few years. The lack of originality lies in the screenplay which is about an ageing jockey, (a superb Clifton Collins Jr., in what might be a career best performance), coping with the onslaught of a debilitating illness while dealing with the revelation that the up-and-coming young jockey on the horizon, (Moises Arias), may be his son.
What gives this film its considerable edge is director Bentley's superlative handling of familiar material and the brilliant performances of Collins Jr,, Arias and Molly Parker as the warm-hearted trainer with more than a soft spot for Collins while the luminous cinematography of Adolpho Veloso perfectly captures the ambiance of the circuit of horses and their riders. Of course, don't expect this little gem to turn up at your local multiplex but seek it out wherever it's showing. I guarantee you won't regret it.
What gives this film its considerable edge is director Bentley's superlative handling of familiar material and the brilliant performances of Collins Jr,, Arias and Molly Parker as the warm-hearted trainer with more than a soft spot for Collins while the luminous cinematography of Adolpho Veloso perfectly captures the ambiance of the circuit of horses and their riders. Of course, don't expect this little gem to turn up at your local multiplex but seek it out wherever it's showing. I guarantee you won't regret it.