Ben Crane: This is a pipe dream.
Lily: Remember dreams, Ben? This one's Cale's. Let her live it.
Ben Crane: I want to, Lil. I do. I'm just saying that this isn't gonna happen. That's all, hunny.
Lily: So what? So what? Just let it take her as far as it can.

Part of what is wrong these days, especially in America, is that parents have stopped letting their children explore and make choices for themselves. It has become a culture of over-protectiveness which has pretty much been proven to be the exact wrong route to take. If you do not allow your children to screw up and suffer the consequences occasionaly, then they fail to learn several crucial life-lessons. This results in what you see now: The kids come into their teens thinking life is fair, find out it is not, have zero coping skills under their belt to deal with that realization, and shoot up their high school.

So. This is what I love so very much about the movie Dreamer. I caught this one on my most recent transatlantic flight and feel like I owe Lufthansa big time for it. This is not a movie I might have chosen to watch otherwise, and I would have been jypping myself to have missed it.

Dreamer is based on true events and tells the story of a youngster (played by Dakota Fanning) and of a horse (Sonadore). Sonadore is a prized race horse who breaks her leg during a race and whose owner wants her put down because of it. Fanning's dad (Kurt Russell) makes a deal to take ownership of the horse and saves its life.

Spoiler Alerts....

Fanning falls in love with the horse and after a misstep by her dad, he gives her ownership... including all decisions on what to do with the horse. I wanted to stand up in my seat right there on the plane and cheer. These parents did the exact right thing. The best way to teach personal responsibility is first hand, and damn the risks. Could this kid have taken a big emotional fall as a result? Well yeah, that's the point. Learning to deal with life's disappointments. I wish every single person on the planet would take the time to watch this one and absorb the lessons in it. I admit that the risks this particular child was allowed to take could have cost the family thousands of dollars... and I'm not saying here that you have to give your kids that much rope at all... but it's the underlying point of allowing them to risk and decide things for themselves that is the message you should be getting by seeing this movie.

Kurt Russell is a so-so actor in my eyes, but here he gained major points with me. He took a damn good character and managed not to ruin it. heh. Ok, I'll be more generous than that and say that he did a damn fine job with it. His worry, stress, and love all came through better than I would normally expect from Russell.

As far as Dakota Fanning goes, well, I think she is one of the best actresses to come along in a very long time. I lump her right in there with all adult actors too, not just child stars. This kid can grab your heart and wrench it like there is no turning back, and just as swiftly she will have you grinning and cheering. She has a wonderfully ornery grin and is able to match the tone of her line delivery to that grin perfectly and naturally. She is a wonder to watch on the screen.

Kris Kristofferson adds much to this story as the curmudgeonly old coot of a grandfather, and Patriarch to the previously horseless horse ranch. He played emotions close to his chest and that was exactly as it should have been. When he managed a smile, it came out as real. Kudos to Kristofferson.

Actor John Gatins (Pumpkinhead II, Varsity Blues) took the reigns and stepped in to Direct on this project. I think this was a positive move on his part. He makes a much better director than actor. Pulling in Fanning for the lead was a great coupe on his part. The role was actually suppose to be for a boy, but Gatins had the foresight to cast Fanning instead. Utter brilliance, that.

Rated PG for brief mild language. Most countries say age 6 and up. I say any age at all... and while kids will no doubt adore this movie, it is the adults of the world who I would like to see watch it. You are never too old to learn a thing or two.

So yep... 5 very high stars for Dreamer. It earned its place on my Top Ten Movies of 2005 list. Do yourself a favor and see it now.



Recommended:
Yes