Broke

This film is a grounded and realistic portrayal of a Rodeo athlete but still maintains that artistic and cinematic magic. This film proves to be both emotionally provoking as well as inspiring!

Furthermore this film honors the American culture of rodeo and ranching as well as free thinking and art. It brings back an older generation film feeling of telling a deep and intimate story that will resonate with anyone but it is set against a modern backdrop. It also indicates to the audience how alive and well western culture still is.

I truly believe this is an engaging must see film for anyone and everyone!

Broke is a stunning movie!

Carlyle Eubank's writing is enthralling and tells the story of True Brandywine seeking answers to what is next in his life as the story unfolds, from bareback bronc riding, to tension filled scenes with his dad, and True's self-reflection of his life.

Directing debut for Carlyle Eubank. Wow! Carlyle created a world that is believable and kept me in my seat to see what was happening next.

The story is gripping, maintaining an underlying tension throughout, the acting is raw, and haunting. Which draws you into the story and kept my interest.

Cinematography is incredible, the snow scenes are breathtaking, the summer scenes are spectacular, and the rodeo scenes are especially real.

Editing blends the storyline back and forth seamlessly.

Congratulations Wyatt Russell for his impressive role depiction of True Brandywine. Additionally, Dennis Quaid's impressive role for George Brandywine as the father.

Wow, Broke got under my skin. Wyatt Russell's True, a rodeo rider crumbling under pain and pills, felt like he was speaking my language. His spiral into illegal meds to dull the ache, hit hard - too many of us know someone caught in that trap, or maybe we've been there, numbing life's hurts. It's a story that screams America today, where so many battle pain, physical or not, and reach for quick fixes. The way the film flips through True's life, from rodeo highs to hospital lows, felt like my own moments of looking back, wondering where I went wrong. The Montana snow and gritty country songs wrapped it all in a vibe that's pure heartland, raw and real. Dennis Quaid's turn as True's dad, full of tough love and regret, dug up my own family fights we don't talk about. Broke nails that universal struggle - pushing through pain, chasing dreams, and picking up the pieces. It left me gutted but somehow lighter.

The story is simple, knowing its limits and never exceeding them. The actors are all great, the music is great, the scenery excellent. For a modern western, it fares much better than anything else I have watched.

Also, Russell proves himself to have calibre as an actor, knowing how to use his physique and looks, and even his eyes work perfectly to express emotion and thinking without having to overdo it. The female lead was great, as was the brother. The big stars of the film, Quaid and McDonald were fine, but nothing too much. What stands out though, even more than the beautiful scenery, is the script. A good, honest story. Will be looking for this director's next film.

First and foremost, not boring. The movie holds your interest from start to finish, and I for one find that the most important quality a film can have. I don't care how great a concept or idea is, if its deliverance has me bored while trying to get through it.

On the other hand, there's not a whole lot in this story, and certainly not much new. It's about a guy who never really found his place, but keeps trying. That's about it, so don't expect some huge mysteries, big revelations, gripping action scenes, haunting thoughts etc.

It is still interesting though, well made, well acted, so it's worth watching.

A little footnote: I personally loathe rodeos, and while stories involving rodeo people tend to be interesting, the sport itself feels vile to me. Watching human bodies flailing around violently on a bucking animal is almost physically painful to me. So if you're like me, expect lots of scenes showcasing slow motion bronc riding, and get ready to look away a lot.