50 to 1

My husband and I went looking for a fun movie last weekend and ran across 50-1. Being a horse lover and a delighted witness to Mine that Bird's Kentucky Derby performance, we drove the hour and a half to see it in nearby Santa Fe. What a fun movie! We thoroughly enjoyed it, as apparently did everyone else in the theater. We were all laughing, crying and several times nearly the entire audience stood to clap for joy. Awesome movie depicting the underdog story of down-to-earth folk from Southern New Mexico - including a down-on-his-luck, broke (in more than one sense) cowboy horse trainer, a good hearted, wealthy NM owner, and a team of friends-- risked everything on a little horse with a big heart. Knowing this was based on the true story of how Mine that Bird and his unlikely winning NM team shocked horse racing royalty and the world, helped firmly planted it in my heart as one of my favorite movies of the last many years. It may not win Oscars, but the story, the beautiful NM landscape, the good acting of its cast including the real life jockey, Calvin Borel (who did a great job acting and has the most amazing smile I've ever seen), HORSES, and - most of all - the true life story of shocking success in spite of 50-1 odds, puts this movie on the top of my list. A must see!

"The losing streak is over. You just have to have a little faith." Chip Woolley (Ulrich) is a horse trainer that is having a hard time making ends meet. When he asks Mark (Kane), his old friend, for a job he is sent off to look at a new racehorse to buy. When he comes back with Mine That Bird things don't go as planned. I have stated many times that I am a sucker for sports movies. Any type of sports movie. I am not a horse racing fan at all and have never actually seen a race on TV or otherwise. I do have to admit that having said that I have really liked Seabiscuit, Secretariat, and even The Cup. I would add this movie to the list as well. This has tenseness and heart. The acting is surprisingly good for a lower budget movie and I really enjoyed this. There are a few fights in this but this is a pretty decent family movie and I recommend it. Overall, a movie that not just fans of horse racing will like. I did. I surprisingly give this a B+.

Just saw the movie tonight and it was worth the wait. I love horses and horse racing, they have definitely gotten into my blood since I was a boy. Their beauty, their speed and their heart and courage. Mine That Bird was like a blue collar worker in the midst of horses that were high profile aristocrats. Didn't have the beauty but he had everything else. And that's what counted in the end.

I've read a number of mean-spirited put-downs of the horse and of the film by viewers (or just detractors) who think he wasn't worth making a movie about. They don't seem to understand why people would celebrate a horse who ran his heart out every time and accomplished amazing things even though his win/loss record doesn't seem to indicate greatness. True, he didn't win another race after the Derby, but they fail to recognize that he ran 2nd in the Preakness and 3rd in the Belmont, finishing in the money in all three Triple Crown races. It takes an extraordinary athlete to achieve that over 5 grueling weeks of racing. How many horse owners and trainers can make that claim? Every racehorse peaks at some point and then begins to lose its speed and stamina over time. MTB is no different from any other racehorse in that regard. He just peaked higher than many other horses ever will, so the decline naturally seemed greater.

The movie makers did a great job of giving us the back story of MTB and his owners and trainer. It was hard to know how much of the account was doctored up or exaggerated to sell it better, but they got the essentials right and made us care about the main characters and the horse. My only criticism would be of the way they portrayed Bob Baffert as pompous and arrogant. My impression of him based on interviews and on comments he's made is that he's as competitive as they come, but more generous of spirit than many of the others as well, certainly not the dismissive person the movie made him out to be.

I was actually not a MTB fan at the time of the Triple Crown races. Rachel Alexandra was/is my favorite and I definitely cheered for her and celebrated her win over MTB in the Preakness. But over time I did learn to appreciate what he did over the course of his career and I now have a soft spot in my heart for him as well. To the film makers I say 'thanks' for making a movie that left me in tears at the end. To those who think the movie was a waste of time and money, greatness doesn't mean you always finish first. It's also measured by what's in your heart.

I absolutely LOVED everything about "50 to 1." I drove from Illinois to Kentucky to see the cross-country tour they were doing to promote the movie. The added bonus was that I got to see the movie on the big screen while I was there. My only regret is that I could only watch it once before I had to leave Kentucky. Christian Kane is such an amazing actor. He is so versatile and was absolutely perfect for the part of Mark Allen. Skeet Ulrich is also one of my favorites, and his portrayal of Chip Woolley is fantastic. Todd Lowe added a lot of humor to the movie. Seriously, I want to thank Jim Wilson and Faith Conroy for fighting so hard to get this story told and out to the fans. They choose the perfect cast. In addition to the actors I mentioned above, William Devane, Madelyn Deutch,and Hugo Perez all did a fabulous job. It is nice to see a feel-good movie based on a true story and something the whole family can enjoy. I wish I could give "50 to 1" 100 stars!!

I Just loved this movie its one of the best movies Jim Wilson Really took his time and prided himself o finding the best cast and crew and neither him or the cast disappointed I was at the las cruces premier at the cineport 10 theater and got to listen and ask questions first hand I just want to ask u guys not to miss out on this beautiful story about a horse who with 50to1 odds came out and won our hearts by doing something no jockey or horse has ever done take Ur family Ur kids Ur best friends co-workers u really don't want to miss out I gave this a 10 because it just such a touching and heartwarming story that will leave u on the edge of Ur seat and have u screaming with excitement through out the whole movie will guarantee u and promise u that it does not disappoint one but so get up and go get Ur tickets and get ready for the best movie to hit the big screen this year!!!! <3 =)