50 to 1

I love this movie. It's like "Secretariat" with cowboys! Perhaps my opinion is biased since I live in Roswell where Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird resides in luxury. The actors/director/crew really caught the feel of rural New Mexico. The script is an intelligent homage to the underdog. Skeet Ulrich is uncanny as the trainer--every movement and stance was perfectly natural as a cowboy. William Devane is the closest to owner Doc Blach anyone could be! And Christian Kane's quirky humor and physicality help embody the oil-rich, bad boy owner, who champions two underdogs--a down-and-out trainer and an unknown horse. But it's the supporting cast that fleshes out the film and makes it a winner. I rate this film excellent in that it's fun to watch; it makes the audience cheer; and it never condescends to the average people behind the scenes of any champion. Kids will love this movie, but parents will appreciate its messages. Ten feel-good hugs.

It's hard to not like a "true-story-ish" movie about an underdog going up against despicable snobs... so on that level, the movie is worth a watch, especially if you're running out of movies to watch.

Feel-good underdog movie with hokey screenplay and acting.

I certainly have seen far worse, but there were a few times during the movie that I was tempted to shut it off because it was over-the- top cornball. It's filled with scenes and side-stories that add no value whatsoever to the movie and feel like the filmmakers wanted to check-off every popular cliché in movie making.

Fight scene... check. Love & hate romantic tension scene... check. Funny animal action scene... check. Life and death drama scene... check. Down-and-out nobody believes in me scene... check

The movie jumps back and forth trying to be funny at times, and serious at others without having a connection between the emotions - - at least in believable way. I kinda of felt at times like I was watching a Smokey and the Bandit movie... then all of the sudden, it tries to go serious.

With all that said... I watched the entire movie, had a few chuckles and wiped a tear from my eye at the end.

"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+.

It's very rare that I come away from a movie with any sort of emotional impact; especially one that is uplifting. Typically, there has to be some sort of cruelty or injustice for me to genuinely become attached to a film beyond any sort of typical entertainment value. However, "50 to 1" is one of those instances in which I was completely taken in by the characters' quest. It's a genuinely fun movie packed with so much heart that the entire audience gets in on the action. How often have you gone to a movie and actually heard the crowd cheer multiple times? I had attended the world premiere in Albuquerque in which that sort of thing is expected. So, I decided to attended a general public screening to see what the difference would be. I was surprised to witness even larger reactions from the public screening than the private one. Although the film may have some shortcomings due to budgetary issues, there is no denying that the overall film is much more powerful than most films you'll see this year. As for entertainment value, I'd put this $10 million film over most mundane $200 million films any day. When you see grown men walk away with tears in their eyes, you know they've seen something special. This movie is a definite must-see in theaters simply for the race footage alone. The action is so quick and detailed, that you'll definitely benefit from seeing this film on the big screen! In fact, I caught several things that made the film even more enjoyable on the second viewing than on the first. Saddle up and enjoy the show!

As the granddaughter of the real-life Doc Blach I was THRILLED with the movie! The characters were genuine, heartfelt, and really told our family's story in a way that honored that whole experience. When it came time for the actual Kentucky Derby the whole theater was cheering, clapping, and hollering as if the real race was being ran again. It was truly remarkable and I can't wait to see it again! This movie did a great job of showing what the little man can do, and that in this beautiful country we call home - anything can happen. Mine That Bird is a horse that can give all of us encouragement to keep working hard, and to never, ever give up!