Un coeur de gagnant

I am usually tolerant of horse movies. I don't expect the actors to be the best riders or horse handlers. I expect mistakes to be made and things to be wrong. I try to sit back and just enjoy the story. This is what I expected to do recently when I picked up a new horse movie called The Derby Stallion.

Well it was simply awful. The lead could not ride at all. I feel they could have found an actor with riding skills. Even worse was when they switched to the legs of a dark bay horse jumping when the lead horse was a bright chestnut. They should have taken the time to do the research and find the right people.

Overall I was not impressed with the way this movie was shot and put together. Some of the close-ups seemed too close and out of focus and actually made me dizzy. I feel a lot more could have been done to make this movie better starting with an actor who had real life horse experience.

Cute fifteen-year-old Zac Efron (as Patrick McCardle) doesn't have friends his own age. He skips baseball practice to spend time with boozing horse enthusiast mentor Bill Cobbs (as Houston Jones). In flashbacks, Mr. Cobbs recounts his love for a wealthy white woman, and a passion for horses; his doomed romance led Cobbs to alcoholism. Parents William R. Moses and Tonja Walker (as Jim and Linda) don't like Mr. Efron's close relationship with the older man; especially, Mr. Moses wants his son to play baseball like his dad. Efron doesn't know much, but "I know horses like me." He decides to join the horse races, with Cobbs as trainer.

Be advised, there is heartbreak ahead for Efron!

Efron is less affected (and made-up) than in "High School Musical" performances, which is a plus. He passes for a mature fifteen, but doesn't show much prowess as an actor. The prerequisite bully and pretty girl roles are adequately filled by coolly-coiffed Michael Nardelli (as Randy Adams) and lightly-tressed Crystal Hunt (as Jill Overton). Cobbs adroitly makes the most of his predictable character role. And, ailing musician Billy Preston has one of his last gigs. "The Derby Stallion" gallops with missteps and continuity problems, obviously enhanced by budget restrictions. Filmmakers found a great semi-circular tree for a background shot.

*** The Derby Stallion (7/4/05) Craig Clyde ~ Zac Efron, Bill Cobbs, Crystal Hunt, William R. Moses

Bill Cobbs Zac Efron Crystal Hunt were awesome in this movie. It is about a young boy who does not want to follow in his dads footsteps and play baseball but is scared to tell him, but with the help of a very good friend a very old and misunderstood ex horse trainer he gets the courage to tell him. Don't want to spoil anything so leaving it there. I would recommend this movie to any one at any age it was a great FAMILY movie. Crystal hunt is really good in this movie I believe you will be seeing a lot more of her. James E. Welch Henderson Arkansas 11/20/2005

I really enjoyed this film. The acting was great and Zac Efron did some really nice work.I was drawn to this film because I ride horses and like racing. I didn't know much about Steeplechase before this movie. It is cool...looks pretty hard and a little dangerous but fun.

I also enjoyed Houston Jones character and his relationship with Zac's character, "Patrick". It reminded me of my relationship with my granddad.The parents were good too, and the girl that plays Jill, is hot! My mother liked the film too, and said she would recommend it to her friends to buy for their kids because its a family movie that she enjoyed watching with me. There are some surprises in it that I won't tell you. Randy's character is a good bad guy. I think you will like it as much as I did!

I was on the set - even an extra - no I did not get paid - but the story is good and the actors are great. It's a movie folks. All the people behind the scenes worked hard, as well as all of the actors. And yes, Rusty is Rusty in all of the scenes. Contact Zion Farms if you do not believe me. And yes, the actors rode the horses as well. I heard that the main actors cowboy'ed the horses better than those of us who never rode horses before. It's a feel good movie - don't dissect it. Enjoy it. Three Billy's - how can you go wrong - sorry that Billy Preston could only be there for a short bit - but he wasn't feeling well.