"When your heart's dream becomes a burning desire to achieve and accomplish its specific purpose, the entire cosmos opens its doors to you" Lloyd Littlepage has wisely observed. There is constant momentum in the lives of those who dare to hope and work hard to fulfill their dreams. That is the inspirational message of this fine family film written and directed by John Gatins (Varsity Blues, Coach Carter). Love and cooperation with others helps open doors that seem like impossible hurtles.
Ben Crane (Kurt Russell) has worked with horses all his life in Kentucky. He picked up this talent from his estranged father (Kris Kristofferson) who has sold off most of their property to pay off debts. Ben works as a trainer for Palmer (David Morse) a wealthy stable owner. It has been a hard and humiliating road for him, one that has affected his marriage to Lily (Elizabeth Shue) and put a strain on his relationship with his young daughter Cale (Dakota Fanning). But everything changes when a promising filly named Sonador (the horse's name means "dreamer") breaks a leg in a high stakes race. Palmer orders him to shoot the animal but Ben is reluctant to do so in front of his daughter who has accompanied him to the track that day. Instead he tells his boss off and gets fired. Palmer agrees that Ben can take the filly as part of his severance pay.
Cale falls in love with Sonador and feeds her popsicles during her recuperation. The dysfunctional family decides to all pull together in this project: they even get the support of stablehands Balon (Luis Guzman) and Manolin (Freddy Rodriguez). Ben's plan is to mate Sonador with a champion thoroughbred that could produce a colt worth $300,000. But Cale has other plans in mind.
Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story rides into our hearts and minds in such a winning way thanks to the strong performances by Dakota Fanning as an indomitable little girl with a big dream, Kurt Russell as a defeated man who reconnects with his daughter, Kris Kristofferson as a crusty grandfather who gives his granddaughter just what she needs, and Freddy Rodriguez as a washed up jockey who finds the courage to do what he does best when the right time comes. It is always a pleasure to watch any movie that celebrates the ability of an animal to revive human beings who are devoid of hope. This spiritual capacity makes them true miracle workers.