Watch The Rider

The Rider is a 2017 drama film directed by Chloe Zhao, focusing on the life of a young cowboy named Brady Blackburn portrayed by Brady Jandreau. The movie is set in the American West, following the story of Brady, who has suffered a severe head injury after getting bucked off a horse during a rodeo competition. The film starts with Brady returning home from the hospital to his family and friends on the Lakota Pine Ridge Reservation, where he works as a horse trainer for his father, Tim Jandreau, and brother, Lilly Jandreau, while struggling to come to terms with the fact that his rodeo career may be over.

Throughout the film, the audience follows Brady on his journey of recovery and identity crisis as he attempts to come to terms with his past, face the reality of his present, and build a new future for himself. The Rider deals with themes such as self-discovery, identity, and the meaning of family and community in the modern world.

The film was remarkable, partly because of the excellent cast, which includes real-life friends and family members of the protagonist. Brady Jandreau's performance in the lead role was especially noteworthy, given that he is not a trained actor. The movie felt authentic, thanks to the unique blend of fictitious storytelling combined with a documentary-style cinematography that showcases the world of rodeo cowboys and the life of Native Americans on the Pine Ridge Reservation.

The cinematography of The Rider was also exceptional, with cinematographer Joshua James Richard capturing the vast landscape of South Dakota and the way of life on the reservation with an incredible attention to detail. The camera work allowed the audience to feel very close to the cowboys and their horses during the action-packed rodeo scenes.

Overall, The Rider is a beautiful, powerful, and moving film that explores the human spirit's perseverance, resilience, and fragility. The film's poignant portrayal of the physical and emotional challenges that Brady faces as he attempts to rebuild his life after a severe rodeo accident is powerful and gripping.

The Rider has been critically acclaimed, receiving numerous awards and nominations, including the Cannes Film Festival's Art Cinema Award and the Independent Spirit Award for Best Feature. The movie is a powerful and evocative exploration of the American cowboy tradition and a deeply human story about identity and self-discovery that will resonate with audiences worldwide.

The Rider is a 2018 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 45 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.4 and a MetaScore of 89.