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Jockey Blu-ray Review

Clifton Collins Jr. carries “Jockey.”

As the title suggests, “Jockey” is an indie drama about a horse jockey by the name of Jackson Silva. Jackson is in the twilight of his career and his body is breaking down due to age and a history of injuries that have compounded over time. Jackson gets one last chance at glory (and perhaps redemption) when horse trainer Ruth gets a new horse that has a real shot at winning big. While all of this is going on, Jackson learns that he might have a son (Gabriel) who is a promising young jockey.

For decades now, Clifton Collins Jr. has been a consistent character actor who has never really gotten the spotlight. Thanks to director Clint Bentley, the veteran gets a chance to shine in “Jockey” and shine he does. Writers Clint Bentley and Greg Kwedar have crafted a story that is very much an acting showcase for Clifton Collins Jr. While a lot of emotions are internalized by Jackson, the film is a grounded redemption story about an athlete who has made mistakes and is in denial about his health and his career. He’s looking to close out a chapter in his life on top, but things may not always go his way. Make no mistake, the reason to see this movie is for Clifton’s performance. He goes above and beyond what is on the page and creates a soulful character who struggles to accept his reality. It’s not surprising that some folks were hoping he’d get award attention.

Where “Jockey” falls short is with the script. It may be a character piece, but it lacks a bigger narrative. It needed to have something more than an age old athlete trying to redeem himself story. The elements involving Gabriel and Ruth (both wonderfully played by Molly Parker and Moises Arias) seemed promising at the start, but they don’t quite pan out. It feels like we’re getting half a story instead of something more in depth. In terms of the sports angle, the writers do provide an insightful look into the world of jockeys and the perils they encounter, but we never actually see any full races sadly (just a close-up of Clifton in a couple races).. It felt like a missed opportunity to be sure.

Video/Audio:

Presentation: 2.39:1 1080p. Grade: A-

Audio Track: 5.1 DTS-HD MA. Grade: B+

Extras include 3 deleted scenes, a “Jockey” theatrical trailer and trailers for other Sony titles.

April 6, 2022 - Posted by nicklyons1 | Blu-Ray review | Horse Racing, Jockey Blu-ray Review