Stars: Kurt Russell, Dakota Fanning, Kris Kristofferson, Elisabeth Shue, David Morse, Freddy Rodriguez, Luis Guzman, Karen Butler, Oded Fehr, Ken Howard, Holmes Osborne

Director: John Gatins

Summary: Featuring plucky Dakota Fanning (Cale Crane) as the catalyst behind an injured horse's comeback attempt to win the prized Breeder's Cup, DREAMER recalls Walt Disney's family-friendly films from another era, such as THE COMPUTER WORE TENNIS SHOES and THAT DARN CAT! Sonador, nicknamed Sonya, is a great horse owned by a small man, who after a severe injury gives the horse to trainer Ben Crane (Kurt Russell). Once a great trainer, Ben has become a shell of his former self, suffering both professional and personal strife, including a rocky relationship with his father (Kris Kristofferson). It seems that both Sonya and Ben are headed for the end of their careers, unless Ben's daughter Cale can provide them with enough faith in their abilities to heal their wounds and bring them to victory. DREAMER takes its inspiration from the true story of the horse Mariah's Storm, a favourite for the 1993 Breeder's Cup until she suffered what would normally be a career-ending injury. However, her owners and trainers persevered, and the horse went on to win a number of significant races, including an upset at the 1995 Breeder's Cup. A moving score by composer John Debney (SPY KIDS, THE PRINCESS DIARIES) enhances the drama and creates a lasting impression, making this a certain family classic.

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The title is a mouthful, but Dreamer: Inspired by a True Storyhits the winner's circle as a warm and inspiring family film. Ben Crane (Kurt Russell) is a Kentucky horse trainer who watches in horror as a championship filly breaks its leg during a practice run. Ordinarily that means curtains, but today Ben's daughter, Cale (Dakota Fanning), is at the track, and Ben impulsively buys the horse and loses his job in one fell swoop.

The rehabilitation process is almost too much for a farm that's already struggling to survive in a modern economy, but the horse turns out to be a much-needed salve to the nearly broken family, including Ben's wife (Elisabeth Shue) and father (Kris Kristofferson). The cast is excellent, especially Fanning, and the film is well-paced by director-writer John Gatins and beautifully shot by cinematographer Fred Murphy. Surely the ultimate fate of the horse and the family won't surprise anyone, but young girls who love horses often don't need a surprise ending. They need a reason to cheer, and Dreamerdelivers all the way.-- David Horiuchi

Main Language:	English
Region:	Region 2
Special Features:	The Year Of Dakota, A Filmmakers Dream, Sound Bites, Trailer, BRoll, Music Video
Subtitles:	English
Year:	2005
Release Date:	February 13, 2006
Runtime:	105 minutes
Certification:
Catalogue Number:	E D V 9373
Keywords:	Dreamer, General, Drama
Genre:	Drama