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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nWe\u2019re suckers for horsy movies, and this pleasant film about a working class Welsh woman who gets the notion to raise a thoroughbred racehorse, though based on a true story, hits all the predictable Hollywood beats. Wild ambition, success, setback, and so on. Directed by Euros Lyn, the film stars Toni Collette, Damian Lewis, and Welsh actor Owen Teale (trailer<\/a>). No new dramatic ground broken, but it eases you back into your theater seat. Rotten Tomatoes<\/a> critics rating: 89%; audiences 97%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Enjoyment of the film is marred by awareness of the current state of U.S. thoroughbred racing, including the tanking reputation of super-trainer Bob Baffert and William Finnegan<\/a>\u2019s article in the 24 May New Yorker<\/em>, \u201cBlood on the Tracks,\u201d about the dozens of race-horses who have died recently, especially at Santa Anita Park outside Los Angeles. Not an easy story to read if you love horses. As Finnegan points out, thoroughbred racing, \u201conce the most popular spectator sport in America, has been in decline\u201d for decades. Not because of high-minded animal rights concerns, but because it lost its near-lock on legal gambling before the pre-casino era.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the Heights<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n A lively portrayal of the Latinx residents of Washington Heights, in sight of Manhattan\u2019s George Washington Bridge. The film, directed by Jon M. Chu, based on Lin-Manuel Miranda\u2019s Broadway version (trailer<\/a>), has not one, but two love stories! And expands the definition of family. The stars are engaging, the production numbers huge, and the music toe-tapping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Anthony Ramos stars as the bodega owner who longs to return to the Dominican Republic where he says he had \u201cthe best days of my life.\u201d Fans of Hamilton will find Miranda\u2019s lyrics as entertaining and cleverly rhymed as ever. Sets and costumes are colorful and fun. Loved the food! Apparently the Rotten Tomatoes<\/a> critics did too, giving it 96%; audiences, 95%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Preceding the film was a thank-you and welcome back to the movie theater from Miranda, Chu, and one of the film\u2019s writer-producers, Quiara Alegr\u00eda Hudes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This film is more directly linked to controversy<\/a> than Dream Horse<\/em>. Here\u2019s Lin-Manuel\u2019s Twitter response<\/a> to criticisms the film lacks sufficient Afro-Latino lead characters.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Finally breaking out of our covid-cocoon and our addiction to streaming, in the last week we\u2019ve seen two movies in an actual big-screen movie theater. Neither was too challenging to our dulled senses, whereas the previews of superhero films the … Continue reading ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vweisfeld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/In-the-Heights-2.jpeg?resize=572%2C329&ssl=1\")
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