Clifton Collins Jr. has been around Hollywood since the 1990s and has often shined playing the side character or some other smaller role. He’s one of those actors you instantly recognize in a character, although his name might elude you for a moment. Jockey puts Collin Jr. front and center in a commanding performance. He expertly carries the weight of the film on his shoulders. It’s about time that Clifton Collins Jr. gets his due, and Jockey is the perfect film for it.
Jackson Silva (Collins Jr.) has spent decades as a racehorse jockey, but with all the knowledge he has learned over the years also comes plenty of injuries. Still, he’s one of the most experienced riders out on the circuit. There’s only so much punishment his body can take, however, and when a strong, new horse comes into his stable, it’s going to take everything he has to ride it and win. Meanwhile the young and eager Gabriel (Moisés Arias) is looking for his opportunity to show off his skills. He just needs someone to take a chance on him. Someone like Jackson.
Jockey is a fascinating movie, not only because it puts Clifton Collins Jr. in the spotlight, but also because it does the same with its subject matter. Jockeys are always pushed towards the back of horseracing films. Typically the focus is on the horse itself or the owner. Yet here the jockey is the star of the film. It’s their story being told. And honestly I couldn’t imagine anyone other than Collins Jr. in the role. A jockey lays it out on the line every time they get up on that horse, and Collins Jr. does that here with Jockey. Jackson’s experience, pain, and vulnerabilities are all brought to life by Collins Jr., and you can’t help but see those same qualities in the actor. Every role has been leading to this moment, and Collins Jr. absolutely nails it.
Jockey is about legacy and what we leave behind. All eyes are often only on the horses, but the film puts the focus squarely on who’s riding it. It provides an intimate window into that life, delivering a captivating story that is full of heart and personality. Clifton Collins Jr. delivers the performance of his career, one that is worthy of recognition that is long overdue.
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Jockey
Summary
Clifton Collins Jr. has been around Hollywood since the 1990s and has often shined playing the side character or some other smaller role. He’s one of those actors you instantly recognize in a character, although his name might elude you for a moment. Jockey puts Collin Jr. front and center in a commanding performance. He expertly carries the weight of the film on his shoulders. It’s about time that Clifton Collins Jr. gets his due, and Jockey is the perfect film for it.
