terrible... so disappointed.

Most undeservingly overhyped movie of all time??

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

Close shines in drama with strong language, adult themes.

As a long time horse racing fan and a former horse loving little girl, this movie had to go on my must see list. I would definitely recommend it for all families - and the adults may be surprised how much they enjoy it also. There is one scary scene for some young kids when the filly breaks down early in the movie - but this scene is part of the commercials that already have been on TV, so it should not be too much of a shock. As a racing fan, I found a few points that stretched credibility, but this is a "dream" after all, and they do point out that putting a filly or mare in the Breeder's Cup Classic has hardly ever been done, much less expecting she can win enough of the purse to justify the high entry fee needed. Even Azeri, who was a horse of the year, ran 5th when she took on male horses in the Classic. Sonador could have run in the Breeder's Cup Distaff instead, paid less for the entry fees, and still have astounded everyone with a win (when Mariah's Storm, the "inspired by" horse ran in the Breeder's Cup Distaff after her injury she did not win). Over all the movie does a pretty good job of representing the factual background (children can't generally be licensed as race horse owners, but the plot certainly works much better this way!).I do think that if they are going to make "Inspired by a true story" part of the title, they should have provided information about this some where - perhaps as a post script at the end - but they do not. You have to find interviews with the screen writer to learn that it was inspired by Mariah's Storm who broke her leg as a 2 year old when she was expected to be a favorite in the 1993 Breeder's Cup Juvenile Fillies, but later returned to racing and won several graded stakes races. She has gone on to be the dam of several stakes winners, including Giants Causeway, who is one of the studs they admire at Ashmore Stud when looking for a horse to breed Sonadore to. Mariah's Storm is 14 years old now and is still having babies. I suspect that on their trip to the breeding farm we may be seeing the actual retired race horses, as the studs shown (Fusaichi Pegasus, Giant's Causeway, Johannesburg, Grand Slam) are all actually owned by Coolmore Lexington (formerly Ashmore Stud) in Kentucky. While inspired by Mariah's Storm, the movie is not really based on her. In fact, at one point, the characters talk about Mariah's Storm, when saying it may be possible for Sonador to race again after her broken leg, just like Mariah's Storm had. Grand Slam (the horse they considered breeding Sonador to) also made a comeback from an injury he suffered running in the 1997 Breeder's Cup Juvenile.

Let me start off by saying that i wasn't totally disappointed with this movie. I'm a big fan of thoroughbred movies (i liked Seabiscuit and Ruffian)i don't know maybe it's because i'm an animal lover. But I will say that a lot of the scenes were very predictable (horse gets injured old trainer/veterinarian offers to nurse her back to health owner is your typical a****** bad guys are Arabian sheiks who knows how they got rich). The scenery and racing scenes were beautiful. The music mediocre only. The relationship between father and daughter comes of as more of a father son relationship. I will say that i don't like Dakota Fanning especially after War of the worlds. She acts beyond her years in this film, like an urban teen/young adult instead of 10 year old girl. Her feeding the horse Popsicles every night was stupid. And lastly anyone should know that a horse falling on its neck like that would cause more damage than just a broken leg. I won't give away the ending but all in all just a mediocre film.

In Lexington, Kentucky, the horse barn of the family Crane has been empty for years, without any horses, due to the financial difficulties of the family. When the female horse Sonya, a.k.a. Sonador (Dreamer, in Spanish) breaks one foreleg in a race, the owner Palmer (David Morse) decides to sacrifice the animal, but the trainer Ben Crane (Kurt Russell) accepts the injured horse as part of three months salaries owed by Palmer. His daughter Cale (Dakota Fanning) becomes very connected with Sonya, and while the horse is rehabilitated, the wounds in the ties of the Crane family are also healed."Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story" is one of those beautiful, positive, optimistic movies, with a magnificent message for families. First, you must never give up your dream; following your dream, no matter how impossible it seems to be, magic may happen. The other one is that families shall always stay united, no matter how difficult the situation seems to be: the union makes the strength. My vote is seven.Title (Brazil): "Sonhadora" ("Dreamer")

First of all I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. Each time I've watched it has brought tears to my eyes. I have a lot of experience with thoroughbred horses and could relate to things that they were experiencing. It says that it's based on a true story and in the credits it mentions a trainers name that it's been dedicated to. I was wondering if anyone has more information on the real people that the movie was based on? And the only other thing that I have is that I was checking the goofs that were noticed by people. I'm an expert rider and have ridden races and I can tell you there's a handful of goofs in the race at the end of the movie. Any response would be appreciated. I've been to Keenland, worked there and would like to know more about the people that the story was about. Thanks,John