Sports movies have a certain rhythm to them. They’re can proceed like on a race track where the outcomes are limited, but even so, the journey to the finish line is what makes them stand out. Jockey is no different. There have been many films about horse racing and jockeys before (National Velvet, Seabiscuit, Ride Like a Girl, Secretariat) but there are things that set Jockey apart from those that came before it and a lot of that comes down to Clint Bentley, the director and co-writer. Clint’s own father was a jockey and he brings a perspective from a life spent around the tracks and jockeys to the film. He also brings real jockeys into the cast of supporting characters, particularly in these “jockeys anonymous” type group therapy scenes where they talk about injuries they received on the track. However, the big difference that sets Jockey apart is who it centers. Those other films all focused on people/horses that were outsiders and the jockeys were often young and hungry. In Jockey, Clifton Collins Jr. plays Jackson Silva, who is an “aging” jockey and ultimate insider.
Having Jackson be the insider breathed new life into this genre of film because it wasn’t just about the new person trying to prove themselves, it was about the guy who knows he’s at the end but wants to keep going if he can, wanting to secure a legacy. An opportunity for legacy comes to him in a way he didn’t expect/want when a young jockey on the scene (Gabriel played by Moises Arias) claims to be his son.
There was a great choice to reveal the severity of Jackson’s health problems to Ruth (played by Molly Parker), his long-time friend and the trainer & owner of the horse he’s supposed to race, during a private moment in his trailer, instead of on the racecourse or while he was riding the horse. This may have been done for production reasons as you never really see much of the horse races except in extreme wide shots and close-ups, and you don’t actually see them on horses much outside of that. They had a super minimal crew, essentially ten people (no PAs), and made the film as a co-op with each of them as owners of it, so budget probably played a part in what they could and could film with regards to horse action. However, by not having the reveal happen in the more expected, overly dramatic way of it being an incident while riding the horse, it put a greater weight and intimacy to the relationship and bond of Jackson and Ruth, letting us see their years of history.
Most athletes lead rough lives to do what they love, and this film doesn’t shy away from that. As an outsider, it’s easy to see Jackson’s health problems and know he should stop riding, but athletes train themselves to ignore the pain and push through to get to their goal. That probably says something about the pressures we put upon ourselves. I think most people who try or make a living in something they are passionate about put in time and effort even when it starts hurting them back because it’s something they love and don’t want to lose. It’s also hard to lose something that’s been your life for a long time, even when it’s hurting you. You see that with people that struggle to leave abusive relationships. Knowing and doing are two separate things, and Clifton Collins Jr. does a great job of subtly portraying this struggle as he both trains his replacement and gets upset when he’s replaced.
Jockey is set for a limited theatrical release in December (New York and Los Angeles), which means it’s making a push for award season attention, and I think Clifton Collins Jr. has the chance to be the dark-horse contender for Best Actor.