JOCKEY

JOCKEY is a character study of a veteran horse racing jockey suffering from a neurological disorder whose friend has a possible winning horse he can ride to victory and who mentors a young jockey who thinks the older man might be his father. JOCKEY is a well-acted drama with some good plot points and jeopardy, but there’s lots of strong foul language and the protagonist says he doesn’t believe in an afterlife despite an uplifting Christian prayer he and the other jockeys participate in during one scene before a race.

Jackson Silva is an aging jockey who’s seen better days, but he’s still looking to ride some more horses into the winning circle before he retires. He usually rides horses trained by his friend, Ruth Wilkes, who’s about the same age as he. One day, she approaches him about a young horse she just bought who appears to have the makings of a champion. Jackson looks at the horse and rides him and agrees with Ruth’s assessment about the horse’s potential.

Recently, however, Jackson has been experiencing some numbness and cramping in his right hand and arm. Secretly, he’s consulted one of the horse vets. The vet tells Jackson the problem is probably related to the fact that he’s suffered three broken backs during his career. He offers to give him the name of a good human surgeon, but Jackson declines.

Meanwhile, Jackson hears that a young jockey on the circuit, Gabriel, thinks Jackson is his father. Jackson knew Gabriel’s mother, but he tells Gabriel it’s not possible. However, Jackson takes a liking to the boy and starts teaching him the ropes about being a jockey.

JOCKEY is a well-acted drama with some good plot points and jeopardy. Clifton Collins, Jr. does an excellent, award-worthy job in the title role. He garners a lot of sympathy as the aging jockey looking for one more championship trophy.

The mentor relationship between Jackson and Gabriel is a touching one, even when their relationship hits a big bump in the road. Jackson also has a close, platonic friendship with Ruth, the owner and trainer of the new hopeful champion horse. Also, there’s a great scene where a Christian chaplain prays with the jockeys before a race. The chaplain prays in the name of Jesus in that scene.

However, after the prayer scene, Jackson tells someone he doesn’t believe in an afterlife. Life has been too disappointing for him to have such a hope. JOCKEY also contains lots of strong foul language and some drunkenness. So, MOVIEGUIDE® advises extreme caution.