Jackson (Clifton Collins Jr.) has broken his back so many times the track veterinarian at last prescribes the services of a human doctor. Add to that a bad case of the shakes and a resultant inability to command the whip. Horse racing is a sport that takes place largely during daylight hours, but that didn’t stop writer-director Clint Bentley from shooting a sizable portion of his modern day horse opera at “twilight time” to gently underscore his protagonist’s fading state of being. What little racing footage to be found is often relegated to television sets in the locker room or clubhouse. A realist in denial, Jackson’s worries are further exacerbated by a young jockey (Moises Arias) on his tail who claims to be his son. He takes a liking to the kid, and in quick time the two bond, train, and spit ice cubes at each other in the steam room. But emotions run deep, and the ensuing tsunami of resentment and miscommunication leads to an inevitable father vs. son steeplechase. The tone and performances are such that the addition of Aaron and Bryce Dessner’s elbow-on-the-keyboard score strikes the film’s only discordant note. 2021. (2021) — Scott Marks
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