Sundance Film Festival 2020

Dream Horse Review: Hollywood Reporter – Jan 28, 2020

On January 28, 2020January 28, 2020 By Gingersnap Comments Off

Giddy Up!

by Leslie Felperin | Hollywood Reporter | January 28, 2020

Toni Collette and Damian Lewis play members of a syndicate formed to raise a thoroughbred in this comedy-drama set in Wales and based on a true story.

Anyone who saw director Louise Osmond’s 2015 documentary Dark Horse, winner of the audience award at Sundance that year, knew it was a racing certainty that this almost-too-good-to-be-true story would get made into a feature film someday. Some critics even had casting suggestions: Jim Broadbent was mentioned a couple of times for the role of Brian “Daisy” Vokes, husband of Jan Vokes (Imelda Staunton? one critic mused), who was the mastermind behind the plan to breed a racehorse and pay for its keep and training through weekly subscriptions. The members of this syndicate were mostly clients at the local village pub where Jan worked as a barmaid, in a former mining village in South Wales.

Like horse racing, filmmaking is a high-risk gamblers’ game, but the team behind Dream Horse, the resulting dramatization of the Vokes’ story, have surely bred a winner with this endearing, determinedly crowd-pleasing adaptation. Even without knowing the real-life facts (in the U.K., especially in Wales, the story’s well known), the outcome could very easily be predicted by anyone who’s ever seen a British movie about plucky, working-class folk in a provincial setting triumphing over odds or at least exceeding expectations. But thanks to a well-assembled package, smoothly directed by Euros Lyn (best known for his TV work, including Doctor Who, Broadchurch and an episode of Black Mirror), and good casting all around, crowned by the reliably excellent Toni Collette as Jan, this has every chance of sprinting to victory at the box office finish line.

Continue reading Dream Horse Review: Hollywood Reporter – Jan 28, 2020

Dream Horse Premiere Print Media Review Sundance Film Festival

Dream Horse Review: Variety – Jan 26, 2020

On January 26, 2020January 28, 2020 By Gingersnap Comments Off

Equal Emphasis is Given to the Excellent Lewis

by Dennis Harvey | Variety | January 26, 2020

Louise Osmond’s 2015 Sundance audience winner “Dark Horse” was one of those documentaries that played like a crowdpleasing fiction, its real-life tale of underdog triumph had such a conventionally satisfying narrative arc. And indeed, the new “Dream Horse” proves that same material is indeed ready-made for dramatization.

Euros Lyn’s feature springs few true surprises within its familiar genre, one that U.K. filmmakers have specialized in at least since “The Full Monty.” Still, this is a well-cast, artfully handled effort that exercises sufficient restraint to really earn its requisite laughter and tears. Likely to have broad appeal, with strong word-of-mouth from its own Park City premiere, it looks to be one of the strongest commercial prospects at Sundance this year.

Toni Collette is in fine form as Jan Vokes, a middle-aged South Wales native whose life in declining former mining town Cefn Fforest has hit a seemingly permanent slump. Her children have left the nest, arthritic husband Brian (Owen Teale) mostly just parks himself in front of the telly, and her two jobs (bartending at the local social club/pub and cashiering at a big-box store) are joyless dead ends. She and Brian have always been keen on animals, each raising award-winning livestock from an early age. But currently they’re down to some geese, a lazy dog and the odd goat.

One day a newish patron (Damian Lewis) at the pub, bragging about his purported glories as part of a racehorse investing syndicate, piques Jan’s interest. After doing some research, she informs the incredulous Brian that they’re buying a brood mare, then actually goes out and does it. The next thing is to draft local investors to fund the considerable costs of orchestrating insemination by a racing stallion, raising the offspring, training, et al., with only the remotest chance of arriving at a winning competitor.

Continue reading Dream Horse Review: Variety – Jan 26, 2020

Dream Horse Premiere Print Media Review Screenings Sundance Film Festival

Dream Horse Review: Toni Collette and Damian Lewis Lead This Crowd-Pleasing Sports Drama – Jan 26, 2020

On January 26, 2020February 20, 2020 By Gingersnap Comments Off

It Will Make You Chuckle, Cheer, and Maybe Even Tear Up: 7 Out of 10

by Ben Pearson | Slash Film | January 26, 2020

Jane (Toni Collette) is tired. Tired of working multiple jobs in small-town Wales, tired of her boring husband Brian (Owen Teale) who bums around watching TV all day, tired of taking care of her aging parents, tired of the drudgery her life has become. So when Howard (Damian Lewis), a former hotshot racehorse owner, becomes a regular at the bar where she works, Jane is inspired to try her own hand at raising a racehorse – but she needs some help to pull it off. Based on a 2015 documentary called Dark Horse, director Euros Lyn’s Dream Horse is an inspirational, winning sports drama about a small town with big hopes.

The trouble with Jane’s plan is that racehorses are expensive. So she reaches out to the townsfolk to see if they want to form a syndicate, an ownership collective in which they all pay £10 a week for shared rights to the future winnings of their still non-existent racehorse. A coterie of characters shows up to participate, including retirees, local small business owners, and even the town drunk.

Continue reading Dream Horse Review: Toni Collette and Damian Lewis Lead This Crowd-Pleasing Sports Drama – Jan 26, 2020

Dream Horse Gallery Premiere Review Screenings Sundance Film Festival

Dream Horse Sundance Review – Jan 25, 2020

On January 25, 2020February 20, 2020 By Gingersnap Comments Off

“The Movie’s Got Spirit and Finishes Strong”

by Tim Grierson | Screen Daily | January 25, 2020

Toni Collette is a sure thing in Dream Horse, a thoroughly predictable but ultimately winning underdog sports movie. Based on the true story of a group of down-on-their-luck Welsh villagers who pool their assets to sponsor a racehorse, the movie goes a long way on the strength of the Oscar-nominated actress’s emotional performance as an unfulfilled wife and mother who decides to bet on herself. Director Euros Lyn overdoes the feel-good trappings, but it’s hard to deny the genuine sentiment that the movie stirs up.

This Sundance premiere will appeal to general audiences who just want a little uplift from their movies when it opens in the UK on April 17 and in the US in May. Collette fans will be pleased as well, and horse lovers should be charmed by the title character’s soulful eyes and knack for coming up big during the story’s most critical moments.

Set in the economically depressed Welsh community of Cefn Fforest, Dream Horse stars Collette as Jan Vokes, who works at a co-op and a bar to make ends meet. (Her husband Brian, played by Owen Teale, is out of work because of crippling arthritis.) With their kids grown, Jan (who’s always adored animals) is having trouble coping as an empty-nester — which partly explains her interest in supporting a racehorse, which might be a financial windfall and, more importantly, a way to add meaning to what she feels is a pretty humdrum life.

This real-life tale was previously the subject of the 2015 Sundance documentary Dark Horse, and there’s no mystery to why the material would lend itself to a likeable feature film. Recalling indie hits such as The Full Monty, Dream Horse is principally a salute to small-town characters who take a chance, in the process finding personal satisfaction. The movie’s target audience will want to believe that these downtrodden people can beat the odds, and Dream Horse does nothing to upset those expectations.

Continue reading Dream Horse Sundance Review – Jan 25, 2020

Dream Horse Screenings Sundance Film Festival

Damian Scheduled to Attend Sundance Film Festival – Jan 18, 2020

On January 18, 2020February 20, 2020 By Gingersnap Comments Off

Here Are 50 Celebrities Going to the 2020 Sundance Film Festival

by Sean P. Means | The Salt Lake Tribune | January 18, 2020

L to R: Damian Lewis, Alex Jordan and Owen Teale (Dream Horse Cast)

Many celebrities will be visiting Park City, to promote themselves, their pet causes and their movies playing at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival and its upstart rival, Slamdance.

Here’s a list of 50 celebrities confirmed to be coming to Park City — along with the titles fans would recognize them from, the reason they’re in town (the film and its category), and (where available) their Twitter and Instagram handles.

Damian Lewis • “Homeland,” “Billions” • “Dream Horse” (Premieres)

Toni Collette • “Knives Out,” “Hereditary” • “Dream Horse” (Premieres)

Hillary Clinton • Former secretary of state, N.Y. senator • “Hillary” (Special Events) • T: @HillaryClinton / IG: @hillaryclinton

Rachel Brosnahan • “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” • “Ironbark” (Premieres) • T: @RachelBros / IG: @rachelbrosnahan

Glenn Close • “The Wife,” “Air Force One” • “Four Good Days” (Premieres) • IG: @glennclose

Tim Daly • “Madam Secretary,” “Wings” • The Creative Coalition president • T: @TimmyDaly / IG: @timmydaly

Ethan Hawke • “First Reformed,” “Training Day” • “Tesla” (Premieres), U.S. Dramatic competition juror • IG: @ethanhawke

Sienna Miller • “American Sniper,” “21 Bridges” • “Wander Darkly” (U.S. Dramatic)

Lin-Manuel Miranda • “Hamilton,” “Mary Poppins Returns” • “We Are Freestyle Love Supreme,” “Siempre, Luis” (both Special Events) • T: @Lin_Manuel

Margaret Qualley • “Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood,” “Death Stranding” • “Wake Up” (short film, private event) • IG: @margaretqualley

Read the rest of the original article at The Salt Lake Tribune

Dream Horse Premiere

Dream Horse Set for Sundance World Premiere – Dec 4, 2019

On December 4, 2019January 16, 2020 By Gingersnap Comments Off

2020 Sundance Film Festival

by Gingersnap | damian-lewis.com | December 4, 2019

The nonprofit Sundance Institute announced the showcase of new independent feature films selected across all categories for the 2020 Sundance Film Festival. A total of 118 feature films in all!

Of the showcase of premieres, Dream Horse starring Damian Lewis and Toni Collette, is among some of the most highly anticipated narrative films of the coming year and will receive it’s world premiere at the festival. The film has already been purchased by Bleecker Street, according to Indiewire.

The festival hosts screenings in Park City, Salt Lake City and at Sundance Mountain Resort, from January 23–February 2, 2020. The Sundance Film Festival is Sundance Institute’s flagship public program, widely regarded as the largest American independent film festival and attended by more than 120,000 people and 1,300 accredited press, and powered by more than 2,000 volunteers last year.

Here are the dates you can see the premiere of Dream Horse at the festival:

Continue reading Dream Horse Set for Sundance World Premiere – Dec 4, 2019