Once in a while a true independent movie comes out and touches me. Chloé Zhao did a great job blending real life with genuine story telling. Not at all interested in pleasing Hollywood and its demands for plot points she let the story unapologetically unfold before your eyes. So refreshing watching a cliché-less movie.

I went to see this movie on a whim because it was the only thing playing near me that seemed even somewhat interesting (aka an independent drama with a nice poster), and I noticed one afternoon that the final showing would be later that night. I had read very briefly about the premise of the movie but had forgotten all about it by the time I actually went to go see it. I nearly walked out of the theater after half an hour, the only inhibiting factor being that I'd already splurged on a full-price evening ticket, a large popcorn, and two bottles of water to match. The cinematography was very nice and some shots were genuinely stunning, but the pacing was abysmal. It wasn't until I started wondering how on earth they'd managed the horse training scene some ~40-50 minutes in that the premise slowly came back to me. Isn't this the movie where the actors are actual cowboys or something? If that's the case, we're doing pretty well. Maybe I'll stick it out, even after I finish my popcorn.And I don't know. It does get more interesting as it goes along and I was genuinely engaged during the hospital visit scenes. There's a decent enough thematic depth to it. But the script is just very weak here. I'd give it a 5/10 if not for the cinematography and the surprisingly good performances from the non-actors in the movie. Some of the dialogue really stuck out as overbearing or clumsy. In short, the gimmick is the meat here. That's not a good sign.

After suffering a near fatal head injury, a young cowboy undertakes a search for new identity and what it means to be a man in the heartland of America. The Rider is once again a film that critics found great and pretty much act like they've never seen the exact same story playing out in much better movies over the years. The acting wasn't anything special, the characters were dull and most of all the pacing all over the place. Viewers who might like this kind of movies will enjoy it perhaps? But for everyone else? Is a pretty big no-no for sure if you ask me. (0/10)

There are People in this World who never have felt real pain in this life, who never have suffered, who never wanted to face death but did, they will not understand this movie.The others will.Many movie makers try to make a movie like this and mostly they are just a look from the outside, this one is from the inside.