Review of Wild Horses

Wild Horses (1995)
8/10
Fugitives
12 May 2007
Warning: Spoilers
There is a lot to admire in director's Marcelo Pineyro's 1995 film "Caballos salvajes". Mr. Pineyro, one of the best men in the business in Argentina, shows he had a lot to show with the material written by Aida Bortnik and the director.

The film presents us two men, as different from day and night, from different backgrounds and ages. Jose, the older man, wants to take things into his own hands, making sure to get back the money the bank took away from him. Pedro, the young bank employee, is the innocent victim, being in the wrong place, at the wrong time. Imagine the men's surprise when they find $500,000.00 dollars in a place where neither knew about.

Jose, who holds Pedro as hostage, evidently had a definite plan of what he is going to do with the money the bank stole from him. What he didn't count on was the power of television and how he and Pedro become sort of "folk heroes" for breaking into the bank, and getting away with it. As a young reporter and his assistant follow the two men, they manage to get away with it, enlisting friends along the way. Ana, a young woman they meet by chance, becomes a member of the fugitives working their way to Jose's intended destination. The film becomes a road film with surprising twists along the way.

The main reason for watching this film the excellent work of both, Hector Alterio and Leonardo Sbaraglia. Both actors show an easy chemistry and compliment one another in ways probably Mr. Pineyro didn't envision. Mr. Alterio, one of the pillars of the modern Argentine cinema, is a joy to watch. Mr. Sberaglia also shows why he has become an actor in great demand in his own country, as well as in Spain. Cecilia Dopazo, who is seen in the pivotal role of Ana, makes a valid contribution. Federico Luppi and Cipe Linkovski, excellent actors, have small roles in the latter part of the film.

While "Caballos salvajes" stays with its action on the road, it makes for a wonderful movie. The last section of the film shows both Mr. Pineyro and Ms. Bortnik running out of ideas as they turn to sentimentality to explain the wonderful film that preceded. Aside from this happy ending, "Caballos salvajes" surprises in every level because of the joyous teaming of two of intelligent actors who exceed what the director was trying to accomplish.
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