Despite the “true-story” claims of its advertising campaign, Hidalgo is based on bunk – contemporary scholars contend the exploits of Old West cowboy Frank T. Hopkins have been greatly exaggerated. Still, his stories make for rousing legends. As Hopkins (Viggo Mortensen, playing another reticent hero) travels to the Arabian desert to participate in a 3,000-mile endurance race on horseback, the movie evokes the breezy fun of a simple,
Saturday-afternoon serial.
