Clifton Collins Jr. is jockeying into position…
Sony Pictures Entertainment has released Jockey, starring the 51-year-old Mexican American actor, in three theaters in New York and Los Angeles (Film Forum, AMC Lincoln Square, Laemmle Royal).
The release gets the film on the board for a January rollout ahead of the upcoming Oscar nominations.
SPC acquired Jockey out of the Sundance Film Festival, where it won the U.S. Dramatic Special Jury award for star Collins Jr., who portrays an aging rider trying to win one last championship race.
Collins plays Jackson Silvan, who hopes to win one last title for his longtime trainer (Molly Parker), who has acquired what appears to be a championship horse. But years and injuries have taken a toll. The arrival of a young rookie rider (Moises Arias), who claims to be his son and whom he takes under his wing, further complicates the path to fulfilling his dream.
Written by Bentley and Greg Kwedar (who previously teamed with Collins on the 2016 award-winning film Transpecos), the film also stars Logan Cormier and Colleen Hartnett. Bentley’s father was a professional jockey and much of the cast is also comprised of real-life jockeys.
The directorial debut of Clint Bentley will expand nationwide in January following its exclusive debut.
The Oscar hopeful (87% Rotten Tomatoes’ Critics’ score) was one of Deadline critic Todd McCarthy’s top ten picks of the year.