Ruffian: reviews

What the critics say average 6.9 from 8 outlets

• 10 Horse NationAmanda Ronan This movie nearly brought me to tears and that does not happen very often. Read
• 8.0 The Hollywood ReporterRay Richmond Ruffian blends all of the usual heart-in-your-throat racing action with a couple of vivid performances from the ever-soulful Sam Shepard and the underrated Frank Whaley, all shot with great care and dexterity by director Yves Simoneau.
• 7.5 NewsdayNeil Best The movie has other things going for it, notably racing scenes more realistic than those in the 2003 film Seabiscuit, especially a powerful reenactment of the fateful match race itself.
• 7.5 Daily HeraldTed Cox Ruffian is a lovely TV update of classic movie genre: the horse-racing film.
• 7.0 New York Daily NewsDavid Hinckley The main reason to watch Ruffian, however, is Sam Shepard, who turns Whiteley into a fascinating monomaniac, in the best sense of the term.
• 7.0 South Florida Sun-SentinelTom Jicha The all-sports cable network (ESPN) has a spotty record with its original films, but this one is among its best efforts.
• 7.0 Thoroughbred Racing CommentaryJay Hovdey He got the exterior look of Whiteley down pat and enough of the interior to craft a version of a supremely assured Thoroughbred trainer who suffered neither fools nor foolishness gladly. Read
• 1.0 Philadelphia Daily NewsStan Hochman Facts are twisted, key figures misrepresented, truth trampled in this maudlin mish-mash of a film, 60 minutes too long and 30 years too late. Read