| Original Score: 4/5 | Nov 18, 2011

All the characters are familiar, the story is familiar, but it is well-constructed and the actors do a good job with the material.

| Original Score: B | Dec 30, 2006

Dreamer is loaded with enough clichs and formulas to choke a horse. But truly, it works.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | Sep 22, 2006

| Original Score: 2/5 | May 12, 2006

| Original Score: 3/5 | Apr 1, 2006

It is a movie that will captivate children, yes, but it will also capture the hearts of the grown-ups, too.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Mar 31, 2006

simply feels more professional than most family fare

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Mar 27, 2006

Screenwriting manuals have taught us that every film is (or should be) a Hero's Journey, but writer-director John Gatins takes that gospel so literally it's hard to know whether to admire his purity or marvel at his lack of imagination.

| Mar 4, 2006

The charismatic Fanning proves she is the best child actress in decades.

Full Review | Original Score: A- | Dec 11, 2005

A quiet and poignant story.

Full Review | Original Score: B | Dec 9, 2005

Sure, it's as goopy as Kris Kristofferson is grizzled, but families might find a genuinely warm experience in the simple story of a child following her heart %u2014 especially in the rare moments when we're not told how to feel.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | Nov 21, 2005

This is a slow track of wish-fullfillment fantasy and all who come through the turnstiles will wear a happy face.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Nov 15, 2005

Painfully earnest and aggressively sappy, it requires an outrageous suspension of disbelief, and becomes even more far-fetched as it goes along.

Full Review | Nov 9, 2005

Ah. Here's the family film we've been dreaming of all year long.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/4 | Nov 2, 2005

| Original Score: 2.5/4 | Oct 29, 2005

It manages to be a watchable, even enjoyable movie about and for girls, and in our world of candy-coated sparkly pink crap, that's a rare and commendable thing.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Oct 29, 2005

In short, Dreamer may be shot through with cliches but they're good ones and, more importantly, they work. This is feel-good family entertainment of the first order and if you loved Seabiscuit, you'll love this too.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Oct 29, 2005

"Seabiscuit" it ain't, but "Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story" is one of those harmless horse movies that will entertain the kids.

| Oct 26, 2005

Dakota Fanning, the busiest child actor on the planet it seems, brings her usual maturity to this fine family film. The horse is pretty good too.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Oct 26, 2005

A nice film for a father to take his daughter to. Others may find it so by-the-numbers that even high-powered actors (+ a horse) have a hard time breathing life into it.

| Original Score: 2/4 | Oct 25, 2005