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SXSW capsule review: ‘The Ride’
‘The Ride’
In just seconds, it plays out like this: Gate swings wide, beast thunders forth, man on beast’s back holds on for dear life before he’s flung like a sock monkey, scrabbling in the dirt to dodge the frenetic hazards of hoof and horn.
This is high athleticism in the professional bull ring — “conquering the beast,” as someone puts in Meredith Danluck’s documentary about the players who animate the Professional Bull Riding (PBR) circuit. People are the soul of a well-told story and Danluck is enamored with her down-home characters at the expense of a deeper look at the sport, its history and rules.
Leisurely stretches show how a colorful bull breeder, a contemplative rodeo clown and young riders brimming with bravado live at home and on the ranch. These parts flap too loosely to braid a narrative, and you might wonder: Where’s the bull?
Danluck’s not-quite-novel glimpses into rural southern culture eclipse the beautifully shot ringside action. She’s hooked on the rugged romance of cowboydom, from cattle to Coors, and less transfixed by the intricacies that lead these people into the bull’s eye.
Screening: 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Austin Convention Center.
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