Posts from April 2008
Pass the Popcorn: Heartfelt
Jennie Spohr of Pass the Popcorn reviews the film.
While the preparation and races and such create an interesting and solid foundation, the strength of the film is in the stories of the trainers.
Posted on Apr 26 2008
Filed Under: News
Seattle Post Intelligencer: Thrilling
William Arnold, the Seattle Post Intelligencer’s movie critic reviews the film.
It’s full of privileged, behind-the-scenes moments, and it communicates the genuine love all these people have for the sport and its traditions. (No one here seems to be motivated by money.)
Posted on Apr 26 2008
Filed Under: News
Film Opens in New Cities, Picks Up New Cities!
Opening this weekend start in Saratoga Springs on Thursday 4/24, followed by Atlanta, Milwaukee, Muskegon MI, Paducah KY, Seattle and Santa Ana!
We’ve also picked up some new cities, opening May 1st in Durango CO opening May 2nd in Columbus OH, Tulsa OK, opening May 9th in Baltimore and opening May 30th in Huntington Long Island!
Want to see the film in your area? Can you help us get it there? Great… get in touch!
Posted on Apr 24 2008
Filed Under: News
Film Extended to May 1st in 11 Cities!
Thank you America!! The film will be playing through Thursday, May 1st in the following cities:
Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky, Cleveland, Denver, Lexington, Los Angeles, Louisville, New York, Philadelphia and San Diego.
Opens Thursday, April 24th in Saratoga Springs, NY
Opens Friday, April 25th in Atlanta, Durango (CO), Milwaukee, Muskegon (MI), Paducah (KY), Seattle and Santa Ana (CA).
For the latest information, check here.
Posted on Apr 23 2008
Filed Under: News
John & Brad on Sirius 4/23
John and Brad will be on Ferrall’s show on Sirius radio on Wednesday night.
Tune in at 9:30 EST!
Posted on Apr 23 2008
Filed Under: News
Continued Blog Support of the Film
I thought the Hennegan brothers did exactly what they set out to do; make a movie about the people behind the horses. I loved their coverage of Lawyer Ron’s 61 year old groom. You don’t rub horses into your 60’s for the money, you do it because you love the animals. In fact, that was a running theme among all the players in the movie, which I thought was brought out very well.
Posted on Apr 22 2008
Filed Under: News
John & Brad Guest Blog at New York Times
The New York Times launched it’s Triple Crown blog The Rail, which included a guest post from John & Brad.
The New York Times’s Triple Crown blog. Wow. This is huge for us. Before we made our film, we couldn’t get a job blogging for the Secaucus High School Sentinel.
Posted on Apr 22 2008
Filed Under: News
North Country Times: Inside Look
Jeff Nahill of the North Country Times reviews the film.
Whether they be a groom, a hot walker, a trainer, a jockey, a valet, a racing official or an owner, there are thousands of stories at the race track. That’s what makes the sport so interesting, and that’s what directors John and Brad Hennegan have captured in the documentary “The First Saturday of May.”
Posted on Apr 21 2008
Filed Under: News
Daily Texan: Must See
Mary Lingwall of the Daily Texan reviews the film.
The offbeat, candid, endearing stories of these six teams of hopefuls will capture your heart (the late Barbaro is one of the six horses chronicled in the film), stir your imagination, and make you laugh till you cry. “The First Saturday in May” is one of the season’s must-sees.
Posted on Apr 20 2008
Filed Under: News
Bloggers Continue to Recommend & Support the Film
I know you might be saying “A Horse Racing Documentary, Henry? Are you high?” I’m kind of tipsy, but that’s not even connected. I wasn’t sure of what I was going to see going in as I knew nothing, really. I once rode a horse when I was at Bard, during Spring Fling, shouts to the Bard Equestrian Club. But this novice came out a fan of the sport. Now that I can follow UFC (and a lot of others are as well), I think it’s safe to agree with the film’s director that this is the best sport you’re not watching.
I just had a fabulous evening watching a movie about the journey to the Kentucky Derby.
My mind organizes its fondest memories in clickable thumbnail…
To return to the First Saturday in May, I need only to click on the image of trainer Kiaran McLaughlin and Jazil, the future Belmont Stakes winner, sitting in the stall’s hay, both of them, with Jazil’s smallish dark head in Kiaran’s hands, eyes closed, blissed out from the petting of his devoted conditioner. Kiaran, stroking, stroking, says that people can’t imagine the human-racehorse bond approximating that of parenting a dog or a cat, a pet, but there it is, in the Hennegan’s film; all that’s missing is a couch and a TV and a few framed family photos in the backdrop and maybe Kiaran baby-talking, What a good boy…such a good boy…who’s daddy’s best boy?
What touched me most were the scenes with the kids. I was getting choked up watching Alex Solis’ son cheering “Go Dad!” while the rest of the world was cheering for his mount, Brother Derek. I felt like a voyeur into an extremely personal relationship between father and son.
Posted on Apr 20 2008
Filed Under: News