First Saturday in May...
 

Just got back from screening here in l'ville and what a GREAT movie. The way these guys got into the barns of these horses and really showed the everyday goings ons and the emotions that go with it was just unreal. If it is anywhere near you i cannot emphasize that everyone that loves this game will truly feel like you are on the ride with the people that are in the movie. The Preakness is handled with class even though it was so hard emotionally watching Barbaro run like he did and strut everywhere he went and yet knowing the ending to the story. I think the people that aren't into racing will still enjoy it just to see what goes into this process and much like life it changes day to day minute to minute. Unreal movie.

Hey, we were there, too! Wish we could have met up.

The movie would have to be fascinating for anyone not familiar with racing (it's intended audience) but I'd think everyone else already a fan would love it, too.

Saw Byk's moment of fame - well done, Steve! ;)

I agree 100%. It was great seeing it from a racing fan perspective, but it would have been cool to see it without being a racing fan. Classy film, but also alot of fun...

But .. that film gave me a starting case of Derby Fever. Never had it before. Now I want a horse :cool:

I know mumtaz i ment to get on here and send you a message but ive been under the weather this week. We need to see if we can get some DT'ers down here to CD asap. BTW, what was steve byk's moment of glory? Roman's kid is a whoot can't believe an 8 yr old had that much money in his pocket made me laugh out loud along with his cousin. Man i bet that guy can knock back the drinks.

Steve was seen for a few moments - a journalist interviewing ... was it Dale Romans? Steve?

Yeah, Roman's kid was a stitch.

The best part was the country cousin hitting the Churchill Downs VP with a golf ball at some golf outing <g> And just pouring the bourbon down his throat straight from the bottle when the mixer ran out. Yay boy, big fun in L'ville.

The movie is playing starting Friday in Louisville, and also here in Lexington - I'll go see it again.

One of the Hennegan brothers told me they are going to be on Martha Stewart this week, making Derby pie.

Yeah, we need to start getting DT folks together at Kee, CD !

How many DT'ers do you think live in the area? With all that knowledge at one race course it could be deadly......for us or the track i dont know but would be fun to see.

Have to go down to the Meet and Greet get together room ... Bill W is in town now and saw the film (Bill, I know you liked it, what did you like best?), and this past weekend several were at Kee.

I liked how effortlessly they captured the emotion of the connections and family leading up to the derby. At no time did it seem contrived or "for the camera". Romans' kid was really funny too. What was he, 9 or maybe 10 years old?

From Steve Crist's Blog... The opening sched for 'FSIM'..

OPENS FRIDAY, APRIL 18th
Austin - Dobie
Berkeley - Shattuck
Boston - Kendall Square
Chicago - Century
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky - Florence Cinemas
Cleveland - Cedar Lee
Columbus (IN) - Yes Cinema
Denver - Chez Artist
Detroit - Maple Art
Indianapolis - Keystone Cinema
Lexington (KY) - Kentucky Theatre
Los Angeles - Sunset Laemmle
Louisville (KY) - Cinema De Lux 20: Stonybrook
Minneapolis - Lagoon
NYC - Cinema Village
Philadelphia - Ritz at the Bourse
St. Louis - Plaza Frontenac
San Diego - Hillcrest
San Francisco - Opera Plaza
Washington, DC - E Street

OPENS THURSDAY, APRIL 24th
Saratoga Springs (NY) - Saratoga Film Forum

OPENS FRIDAY, APRIL 25th
Milwaukee - Downer
Muskegon (MI) - Harbor Theatre
Atlanta - Midtown Arts
Seattle - Varsity

Will be there this weekend and Derby weekend. Send me a PM if you want to get together.

Well, I don't reckon it's going make it to Beaumont, Texas anytime soon... No surprise there :rolleyes: . Guess I'll have to wait for it to come out on DVD.

Yes.. Romans and I with Sharp Humor.

Kind of a funny story leading up to that moment too... When I approached Dale, whom I had only spoken to on ATR but hadn't met in person, he put his hand up and said, "Wait.. are you that guy I won't talk to?" I said I didn't know if I was or not, and introduced myself. He said, "OK.. You do the radio. I thought maybe you were that guy I don't talk to from the Palm Beach paper (Hal Habib)." You probably needed to be there but it still makes me laugh.

I plan on going to see it when it opens at Saratoga on the 24th.

very suprised and happy to see that it is coming to Muskegon 5 minutes away from my home.

ROTTEN TOMATOES:
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/first_saturday_in_may/

Reviews coming in for FSIM and mostly positive... Rotten Tomatoes a great film review 'meter' resource if you've never seen it..

Going to the 7:00 p.m. show at Cinema Village tonight!

Going to Chez Artiste in Denver tonight and again on Sunday (with a different set of friends).

I saw it at the Lagoon in the trendy Uptown area of Minneapolis last night. It was very good.

I'm curious though. What did you guys think of them deciding not to show Barbaro's injury?

I will say I got a little emotional during that part of the movie anyway. I kinda forgot how hard that hit me a couple of years ago, and the movie brought those emotions back.

Dale Romans and his family (and his cousin) were fun to watch.

The New York trainier was fun to watch too, but who was he? I've still never heard of him. I saw for a nano-second that he was wearing a Contessa Racing jacket, so did he work under him with Achilles of Troy, or?

I caught the late show at the Maple Art Theatre last night and the movie was great.

I thought they handled the Barbaro story very well. The main plot of the movie was the Derby trail and the Derby itself. It would have been dishonest to ignore the breakdown, but at the same time they had to be careful that their Derby documentary didn't morph into a Barbaro movie. They acknowledged it, they showed the ongoing struggle, and they dealt with his death in tasteful manner in a way that stayed true to the film.

But enough about the sad moments-- this movie was a lot of fun. It was full of exciting horse racing, colorful characters, Steve's walk-on cameo appearance, terrific performances by four-legged actors, and a great story about what it takes to run for the roses.

I raise my julep glass to toast a job well done by the Hennegan brothers.

Beaumont? Tracy Byrd is from Beaumont. :cool:

If it makes you feel any better, Orlando isn't on the list either. :(

Guys, it seems if you can get your local indie theatre to contact the Hennegans, they'll send the film out to your area!

I thought that very appropriate, myself - no reason to show it, and the way they clouded out with just the voice-over of the pull-up stayed true to the purpose of the movie, I thought.

The whole strength of the movie, for me, was showing how all these different people - trainer for royalty, ex-Olympian equestrian, trainer coming back from paralysis, small-time guy in New York, etc - they each get a horse with a chance in their barns.

That's luck right there, and you can see that all of them know it and are pretty amazed they have been dealt a chance. They also know all the training skill in the world still has to combine with fate and luck to get to the Derby.

And Barbaro showed that even winning the Derby doesn't take away being subject to the nightmares fate can dish out.

I got emotional several places in the movie! <g> Whether you like these trainers or horses or not. Doesn't matter. Watching Frank Amonte, with his dreams of his own stable, talking about giving his children more than he had, giving his daughter riding lessons even though they were too expensive ... watching that all come to naught in a few missteps by A of Troy - you could see it in his face everything that meant to him, his future, his business, his family and his daughter's riding lessons, etc. Geesh, you had to feel for the guy!

Not showing yet in the UK-but at leat i've seen it 3 times already.

Looks like it's playing to audiences that vary from completely sold out (New York) to virtually empty (Boston)- 3 people-2 friends of mine and 1 other person.

you have a horse. :D
oh you mean a Derby horse :rolleyes:

MAYBE We have an Oaks horse.:D

Tell Your Neighbors, Tell Your Friends, Tell Your Mom..
 

Saw "First Saturday in May" today in NY, and it's just a wonderful movie. You'll laugh and cry. Anyone that sees this movie and does not get the racing bug is dead. One of the brothers was there to answer questions, and he said that word of mouth is key to broader exposure for the film. The more people in the seats during these limited runs, the more chances that others will pick up distribution.

Anyway, see it or get the DVD, you'll be knocked out. :D

There was one other DT'er in the audience, Jms62 I think... if that's not correct then please jump in.

I/L

Sounds great...not too many place in SC to see it...ahhhh let me see...none.

Will Scoop up DVD asap


Spyder

same here no where to be found along gulf coast .
i thought with 4 race tracks in state it would show up some where.:(

For those in the Saratoga area, the Saratoga Film Forum has expanded their schedule:

Thursday, April 24th: 5:30PM & 8PM

Friday, April 25th: 5:30PM & 8PM

Saturday, April 26th: 12 noon & 3PM

Sunday, April 27th: 7PM

Yup.. Nice to meet you. It was a great movie. I of course loved it but I was really suprised HOW MUCH my wife loved it. She is not really a racing fan other than watching the big dance. I'm going to buy a few DVD's and get them out to friends.It was nice that one of the Hannigen (sp?) brothers was there to answer some questions...

This is the response I have notice alot, too. You really don't have to be a racing fan at all to enjoy the film. I think that the guys have done a great job of bringing the people aspect to the sport, which is cool...

The first Saturday in May
 

Does anyone know how this movie will be available? It is not playing in Florida ANYWHERE. Will it be available on DVD or on the Sundance channel soon?

may 1, pre-order the dvd from the website.

Thank you very much.

Received an email a couple minutes ago saying the movie's run here in DC would be over tonight. Thusly, I am eschewing a solid lung opening run to see the 7:20 showing.

Saw it at E street last night. Definitely worth the trip

Slot. My wife and I will also be at tonite's 720 show in DC. Will be sporting my DT Stables hat.

Wow, seems like there's a few DT'ers in DC!! I'm from there, lived there for 20 some-years, but now (VERY happily) live on my farm in Ohio. I emailed to see if I could get Overnight Shipping on the DVD, so we could watch it Derby Day. Plus I want to buy one of the movie posters. Haven't heard anything back yet.

Suzanne

For anyone in Arizona, especially around the Tucson area, we are still viewing the film on Monday on campus. Brad will be here for a Q&A session after the film, too, plus you get a 2008 Derby Glass with the $5 admission.

Not sure if there are any DT'ers on here, but if you can make it it is going to be cool.