5.6/10
715
10 user 18 critic

The Cup (2011)

Trailer
2:39 | Trailer
The 2002 Melbourne Cup horse race, brotherly love and the triumph of the human spirit. A true story.

Director:

Simon Wincer

Writers:

Eric O'Keefe (screenplay), Simon Wincer (screenplay)

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Photos

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Bryan Martin Bryan Martin ... MC Jockey's Presentation
Stephen Curry ... Damien Oliver
Jodi Gordon ... Trish Oliver
Daniel MacPherson ... Jason Oliver
Alice Parkinson ... Jenny
Shaun Micallef ... Lee Freedman (as Shaun Micaleff)
Martin Sacks ... Neil Pinner
Colleen Hewett Colleen Hewett ... Pat Oliver
Andrew Curry ... Ray Oliver
Meredith Penman ... Young Pat Oliver
Brendan Gleeson ... Dermot Weld
Kate Bell ... Claire
Tom Burlinson ... Dave Phillips
Nick Simpson-Deeks ... Pat Smullen
Lewis Fitz-Gerald ... Sir Michael Smurfit
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Storyline

Born into a legendary racing family, jockeys Damien Oliver and his brother, Jason, followed in their father's footsteps. Ray Oliver died tragically in a racing accident when the boys were young. But racing was in their blood, and Damien in particular inherited his father's gifts. His eye was on the greatest championship of them all, the prestigious Melbourne Cup. After years of training, he was ready. Damien would ride the powerful but temperamental Media Puzzle, under the watch of the great Irish trainer Dermot Weld. Some were not so sure about Media Puzzle's chances, but Weld was confident that the great jockey and spirited horse would make an unbeatable combination. As racing day approached, horses, jockeys, trainers, owners, fans and the media from around the globe descended on Melbourne. Weld's fiercest rival, Sheikh Mohammed, the Crown prince of Dubai, sent his best horses, anxious for a Melbourne Cup win. The news channels were filled with talk and speculation about Damien and ... Written by Anonymous

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Genres:

Biography | Drama | Sport

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for thematic elements and language | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

View content advisory »
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Did You Know?

Trivia

This film had one of the longest production schedules in Australian cinema. It received the green light in 2003. The final race scenes were filmed in 2006. See more »

Goofs

During the 2002 AFL season, North Melbourne did not play West Coast in a match in Melbourne. During that season the two teams met twice with the matches being played in Perth and Canberra. See more »

Quotes

RTE Reporter: How about Australia? Is Vinnie good enough to take them on in the Melbourne Cup?
Dermot Weld: Ah, I wouldn't say that. I'd say he's good enough to win it.
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Connections

References Secretariat (2010) See more »

Soundtracks

Time Of My Life
Written by J. Washbourn
Administered by Universal Music Publishing Pty Ltd
Performed by Toploader
Licensed courtesy of Sony Music Entertainment Pty Ltd
See more »

User Reviews

 
Excellent and uplifting true story
25 May 2014 | by MattyGibbsSee all my reviews

This is a true story based on the 2002 Melbourne Cup horse race. As a Brit although I'm aware of the Melbourne Cup I didn't know of this particular story. It's a modestly budgeted film but the intriguing and fantastic story more than makes up for that. I was a bit put off by the relatively low rating (5.6) before I watched it but it's a far far better film than that rating suggests.

With a well paced and easy to follow plot it's a touching tale with plenty of weepy moments but also interspersed with great moments of triumph. It has a decent cast and is well acted throughout with a top performances from Brendan Gleeson and Stephen Curry. It maybe is a little slow to get going so you will need a bit of patience at the beginning. However once it hits it's stride it does keep you riveted.

The story has all the necessary ingredients this genre needs. Whilst not as good as the brilliant Seabiscuit, this is a very good entry to the genre. If you enjoy these kind of movies then you really can't go wrong watching this.


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Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook

Country:

Australia

Language:

English | Arabic

Release Date:

13 October 2011 (Australia) See more »

Also Known As:

Gonitwa See more »

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Box Office

Budget:

AUD15,000,000 (estimated)

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$2,660,645
See more on IMDbPro »

Company Credits

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Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color
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