Saagar Kote
Directed by Jon Avnet, ‘The Last Rodeo’ chronicles the tale of Joe Wainwright, a former bull-riding world champion who faces a daunting challenge when his grandson requires expensive brain surgery. With his military veteran benefits and family insurance falling short, Joe decides to enter a high-stakes Professional Bull Riders competition. The grand prize of $750,000 offers a chance to save his grandson, but it means confronting his own painful past: a career-ending neck injury sustained during a drunken bull ride. As the oldest contestant in the competition, Joe must sign an insurance waiver, acknowledging the risks involved. Beyond the arena, this journey allows him to reconcile with his estranged daughter, who sacrificed her own professional ambitions to care for him after his injury. The narrative focuses on the struggles of a retired man who has one final shot at glory and redemption.
The Last Rodeo Takes Inspiration From a Real-Life Story
Though ‘The Last Rodeo’ is a fictional tale, the inspiration comes from real-life examples of courage and bravery. Neal McDonough, one of the writers and the man playing the lead character of Joe Wainwright, shed light on the origins of the film in an interview with Crosswalk Videos. He opined that the idea behind the film came to him when he was shooting ‘The Warrant Part Two.’ For the uninitiated, McDonough runs a production house with his wife, Ruvé McDonough. He explained, “…And as I was filming, Ruvé and the kids were home, and I was filming in Arizona, and I was just missing them as I do, and a dark thought came into my brain said, ‘What would ever happen if something ever happened to Ruvé?'” Due to the disturbing thought, he suddenly had an image in his head of “Rocky on a bull,” a reference to Sylvester Stallone’s legendary character.
The idea that the filmmaker got was that he needed to tell a story that captures the spirit of ‘Rocky,’ but on a rodeo arena and featuring an old man who would do anything to protect his family. McDonough said that within a day’s time, the idea became crystal clear in his head, and he approached his writing partner, Derek Presley, to come up with a draft for a rodeo-based film. The two co-wrote the script with the director of the film. He credited God’s divine intervention for the realization of the project. Interestingly, the lead actor brings in elements from the experiences of real-life people on the screen, by shooting the film at real Professional Bull Riding events. The realism and grittiness of the film are proven by the fact that it looks as close to reality as possible.
The Narrative Stays Close to the Dangers of Bull Riding in the Real World
Participating in bull riding, a high-risk sport, requires considerable physical and mental sacrifice. A report from the Journal of the San Francisco Medical Society indicates that bull riding has an injury rate ten times higher than football. Moreover, rodeos can also inflict considerable strain on the animals involved. The film does justice to this dangerous sport by involving sequences that show the true risk of people who are putting their lives on the line by participating in something that not everyone can do. In an interview with the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Neal McDonough expressed his preference for films that explore honest and real human experiences, stating that he has always been drawn to and enjoyed watching such movies.
It highlights the fact that the lead actor wanted the experience of the film to be as close to the real world as possible, in order to provide the audience with an authentic experience. In the interview, he further elaborated on the camaraderie within Professional Bull Riding, highlighting that everyone in the arena, including fellow bull riders, supports each participant in reaching the eight-second mark. If a rider doesn’t make it, others are quick to offer assistance, helping them off the dirt, over the fence, and providing encouragement with a “Don’t worry, you’ll get it next time” pat on the back. McDonough’s deep engagement with bull riding led him and his wife, Ruvé McDonough, to acquire co-ownership of the Austin Gamblers bull riding team.
The Choice of Filming in Tulsa Provided a More Genuine Feel
Tulsa, Oklahoma, boasts a rich, two-decade history with bull riding, largely due to its enduring partnership with the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) organization. The city has cemented its reputation as a bull-riding hub by hosting a multitude of PBR events, including those in the premier series, and featuring numerous notable riders and bulls. A core aspect of the movie’s marketing strategy was its pursuit of authenticity. This was largely achieved through the collaboration with Professional Bull Riders (PBR), which granted the filmmakers permission to shoot at their events.
Tulsa also has a darker side to its rich history intertwined with rodeos and bull riding, evidenced by events such as the Tulsa Stampede, held annually from 1934 to 1984, and the even older Dewey Roundup, which originated in 1908. Since the production of the film primarily transpired in this town with a rich history in the sport, it adds a more honest feeling to the narrative. Neal McDonough has also stated that he underwent tremendous training and physical hardships in order to get his role right.
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