Hidalgo (2004)

Based on the description provided and additional knowledge of the film, here is a two-paragraph description for "Hidalgo (2004)" and an explanation of its place on a "Best Biography movies" list: Set in 1890, *Hidalgo* is the story of a famed Pony Express courier, Frank T. Hopkins (Viggo Mortensen), who travels to Arabia to compete with his horse, Hidalgo, in a dangerous race for a massive contest prize. Billed as the first American to enter the "Ocean of Fire," a grueling 3,000-mile survival race across the desert, Hopkins and his hardy mustang face off against the world's greatest Bedouin riders and their pure-bred Arabian horses. This sweeping adventure sends the pair around the world, forcing them to overcome not only the harsh elements and treacherous sabotage but also their own personal demons as they fight to prove their worth and earn the respect of their rivals. However, while *Hidalgo* was marketed as being "based on a true story," it would not be appropriate for a list of the "Best Biography movies." Extensive historical research has found no evidence to support the central claims of Frank T. Hopkins's life, including his participation in the "Ocean of Fire" race, which itself is believed to be a fictional event. Historians have largely concluded that Hopkins was a fabulist who invented his own heroic backstory. Therefore, the film is best categorized as a historical fiction or a classic adventure film, rather than a biography. It's a thrilling and beautifully crafted underdog story, but its foundation in legend and not fact means it doesn't meet the criteria for a biographical work.