I have a confession to make. Before I started to watch John Hyams’ documentary Rank, the only knowledge I had of professional bull riding came from watching films like Junior Bonner and J.W. Coop. I had never heard of the Professional Bull Riding World Championship, held in Las Vegas every October. After spending 90 minutes following the three top riders over the course of the 2004 championship, I’m now much better educated. I was expecting big, bluff, macho cowboy stereotypes with big hats and belt buckles the size of their heads. What I got came as a surprise.
Hyams’ film follows Brazilian-born rancher Adriano Moraes, third-generation rider Justin McBride and born-again Christian Mike Lee through the gruelling 7 day competition as they try for the title and the million dollar prize money. They are all without exception, fairly low-key, very focused individuals, and extremely personable. 34 year old Moraes, one of the oldest riders and top ranked going into the contest, has been riding professionally since the age of 18. He’s a two time World Champion already and has the scars to show for it. In one telling scene, the softly-spoken Moraes matter-of-factly catalogues his injuries: he’s broken bones in his nose, cheeks, shoulders, and legs; dislocated his elbow; suffered torn triceps; and been gored through the stomach. He’s lost count of the number of metal pins and screws holding his bones together.
McBride, 25, is following a family tradition. His grandfather died in the ring at the age of 48. He has no interest in the bulls beyond the ride, describing them as a “pain in the ass. They’re like a 20 year old kid with a 3 year old mentality – they just want to tear up shit, and they’re big and strong enough to do it”. He’s shown riding with a busted ankle, hobbling away from the bulls at the end of each ride. Lee on the other hand says his “only talent is livestock”. At 21 he’s the youngest of the three riders, and has already suffered a cracked skull and seriously damaged his sight in one eye.
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