Seabiscuit

I saw a screening of this film in a 300-seat theater that wasnt big enough for the attendance. A measure of success is applause and this audience applauded once during the film and again at the end. I would judge the range of ages there to be 5 to 80 years. It was very well done and worth seeing on the big screen, but I would also buy it for my home DVD library and I would set it right next to other horse classics like Black Beauty and The Black Stallion.

This is the story of a horse and the story of America during the first four decades of the twentieth century. The two are intertwined and related in multiple ways that are shown in the screenplay as a lesson in history with no loss of the drama. The other important factor that contributed to the quality of the film story was the development of the four primary characters, the trainer, the jockey, the owner and of course, Seabiscuit. Their lives are followed in some detail until they intersect to form the final winning team.

The film uses camera similes to great effect. There are several and they become part of the plot. An example was a shot of Red Pollard, the jockey through vertical bars compared to a shot of Seabiscuit through the vertical bars of the starting gate. Whether they are similes or metaphors of each other is irrelevant because they all work.

There is emotional power in a horse race and this film captures it. But it also captures the spirit of challenging adversity. And it relates in vivid historical reality, the good that can be done by a government for its people. That message is more important today than it has been for 50 years.

Tobey Maquire plays Johnny (Red) Pollard, an angry young man that is too big to be a jockey but succeeds anyway. Maquire, alias Spiderman, lost 25 pounds to play this role and he looks it, but I guess it was worth it to earn $12.5M. He bought a mansion with his $4M from Spiderman (2002). Who knows what hell do with the $17M from Spiderman II (2004). I thought he was completely convincing as Pollard.

Jeff Bridges plays Charles Howard, the owner. This role requires a range of emotion and presence that Daniels handles quite well. He is in his 50s now and began film work as a baby in 1950. I liked him best as the ships captain in White Squall (1996). He was also good as Tucker in the film by that name (1988) and as the alien in Starman (1984). Everyone remembers his Starman comment about yellow traffic lights; you drive faster.

Chris Cooper is wonderful as Tom Smith the horse whispering horse trainer. He has had a 15-year career in films, usually in support roles. And although this is a support role, he is a key member of the team.

William H. Macy adds some bizarre and very funny humor to the story as a flamboyant radio announcer. The sound effect gimmicks he uses are a delight to see particularly since that is exactly how it was done in the early days of radio.

I dont know who played Seabiscuit, but he or she did a great job. Theres a rumor that ten different horses were used.

Reviewed July 25, 2003