Universal Studios
Rated: PG-13
Genre: Drama
Length: 141 minutes
Director: Gary Ross
Year: (2003)
Britt Gillette's Seabiscuit DVD Review
Nominated for seven Academy Awards including Best Picture, Seabiscuit is the inspiring story of an underdog who rises to victory and wins the hearts and minds of a nation. Narrated by David McCullough and directed by Gary Ross, the film is a family-oriented form of entertainment guaranteed to life your spirits. Set in Depression-era America and based on the true story of the famous racehorse by the same name, Seabiscuit is a film for the ages…
Following the premature death of his son, wealthy automobile magnate Charles Howard (Jeff Bridges) witnesses his marriage fall apart. In due time, he meets a wonderful woman named Marcela (Elizabeth Banks) - and her love for horses is contagious. The two get married. Searching for a hobby, and a new challenge, Howard and his wife decide to purchase a racehorse.
Scouring a local race trace, Howard encounters Tom Smith (Chris Cooper), a man who has an unusual talent for dealing with horses (he's a true life horse whisperer). When Tom saves a racehorse that other men were going to shoot because of its bad leg, he and Howard strike up a conversation which culminates in Howard hiring Tom to be the trainer of his new racehorse.
With Tom leading the way, the two set out to choose the best horse. Hearing the defiant snorts of Seabiscuit, Tom fingers him as the horse to get the job done, and Howard buys him on the spot. A free spirit, no one can be found to ride the horse.
But when Tom and Howard witness a young man fend off several attackers, they realize he has the guts and determination to make a good match with Seabiscuit. So Howard hires Red Pollard (Tobey Maguire) as his jockey - a man who has been through many trials and tribulations of his own.
Together, the three men and the undersized horse build a winning team. They win race after race and capture the imagination of local racing aficionados. After a number of wins, Howard decides that it's time to take Seabiscuit on a cross country tour. His goal is to have Seabiscuit race the best racehorses on the East Coast - and one horse in particular. War Admiral is the reigning champion - winner of the Triple Crown and undefeated for his career.
Using the media to his advantage, Howard maneuvers to have Seabiscuit face down War Admiral in a one-on-one race. But when Seabiscuit suffers a leg injury, the race must be cancelled. Another year passes by, and finally, Howard convinces the owner of War Admiral to reschedule. The horses will face each other in the biggest race of the century.
In the interim, Red Pollard suffers his own near fatal leg injury which leaves him unable to ride Seabiscuit as the much anticipated race draws near.
With every ear in America tuned to the radio to see which horse will prevail, a substitute jockey fills in for Red. Most all of America is pulling for the underdog Seabiscuit who never quits. The race begins and Seabiscuit takes the lead. Going around the final turn, the two horses are neck and neck before Seabiscuit pulls away and wins by several lengths…
War Admiral ran the best time of his career, but still got blow away. But the victory is bittersweet for Red and the race team as he is told that he will never ride again. Soon after, Seabiscuit injures his leg once again. Convalescing on the spacious Howard ranch, man and horse work on their rehabilitation together. They take walks, and Red works out Seabiscuit until the horse is trotting without pain.
When Tom Smith determines that Seabiscuit's injury wasn't career ending after all, Howard decides to run the horse in one last race - the biggest payday of the year. At the last minute, Red convinces Howard that he can ride, and against all odds, the oversized jockey who was told his career was over rides the undersized horse to victory once again…
An inspiring tale of courage and perseverance, Seabiscuit is certain to stir emotions within. Knowing the film is a catalogue of actual events helps to bring the audience to its feet in support of the characters who, like ourselves, may not always be the best or fanciest specimen, who may have our abilities questioned, but who never quit. A definite must-see film, Seabiscuit is great entertainment the entire family can enjoy…
Britt Gillette
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Posted on 17 December 2004