July 26, 2003

Seabiscuit

Seabiscuit **** (out of five)

Directed by Gary Ross

Starring Tobey Maguire, Jeff Bridges, Chris Cooper

America was in the heart of the Depression., Japan was at war in China, and Neville Chamberlain was proclaiming 'peace in our time' after his negotiations with Hitler over Czechoslovakia. Nearly a quarter of all Americans were out of work. And a horse sold for $2000 ridden by an ex-prizefighter became the biggest story in America. This is the story of Seabiscuit.

Based on the novel by Laura Hillenbrand, Seabiscuit tells the tale of how a horse brought three men together and inspired an America desperately in need of a hero. Although Seabiscuit is by no means a subtle film, it hits the mark squarely. Ross' filming of the horrors of the Depression serves as a brutal reminder of just how bad things were in the 1930s, a sharp contrast to the mildness of the current economic slowdown. Following not just the horse, but also jockey Red Pollard, trainer Tom Smith, and owner Charles Howard as their fortunes wax and wane, Ross focuses the film on the relationship between the three disparate men and how their lives were changed by Seabiscuit. The result is a charming film that provides more than just the great visuals of horse racing, but also the story required for a film to make people care.

Much of the credit for this belongs with the cast. Maguire is excellent as a jockey who never should have had a chance to ride a winner. His anger, fear, and hope serve as the film's focal point. Jeff Bridges is perfectly cast as a flamboyant car salesman who gets into horses at the behest of his wife. Bridges is the perfect actor to play any salesman, with his sweeping gestures and contagious enthusiasm, and he uses those qualities to great effect here. Chris Cooper, conversely, undercuts Bridges' enthusiasm nicely as the old horse trainer Tom Smith. Cooper's ruggedness and simplicity provide the perfect contrast to Bridges. Also of note is Gary Stevens, a real jockey tapped to play Pollard's friend and rival, George "Iceman" Woolf. Stevens provides a note of authenticity with his clear riding ability, but his acting is well-done as well, serving as an excellent foil for Maguire.

Seabiscuit is, in some ways, a typical sports film. But it offers two great reasons to see it: it's a very well done sports movie, and it's got more than enough twists and turns to remain unpredictable to the end.

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