Seabiscuit Review
by Robin Clifford (robin AT reelingreviews DOT com)July 28th, 2003
"Seabiscuit"
"You don't throw a whole life away just 'cause it's banged up a little."
- Charles Howard, owner of Seabiscuit
In the 1930's three men, all lost souls to one degree or another, and a horse that nobody wanted made history and changed the way the world treats the underdog when they took the American horseracing world by storm. Helmer Gary Ross tells the story of this unlikely quartet of winners in the inspirational story about the making of an equine athlete in "Seabiscuit."
Charles Howard (Jeff Bridges) is a self-made millionaire who migrated to San Francisco early in the 20th century with only 21 cents in his pocket. He opened a bicycle repair shop and eked out an existence until a fortuitous event - the owner of a broken down Stanley Steamer asks him to fix his car. Fascinated with this new technology Howard took on the job and saw the future the automobile would have on America. He soon became the sole distributor for Buick in the western U.S. and a very wealthy man, too. Tragedy befalls Charles when his young son is killed in a car accident and his grieving wife leaves him. Howard tries to run away from his own grief and goes Mexico where he becomes enamored with that sport of kings, horseracing.
Tom Smith (Chris Cooper) is a taciturn throwback to a previous era when the horse, not the car, was the transport of choice. The world that he knew and loved so well is fast receding over the horizon and, with it, the only life he had ever known. Fortunately, the old cowboy has an almost mystical way with horses and, when he comes to the attention of Charles Howard, he gets a second chance at life. This original horse whisperer knows quality equine flesh when he sees it and the millionaire knows it when he sees such a man.
Johnny "Red" Pollard (Tobey Maguire) came from a loving Irish immigrant home where song and reading was a mainstay. But, the Depression hit most Americans hard and the Pollards were no exception. Red is a natural horseman and his father, destitute and desperate, cuts his son loose to make his own way as a jockey. Young Johnny makes a living of sorts riding at broken down tracks and boxing. All alone in the world he wanders aimlessly, getting into trouble, fights and booze until he comes to the attention of Tom Smith who recognizes the young jockey's talent and determination.
This unlikely trio needed one more thing to make the combo click. This missing element turned up in the unlikely locale of Boston's Suffolk Downs racetrack where Tom spots a beaten up, awkward bay by the name of Seabiscuit. When he looks into the horse's eyes he sees the inner spirit of a champion. The puzzle finally has all of its pieces and the nobly born but small, knobby-kneed 'Biscuit starts to shake his past abuses and begins to win races, lots of races, and breaking records, too. This begins a national phenomenon that gripped the hearts and minds of the America people with its Horatio Alger tale of the down-trodden underdog - in this case Seabiscuit and Red, in particular, but also Charles and Tom - that overcomes every obstacle to achieve the ultimate kudos of their sport.
The screenplay by Gary Ross is adapted from the popular non-fiction book, Seabiscuit, by Laura Hillenbrand, and attempts to do many things - sometimes successfully, sometimes not so. A lot of time, about an hour, is spent on the build up to the day the star athlete is born. Much of this time is filled with voice over narration, by David McCullough, telling the history of the times, showing the plight of the nation as the false prosperity of the Roaring 20's came to a crashing halt on October 29, 1929 and The Great Depression gripped the country and the world. Interspersed with the history lesson are faux newsreels and radio commentary describing the rise of the most unlikely American hero, Seabiscuit.
Of the principal cast Chris Cooper does the most masterful job creating the character that IS Tom Smith. I lost myself in his depiction of a man of the Old West who maintains his integrity to his craft and love for his horses. Cooper uses stern expressions, the clipped speech of a man not used to talking much and body language that indicates a high comfort level with his beloved beasts, especially the 'Biscuit. I hope his performance is remembered come year's end.
Jeff Bridges and Tobey Maguire are okay in their respective roles of Charles and Red. Bridges is, basically, reprising his "Tucker" performance, 'though older and heavier, with much the same spin as his earlier performance. (The actor, as he gets older, looks more and more like his brother Beau.) Maguire does a yeoman's job as Red but I kept wondering, while watching "Seabiscuit," if another casting choice would have been better.
Supporting cast has some gems. Elizabeth Banks, as Howard's beautiful young wife, Marcela, is very assured in her characterization of a young woman attracted to an older man. Marcela is a kindred spirit, not a trophy wife, and helps gentle the grief that Charles feels for his lost son. Hall of Fame Jockey Gary Stevens makes his acting debut as George "The Iceman" Woolf, a top jockey at the time who was Red's mentor and friend. Stevens, with his movie star good looks and confident demeanor, is a natural in front of the camera and a pleasure to watch. William H. Macy, as the fast-talking, funny radio announcer Tick-Tock McGlaughlin, steals the show with his rapid-fire patter and sound effects sent over the airways to the millions of fans of Seabiscuit. Noted historian David McCullough gives a dignified voiceover performance as the film's narrator.
Gary Ross takes liberty with his source material and this is where "Seabiscuit" falters. Too much time is spent on the set up that brings all the players together making the body of the real story - the rise of Seabiscuit to the status of national icon - seem abbreviated. Facts are manipulated for the sake of dramatic development that may garner adverse reaction of the millions who have read the book - the "that's not how it happened" backlash. The uninitiated, though, will get an interestingly handled lecture on America during The Depression as well as an entertaining, inspirational sports story.
Techs are terrific across the board. John Schwartzman's expert camera work makes the racing sequences some of the most exciting I have ever seen. Costume designer Judianna Makovsky has an excellent eye for the period and dresses her wards befitting the time. Randy Newman's score suits the tone of the film. Production design by Jeannine Oppewall credibly captures the look and feel of the racing environment of the 30's.
"Seabiscuit" isn't the unabashed masterpiece that I had hoped for but it is an exciting, well-crafted sports drama about an unlikely athlete. I give it a B+.
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