Seabiscuit Review
by Mark R. Leeper (markrleeper AT yahoo DOT com)July 28th, 2003
SEABISCUIT
(a film review by Mark R. Leeper)
CAPSULE: Five different stories of redemption are
intertwined in the history of the champion racehorse Seabiscuit. The story is something of a cliche, but the film is beautifully mounted and has fine actors. It is hard to see the film and not be rooting for
the horse to win and the characters to succeed.
Rating: 6 (0 to 10), high +1 (-4 to +4)
As a confirmed non-sports-fan, I find enjoyable only a few sports films and only one, THE NATURAL, that I actually consider good. The few sports films I do enjoy are all really about something quite different from sports. And while I enjoy researching the events surrounding most historical films I review, I will beg off this time as I am sure there are many on the Web who would enjoy digging into the racing history more than I would.
As I say, the sports films I respect and enjoy are really about something very different from sports, and SEABISCUIT is no exception. Writer-director Gary Ross's film is about a country that is on its feet, is knocked to its knees (or perhaps more accurately on its face) when the stock market crash leads to the Great Depression, but then struggles back to its feet. The story is stocked with characters whom the fates have knocked down but who fight their way back.
Charles Howard is played by Jeff Bridges almost as a reprise of his character from TUCKER: THE MAN AND HIS DREAM. Howard built his bicycle repair business into a fortune in the automobile industry. He was one of the wealthiest men in America and one of the most happy until tragedy tore apart his marriage. Red Pollard (Tobey Maguire) was torn from his family by the Depression and is going through life with a chip on his shoulder. Tom Smith (Chris Cooper) was an open range cowboy when he ran out of open range and became a drifter. Then there is Seabiscuit himself, parented by two champions, but born small, mis-trained, and mis-used.
The redemption of this owner, jockey, trainer, and horse parallel the redemption of a country from some of its worst years. The New Deal put some money in the people's pockets and restored their self-confidence. At the same time the champion racehorse Seabiscuit gave them something to divert them and to hope for and to dream about. The small horse with a crooked leg who won all those races became a sensation, even a national hero. The horse was the long shot that paid off. The three humans and the horse make a team and compensate for each other's shortcomings. None could have recovered without the help of the other three.
SEABISCUIT was written and directed by Gary Ross based on the popular book by Laura Hillenbrand. The score was by Randy Newman with much of the same spirit that he gave THE NATURAL, a quality of American rustic nobility. The film is narrated by David McCulloch, lending the film the feel of a PBS documentary, which then fades into the drama. How faithful the film is to the facts is difficult to judge, but the use of McCulloch feels almost a testimonial of authenticity. Pulling in the other direction is the comic sports reporter Tick Tock McGlaughlin played by William H. Macy. For all I know his daffiness may be typical of sports writers of the time, but it feels exaggerated. Special note should be made of Chris Cooper's performance. He is an actor I have liked since MATEWAN and he seems to have hit his stride and is finally getting the attention he deserves. He is one of the most interesting character actors in films.
If SEABISCUIT has a problem, it is that it has little profundity. It seems to be saying little that is more profound or controversial than its rather flat message of perseverance through hard times. Nevertheless, some people are bothered by its reminders that in the Great Depression progressive government programs made life bearable for many of the destitute. Some have contrasted these policies with that of the current administration. In any case, SEABISCUIT is something of a stereotyped and familiar story done with a good deal of style. I rate SEABISCUIT a 6 on the 0 to 10 scale and a high +1 on the -4 to +4 scale.
Mark R. Leeper
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Copyright 2003 Mark R. Leeper
Originally posted in the rec.arts.movies.reviews newsgroup. Copyright belongs to original author unless otherwise stated. We take no responsibilities nor do we endorse the contents of this review.
