Middle of the Track

Rating: 7/10 (5 June 2004)

Seabiscuit is a movie about a famous horse. For me, this is a handicap to be overcome, since I am not nuts about horses or horse movies. I was pleasantly surprised by this one, mostly due to the efforts of Jeff Bridges and Chris Cooper. Bridges underplays the rich and basically decent Charles Howard just right: the audience can forgive him his wealth, even in light of the depression all around him. He is fair and reasonable, yet a risk taker and huckster.
Cooper's character, trainer Tom Smith, is perhaps even more interesting. The stereotypical cowboy whose time has run out as the range became fenced and organized, Smith becomes a trainer who works primarily on instinct and his rapport with the animals. The movie allows that instinct to err occasionally, bringing out the simple humanity of the man.
Less interesting is Tobey MaGuire as jockey Red Pollack. Born to a wealthy and cultured family gone bust, he is farmed out by his desperate parents who never return for him. It is hard to tell if the problem here is Maguire or Pollack; either way, the character is not too likable (unless you're a horse, apparently).
Production values are high in this period piece, and cinematography is excellent.
**SPOILERS**
Unfortunately, a few little things prevent this good movie from being a great one: The Depression documentary narration is cornily inspirational and out of place, too preachy. Some during-race jockey banter is just silly! And shots of Pollack cheering "the Biscuit" from his hospital bed should have been omitted even if true; its just been done too often.
One other sort of annoying aspect is the editing. The movie tends to cut away from scenes just as the points are to be delivered, and the cutaway from the start of the 'Big Race' is just plain arrogant!
Having said that, it was an enjoyable two and a half hours, and I'm glad I saw it. I give it a vote of 7.