Another Great Movie From The Best Year For Movies!

Rating: 10/10 (7 August 2003)

I went to see Seabiscuit not expecting it too be that good. So I was very pleasantly surprised that it was as great as it was. It is definitely worth the price of admission to see it on a big theater screen. DO NOT WAIT TO SEE IT ON A TV SCREEN! You need the big screen to appreciate the beautiful cinematograpy, the beautiful rural sceneries, and the exciting horseraces that cry out for a giant screen to see the horses really up close; it is like you are riding on the very next horse over from Seabiscuit.
I have read the reviews by others here and agree with most of them. The actors were all very good, Tobey McGuire was better than I expected. Jeff Bridges WAS very Tucker-like, but this was good, it was his best film role in a while, better than the recent KPAX. The philosophy of the film was 1) You don't throw someone (or something in the horse's case) away just because they are bruised or broken. Don't give up on them. 2) It is bad for someone to lie & do bad things, but you give them at least ONE more chance to redeem themselves, especially when you see the potential they have inside them. 3) Just because a country is down and out, and things are going bad, DON'T give up on yourself or your fellow citizens, if you all get together and work as a team, complimenting your strengths with your teammates strengths, and be observant of what each team members strengths are, YOU WILL SUCCEED!! (This is what the four lead actors of the film did: 1) Tobey M. had a never-give-up attitude combined with a "I may be beaten, but I'm not destroyed attitude. 2)Jeff B. had a quiet fatherly figure, confident "I know we will win in the end if we stick to our plan & don't give up" attitude AND he felt like we must give others a second chance inner philosophy. 3)Chris C. had an "I see great potential in the downtrodden" attitude combined with "I know what I know, I know horses, and horseracing better than anyone". And 4) Seabiscuit's attitude was "I've been abused, mistreated, and people act like I'm not worth anything, BUT I'll show THEM" attitude. If they would only give him a chance, he would prove to everyone he was a winner! If only Others would see his potential & BELIEVE in him, HE WOULD SHOW THEM!! (Yes, I know, this sounds crazy, but the horse in this movie really did have this attitude!! You'll have to see the movie to believe it.)
When all four were combined, they were an unbeatable team in the horseracing world. A world I didn't think I would care about at all. So, I was SHOCKED when I found myself caring ALOT! I had not read the books or seen the documentaries that others had, so I did not have any preconceived notions that the film didn't live up to like some of the grumpier other reviewers on IMDB had. My opinion: The film was great! I didn't think it was PERFECT like "Finding Nemo" (which is perfection) or as exciting as "Pirates of Caribbean" or "Terminator 3" with their nonstop action AND humor, but I thought "Seabiscuit" definitely should be seen by everyone IN A THEATER WITH A GIANT SCREEN (this would be a wonderful IMAX movie I think).

Emotions: It was almost as emotional a movie for me as "Finding Nemo". I was never scared like in Nemo, but my heart was uplifted seeing those who are down, pull themselves up with the help of others who cared about their fellows creatures who were all put on this Earth by God, reaching their potentials and becoming winners and heroes. (This movie sorta reminded me of the inspirational film "Chariots of Fire"-which does not feature chariots with horses in it By The Way. I recommend that film to everyone also!) Also, I did have tears in my eyes I am ashamed to say, just like with the movie Nemo, when both horse and rider had their miraculous comebacks.
I gave this film a rating of 10 even though I should have only given it a 9, because it made me feel good. For all the reviewers who insist that this movie and the people associated with it win Oscars, I have bad news for you. I hate to tell you this, but Hollywood looks at box office before they give out nominations AND ESPECIALLY AWARD WINS! Any movie that grosses more than $100 million and is in the top 5 for the year, HAS LITTLE CHANCE OF BEING NOMINATED FOR THE GOOD AWARDS, AND NO CHANCE OF WINNING AN AWARD. The fact that the public likes it, means to Hollywood that it can't be that good. If you want to see "Seabiscuit" win an Oscar, then everyone would have to stop going to see the film now, before it reaches the top 5 & $100 million gross. But that would be foolish to do so, because this film deserves to be seen, IMHO. So don't be getting your hopes up that it will win lots of awards, OK?