Beating the Odds

Rating: Null/10 (18 March 2004)

The nation was battling the Great Depression. Broken lives struggled for survival, struggled for better times. What possibly could an unwanted, discounted racehorse do to add even a spark of hope to such difficult times? This incredible story about a racehorse named "Seabiscuit" is a historical treasure that taught a nation about beating the odds. The disappointingly small grandson of the champion racehorse `Man-O-War' sparks the attention of a horse trainer named Tom Smith (Chris Cooper). Red Pollard (Tobey Maguire), a struggling jockey much larger than the average jockey, also catches Cooper's attention. Millionaire Charles Howard (Jeff Bridges) looks on with intuitive eyes, and the financial means to take a chance.

The story is about much more than just watching horse racing. It chronicles the lives of these three men who come from different walks of life, and as the rest of the nation, are dealing with their own unique losses. I enjoyed the way the Director Gary Ross lets you slowly appreciate the differences, and talents of the characters that bring them together to accomplish a shared goal. Would this journey force personal losses to be faced? `Do you throw a life away just because it's banged up a little?' Would it transcend the race to bet the odds? Would lives be made better? It reminds me of "The Love of the Game", (1999) when it becomes more than just pitching a winning baseball game for Billy Chapel (Kevin Costner) as he recognizes the importance of having others in our lives.
Let me not discount the horse racing though! The viewer is given the opportunity to eyewitness up front and personal how it may feel amidst a thundering brood of horses running at full speed literally side by side! The colliding of one horse and rider against the next! It is a privilege to see through the jockey's eyes what a thrilling (and dangerous) sport this is, one the spectator can only imagine. The job at hand must absolutely be the only thought in mind, for horse and rider if survival, and ultimately victory are to be had! "Seabiscuit" reminds us that odds are just that, odds, not absolutes.