Theme of second chances gives race horse story added depth.

Rating: 9/10 (22 July 2003)

I went into this movie not knowing a thing about Seabiscuit and little about horse racing. I expected and got a story of triumph over adversity with a few bumps in the road to make it interesting. This could seem like familiar stuff, like Rocky, The Karate Kid, The Natural, and any number of other sports movies. Fortunately, the movie deals with the theme of recovery and not just winning. At various points in the movie we see characters loose their livelihoods, family members, are abandoned, suffer physically, and as a country, during the Depression, loose hope for the future. The story is used, in part, as a backdrop to drive the themes of second chances and a personal and national recovery from despair.
If that sounds a little heavy handed, Seabiscuit doesn't play that way. The race scenes are exciting, the landscapes and cinematography are beautiful, and the bond between man and animal is suitably explored and remains mysterious and humorous.
This is also very much an actor's film. Jeff Bridges turns in another fine performance. Is there another actor that can do so much with appearing to do so little? This guy is a national treasure. Very under rated. Chris Cooper gives his horse trainer the ability to keenly observe both animal and human nature. Toby Maguire has the plum role of the jockey who has to overcome his self destructive inner rage over his past and limitations. His relationship with the horse is really the core of the film. Finally, Elizabeth Banks, plays the wife of the horse owner, who seems to just get what make her husband tick and derives great pleasure from the racing of the horse.
I suppose some will find the film painted in too many broad strokes, reaching for some great truths about the human condition. or find the landscapes too pastoral or the tone too nostalgic. For me, the whole picture is very well balanced including the Randy Newman score and even the broadest character in the film, William Macy's sportscaster, lifts the mood after various darker moments in the story. Great pencil thin!