Not the average Hollywood movie, but that doesn't mean that it isn't good.

Rating: 8/10 (8 June 2005)

People have always had a need for heroes, especially in times of crisis like for instance during the Depression in the late 1920's and early 1930's. And when their heroes are someone they can identify themselves with, than the bond between them and their idols is even bigger. But what if those heroes are a horse and the people that take care of it? It doesn't really make a difference as this movie, based on a true story, proves.
"Seabiscuit" is a story of three men and a horse that haven't had a lot of luck in life. Charles Howard is a wealthy self-made man and a natural salesman, but he has suffered both personal and financial loss through the Depression. Tom Smith is an aging horse trainer, unsure of his place in the world, but loyally taking care of the animals that he has always loved. Red Pollard, abandoned by his parents as a child, is a short-tempered and half-blind ex-prizefighter who will be the jockey and Seabiscuit is an undersized mustang who has been mistreated his whole life. These aren't exactly the ones that you would choose to make a winning team with, but together they are unbeatable. And as soon as they start winning one race after the other, they become the most popular combination on the race tracks and the inspiration for the entire country...
What I liked about this movie was the fact that it took its time to develop all the characters. Some will say that it was boring to get all that information about the characters, before the actual racing sequences began, but in my opinion it really helped to understand why these men and that horse were so keen on winning and why their performance was so special. They've climbed from great depths to incredible heights, but when you don't get to see from where they once came, you'll not be able to fully understand what a magnificent performance that actually was.
What I also liked about this movie was that it was spectacular in an old-fashioned way. For once they didn't need big explosions or some gigantic car chases to make it all look good. The most spectacular part of the movie are the races themselves, but they do their job well. This 'old-fashioned' feeling can also be felt in the use of sepia colored images, the 1930's 'radio' voice for the narration, the costumes, the cars,... It all gives you that feeling that you are in the 1930's and not at the present day. But not only that 'nostalgic' feeling is worth mentioning, so are the performances of the different actors. When it comes to their performances, it is very hard to say which one was the best. Jeff Bridges, Chris Cooper and Tobey Maguire all fit very well in their roles, that seem to be written especially for them. I guess it all will depends on nothing else but personal preferences when you have to choose one of them, because in my opinion no-one of them deserves to be called the lesser of the three.
Anyway, despite the fact that this movie will probably not be seen by many people, because it isn't the typical Hollywood blockbuster or the average thriller, that doesn't mean that this movie isn't worth to be seen. Sure, it is only about sports and to make things worse, only about horse racing, but perhaps you should give it a try anyway. And even when you are a non-American, you'll probably like it. Yes, you could call this movie some fake patriotic American flag-waving, showing to the world how good they were and are at conquering all their problems and difficulties and no, most of us don't like that at all (including me), but I'm sure it will surprise you, just like it did with me. This movie has a lot more to offer and I really liked it a lot. That's why I give it at least a 7.5/10, perhaps even an 8/10.