Enjoyable and well-acted. - Spoilers

Rating: 10/10 (24 September 2003)

Ignore the odd ludicrous comment that this was a propaganda movie--it's nothing of the kind. It never made me think of 9/11 in the vaguest fashion (and the book it was based on was published in March of 2001), Jeff Bridges' character doesn't resemble George Bush in any conceivable way, Christianity has nothing to do with a non-religious hero who sleeps with a hooker down in Mexico, and the view of America is pretty bleak and poignant, nothing like the glowing triumph depicted by a certain commenter who enjoyed making political remarks rather than actually reviewing the movie. The film has basically nothing to do with America; it is just set there. The underlying themes underscore human dreams, and the history lessons (admittedly a bit dry, but interesting) were rather obviously not intended as "the way we should be", but rather, "the way they were". The movie looks back on a more innocent time, when people were brave and exhilarated... and destitute, and sometimes tragically foolish, believing in black-and-white ideals which didn't fit their reality. This America is full of poor people, unpleasant people, silly people, simple people, kind souls, fools, and ruthless bullies.
Anyone who doesn't possess an irrational hatred of America--to the point where they think every American movie is right-wing propaganda used by the evil government to infect the thoughts of a populace which has no ability to think for itself--will probably not regard this movie as anything but a film about hope and bittersweet, broken victories, well-acted and well-scored. The message I got from it was that you can't have a perfect life, but if you keep working at it, you may at least come out of it with something. Obvious, but meaningful nonetheless.
It may seem amusing or naive to those who wish to feel superior, that some of us enjoyed this film... but anyone with a good head on their shoulders, no matter what country they're from, will realize that this is actually a true story. Seabiscuit DID win. Red Pollard lived and married one of the nurses who took care of him after his injury. And that has hardly a damn thing to do with politics, religion, or America. It's about human persistence... and equine persistence, for that matter.