An American Tale of Heart and Tenacity during the "New Deal" era

Rating: 9/10 (28 July 2003)

I love the "against-all-odds" American period pieces when they are based on true stories. In the same vein as "October Sky" and others, "Seabiscuit" (after reading the book and watching documentaries on PBS) delivered the old "lump in the throat" just fine. Although our opening day audience averaged over age 50 and barley filled half the theater, it's not often a movie receives a very big round of applause at the end, which "Seabiscuit" did.
Although we were rather distanced from the raw emotions of the characters throughout the storyline (Jeff Bridges mostly "mugs" his way through the closeups, Tobey Maguire lacked the intense tenacity of Red Pollard, Chris Cooper looked quite bored most of the time and Liz Banks seemed more like a prop), whatever lacked in characterization was more than made-up for in our knowledge of the subject, the time period itself and the sheer anticipation and excitement of watching Seabiscuit race. Those sequences were "up-front and personal" and just a delight to watch. William Macey's "Tick-Tock" McGlaughlin was the perfect comedic break and the narration moved the story along nicely.
Although a bit glossed-over, all in all, I think "Seabiscuit" was a great ride for my money and the perfect summer break from the "smash-em crash-em" technological bloodfest that Hollywood has become. I gave it a "9."
My name is Barry and that's "My Take On It".