A suave flow all the way !

Rating: 8/10 (15 April 2011)

When I begun to watch the movie,within few minutes,I was assured that the movie is gonna be predictable till the end - Charles's son's accident,the alliance that will soon be formed between three inherently heterogeneous characters,Red meeting with accident,Charles developing fatherly feelings for Red etc. Yet,the movie didn't let my attention distract !
According to me,the characters of Tom Smith and Charles Howard are the most impressive - the sober and professional Tom is painted well by Chris Cooper and a patient and resurgent Charles is given full justice by Jeff Bridges. Red Pollard has got a cut-piece role which Tobey Maguire has done well.Finally,I should not deny the credit to a small but kind and truthful character of George Woolf played by Gary Stevens(both legendary jockeys !) and a paparazzi-traited "Tick Tock" by William Macy.
The movie has a few good picks :
1: A calm Smith asking for the horse that is about to be shot dead. 2: Red decides to drown the bundle of the 'best things' given by his parents and then gives up the idea. 3: All scenes pertaining 'racing' - Tom focusing on the granular aspects of training,especially,the night training,Red giving tips to George in the hospital. 4: George encouraging Red in the final race.
The movie is apparently bland in nature but that's where it's beauty lies - a suave flow all the way ! Gary Ross certainly deserves an applaud for a directorial perfection !