People and Horses and Minutes, Oh My.

Rating: Null/10 (25 August 2003)

The larger-than-life titled racehorse gets the royal treatment in this would-be-masterpiece from director Gary Ross (who had an electric debut with "Pleasantville" back in 1998). "Seabiscuit" is one of those long and sometimes nearly excruciating exercises that ultimately ends up trying to do too much to be a complete success. It is the Depression-era in the United States and the country is literally staggering to survive economically and personally. A youngster (the character grows to be Tobey Maguire) leaves his family so he can work with horses and eventually becomes a jockey that struggles with his weight and the emotional losses he has suffered. Old, washed-up horse trainer Chris Cooper becomes little more than a vagrant as the Depression hits and tries to keep his sanity by working with the animals he loves. Self-made man Jeff Bridges does not get hurt economically, but loses his only son in a freak accident and sinks into a personal depression as his wife leaves him as well. Soon though all three men will be brought together via an old horse that has never been nurtured and treated the way he should have been. What follows is a long and emotional journey for the major players as they all attempt to turn their lives around with the help of the famed horse. Bridges finds love again with a much younger beauty (Elizabeth Banks) and one of Maguire's rivals (Gary Stevens) also becomes a prominent figure as the film hits its climax. In the 1930s the press (sleazy radio personality William H. Macy in particular) had a field day with the horse, making comparisons between the animal and the way that most in the country had also fought back from hardships. "Seabiscuit" is one of those near misses. It is a would-be dramatic powerhouse that loses its way with an annoying narration, a climax that comes way too early (a syndrome with Hollywood products these days) and unsteady direction by Ross. The screenplay (also by Ross) goes too much for forced comedy and that gets in the way of its dramatic momentum. Bridges and Cooper are very solid, but Maguire disappoints here. There are several performers who would have been better suited for his role really. I still liked the movie in spite of numerous problems, but it is not near as impressive as the film-makers had hoped it would be. 4 stars out of 5.