More Than Just a Horse Racing Movie

Rating: 7/10 (19 May 2010)

The story of Seabiscuit, one of the winningest horses of all time. This story is true, the events are true, the characters are real. Sure, things might be fictionalized for the entertainment value, but basically this is it! Seabiscuit was a symbol of hope during the Great Depression for people, a symbol that the underdog could win. It's a bad sign when people have to put their faith in a running horse, but I suppose that's how it was.
The characters each have their own outlook. Tom Smith (Chris Cooper), horse trainer: "every horse is good for something", even if that something is not racing. He's the optimist. Cooper is vastly under-appreciated as an actor.
Charles Howard (Jeff Bridges), automobile entrepreneur and amateur horse owner: "everyone needs a second chance", another optimist, though with much less pure motivation. And then Tobey MacGuire as jockey Red Pollard, he's just a blind drunk.
William H. Macy as Tick-Tock McLauchlin is the pessimist and cynic, calling Seabiscuit the "surprise in the punchbowl". But this is a happy story, so he's proved wrong. Interestingly, the great race is against War Admiral, which happens to be his uncle!