The Undersized Horse and the Over-sized Jockey

Rating: Null/10 (22 September 2004)

This award winning film "Seabiscuit" is based on a true story in the 1920s during the Great Depression. Charles Howard (Jeff Bridges) is a dirt, poor man who repaired bikes for a living before he built automobiles. He becomes wealthy and buys a house with a horse stable in the back yard--when the stock market crashes. A boy named Red (Tobey Maguire) gains a job taking care of horses for a wealthy man. Red's family believes it is in his best interest to move in with the man. Charles wants to buy a racehorse, but he first needs to find a trainer, Tom Smith (Chris Cooper), and a jockey (Red). Charles buys an undersized horse named Seabiscuit who surprises the whole nation by wining race after race. Seabiscuit challenges War Emerald to a match race, the biggest sporting event ever. An accident causes Red to lose the pride of being a jockey for the rest of his life. Seabiscuit becomes lame just one race after the big match, causing the loss of his racing career. Director Gary Ross's intentions during this movie were to create a parallel between the American people and Seabiscuit. The people are suffering due to the Depression and the under dog Seabiscuit gives them hope. Seabiscuit never gives up even when life beats him. He still continues to race instead turning around and heading home. The American people must still keep fighting and never give up. Miracles can happen--just have the will power to make them happen. The critical techniques in the film which capture my interest include the back in forth picture from the present day color screen to the black and white screen pictures taken at the actual setting while the event was happening. Another is the way the suspense builds up until the viewer cannot wait to see what happens next. There is always something building up in the movie and sometimes I did not realize it until it happens. This is a breathtaking film that leaves me with an incredible feeling of achievement.