Max at the Movies - Seabiscuit

Yesterday afternoon I had the pleasure of going to the movies and seeing the movie "Seabiscuit."  I have been waiting to see this movie since the first trailer appeared early this year. It was worth the wait. If you ever had a love of animals especially horses, you will love this movie.

I grew up, like many my age, hearing the name of the horse Seabiscuit but never knowing all the details about him.  I never read about the horse so it was a learning experience as it will be for others who see the movie. I hope it was written close to the book because it is quite an adventure in bringing together the horse, trainer, jockey and owner.  That is how the movie starts out, and it takes about 30 minutes or so for the four to be joined together.

The cast is probably the best that you could expect to play the parts and they all did an excellent job. Tobey again has given an outstanding performance as the jockey. Jeff Bridges gives probably his best I have ever seen.  I don’t know when Chris Cooper has given a bad performance and this is no exception. It was a history lesson from the beginning to the end of the movie.  It starts with the country getting into the automobile industry, which is where the owner of the horse starts.  It is also the same period that we see the horse trainer and his love of the horse. We also see the young jockey with his family who are doing quite well.

Everything changes for them and the country on October 29, 1929 when the stock market crashes and many people and families have their lives turned upside down. Many lose everything they own and are forced to survive the best they can with only the clothes on their backs and the one thing some own, their automobile.  In time the lives of all in the movie seemed doomed until the owner starts going to the racetrack in Mexico after the death of his son and collapse of his marriage. While there he falls in love, marries, and buys his first horse.

The horse of course is Seabiscuit who is quite a handful.  The owner starts looking for a trainer and just happens to see the one that everyone thinks is weird. Turns out they are wrong and a legend is born. It is during the training of the horse that the jockey is found. He will be the only one that the horse will let close to him.  It is about being at the right time and the right place. The trainer sees the jockey fighting with some of the other jockeys and at the same time the horse is fighting with its handlers.  Both have the same personalities and soon become attached to each other; best friends. Some of the scenes of the two are quite touching, bringing a tear or two in a few.

Eventually everyone can see the potential of the horse as a champion racer. It takes time to get the horse also to see it's potential as it's always kept it self from running faster than the other horses. It is great to watch the horse running, and in time start to win races. The biggest challenge was War Admiral, a Triple Crown winner whose owner didn't want to race against Seabiscuit.  When War Admiral doesn’t come west Seabiscuit is brought east to race the champion.

Unfortunately our jockey breaks a leg before the big race and is replaced by his best friend from the early days of racing. They both work together so that the new rider knows everything about the horse and I will leave the results for you to see. This is the best part of the movie until Seabiscuit has an injury after another race, and it is thought he will never race again.  It is only by the trainer working with the injury and also the jockey, Red, played by Tobey that the horse makes a full recovery and goes on to win future races.

The ending is a bit of tearjerker for some (at least for me) to see this great horse become the legend we have heard about. Also there is a moral for this movie, which you hear more than once. You don't throw something or someone away simply because they are broken, give them a second chance. This is something we all should remember every day. Take the time to see this one, as it's a WINNER!