Seabiscuit

A-

This is a good story that was really big in its time and had been almost entirely forgotten. The movie makers took some risks making a horse flick (doesn't exactly fit in a formula) based on a non-fiction book about events that took place 70 years ago. The movie is so positive that it somewhat falls into my theory that the only non-fiction stories that get made are ones that sound like something someone would make up. But the story is essentially true so you have to cut it some slack. I liked the PBS-style documentary pieces (narrated by the same guy Ken Burns uses) that set up some of the factual background. The biographical background on the title character was really funny.

The acting was pretty good, but not great. A lot of it was kind of hammy to me at times, but everyone managed to get some good pieces in that made the characters seem real. The jockey, trainer, and owner all have distinct roles in life and completely different backgrounds but are brought together over this horse. The story has its ups and downs and it is entertaining to watch the characters ride over the hills and into the valleys, only to come back up again.

I would definitely recommend this to anyone, especially if you're the type that liked The Natural. You still need to keep your expectations low because the movie sometimes plods along, but the story is worth watching and told well.

I'll give it an A-.

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