The Bottom Line
"Seabiscuit" is a moving film that sneaks up on you. Although this is a little embarrassing to admit, I fought back tears more than once while watching it.
Pros
- Rip-roaring story well-told in an old-fashioned way
- Compelling acting and well-developed characters
- Strong sense of time and place (U.S. during Great Depression)
Cons
- May be too long for some viewers (2 hours 21 minutes)
- Has a Hollywood movie sensibility (could be a pro)
- Pacing of first act may be too deliberate for some
Description
- DVD containing film "Seabiscuit" (2003)
- Movie stars Jeff Bridges, Tobey Maguire, and Chris Cooper
- DVD contains feature-length commentary by director Gary Ross and filmmaker Steven Soderbergh
- DVD provides a making-of feature
- DVD contains historical information and other bonus materials
- Excellent picture and sound quality
- Release date: December 16, 2003
Guide Review - "Seabiscuit" DVD Review
I was pleasantly surprised at how emotionally involving "Seabiscuit" was. It seemed to me what made this movie so good was that it was really about second chances. The film is about an undersized thoroughbred racehorse named Seabiscuit who didn't do much in his early years, but later started winning big. As the American public coped with the Great Depression, the horse emerged as a symbol of hope. This drama tells the interlocking stories of Seabiscuit, his owner (Jeff Bridges), his trainer (Chris Cooper), and his principal jockey (Tobey Maguire). The film is based on the bestselling nonfiction book by Laura Hillenbrand. The movie has a rip-roaring story well-told in an old-fashioned way, and to my mind what makes it really come alive is compelling acting and well-developed characters, along with a strong sense of time and place. It's also a very cinematic film with exciting horseracing footage. "Seabiscuit" is a moving film that sneaks up on you. Although this is a little embarrassing to admit, I fought back tears more than once while watching it.
