Secretariat – A Walt Disney Pictures’ Release

http://disney.go.com/disneypictures/secretariat/

Release Date: October 8th

Rated G

Running time: 123 minutes

Randall Wallace (dir.)

Mike Rich (screen story)

Based on the book Secretariat: The Making of a Champion by William Nack

Nick Glennie-Smith (music)

Diane Lane as Penny Chenery

John Malkovich as Lucien Laurin

Dylan Walsh as Jack Tweedy

Nelsan Ellis as Eddie Sweat

James Cromwell as Ogden Phipps

Kevin Connolly as Bill Nack

Fred Dalton Thompson as Bull Hancock

Otto Thorwarth as Ron Turcotte

©Walt Disney Pictures – Photo Credit: John Bramley

Diane Lane in Secretariat

Our reviews below:

___________________________________________________________________________

Secretariat Review By John C.

**** (out of 4)

Perhaps the first extraordinary thing about housewife Penny Chenery Tweedy (played here by Diane Lane) is that when her mother died she would not let their beloved farm and horses be sold.  But her story becomes remarkable when she helped the offspring of one horse become a phenomenal athlete.  Their story is told in Secretariat, the latest true-life sports drama from Walt Disney Pictures.  It’s as rousing and inspirational as to be expected, but what we also get is an excellent movie.

Penny sacrificed spending time with her family in Colorado to stay in Virginia looking after the horses at her ailing father’s farm.  Despite being offered millions of dollars, she refused to sell the animals and property.  Some may say she was stubborn, but she certainly made all the right decisions, because when Secretariat was born, so was a legend.  With the help of eccentric French-Canadian trainer Lucien Lauren (a perfectly cast John Malkovich) and groom Eddie (Nelsan Ellis), they got the young Secretariat onto the racing circuit and he went on to break records that still haven’t been broken some 37 years later.

It’s as rare as it is wonderful to see scripture (in this case the Book of Job) be used as the narrative hook in the opening scene.  The performances are all understated and excellent, with Diane Lane shining in some of her best work yet.  Although we know the ending and how the races will turn out, one of the film’s biggest achievements is that it still manages to be suspenseful and deeply emotionally affecting.  On the racetrack the camera smoothly moves with the horses, offering some of the most breathtaking horse racing footage ever committed to screen.

This true story of an inspirational woman raising an unlikely athlete is sure to gain comparisons to The Blind Side, and like that Best Picture nominated football story of last year, this horse racing drama will make audiences stand up and cheer.  And this critic is cheering right along with them, as Secretariat races past the finish line and emerges a bona fide winner.

___________________________________________________________________________

Secretariat Review By Erin V.

**** (out of 4)

Most people know the story of the Secretariat – the remarkably powerful horse in the 70’s who became a sensation – respected in not only the horse racing world, but in the general world of sports as well.  While there have been other great horses, I think Secretariat (for good reason) lives on in the minds of many forever.

This new film version, Secretariat, tells the story of the ‘Big Red’ horse, and his owner, Penny Chenery Tweedy.  People were surprised to see a ‘housewife’ as the owner of a horse, and even more surprised by her confidence that this horse could win the triple crown.  The film handles itself quite well, and is really nice visually to watch.

The race scenes in it are exhilarating.  I found the way that they were filmed and edited to be exceptional.  The choice, (as you’ll see in the film), to show the middle of the three main races on a television set, broke up the races nicely, keeping us from becoming complacent with the race scenes – not that that would be easy in this film.  It also gave a sense of how those at home experienced watching Secretariat run.

Beyond all this, the acting is superb, and the story does not drag in it’s 2 hour running length.  The script is well-written and opens and closes in a nicely circular fashion.  The film in kind has been compared to last year’s The Blind Side, both in terms of awards buzz, and type of film.  And I do agree, it is also a story of an athlete beating the odds with the right team behind him – and it’s beautifully told at that.

For a feel-good film and an entertaining time at the movies that a wide-range of ages can enjoy, go see Secretariat, the true story of the horse born and blessed with the gift to run.

___________________________________________________________________________

Secretariat Review By Nicole

**** (out of 4)

It isn’t everyday that you see a perfectly clean movie with a nice message.  It is also rare to find an athlete as good as Secretariat.  Introduced with a passage from the Book of Job, Secretariat tells the story of the friendship between an inspiring woman and her horse.  The movie begins in 1969, when housewife Penny Chenery Tweedy (Diane Lane) obtains her father’s horse farm.  The beloved farm is in danger of closing down.  But a new foal born to champion parents, whom she nicknames Big Red, shows great potential.  With the support of eccentric trainer Lucien Laurin (John Malkovich) jockey Ronnie and groom Eddie, Penny raises Big Red (known as Secretariat in the racing world) to win the Triple Crown in 1973.

Secretariat is an inspiring film.  Like The Blind Side, Secretariat is a movie with a strong female lead, and positive family values.  The cinematography is beautiful, and the acting is excellent with outstanding performances by both the human and animal cast.  I also really liked the Christian aspects of the film.  Secretariat is one that animal lovers of all ages should go out and see.

___________________________________________________________________________

Secretariat Review By Maureen

**** (out of 4)

Secretariat is an inspiring and uplifting story.  In short, just like the horse, this movie’s a winner.  Based on true events, Secretariat shows the drive and determination Penny Chenery Tweedy (Diane Lane) had to save her father’s horse farm and raise the foal she affectionately called Big Red to be one of the greatest racehorses in recent years, Triple Crown winner, Secretariat.

Penny Chenery Tweedy faced a lot of opposition in the four years leading up to Secretariat’s Triple Crown win in 1973.  Nobody took an ordinary housewife and mother of four children seriously back then, especially in the male-dominated world of horse-racing.  Diane Lane gives an excellent performance as Penny capturing her determination and love of horses all while looking picture-perfect the way women of that generation were expected to.

The movie also shows how Penny valued the support of her family (reluctantly by the male members) and those she counted on to work with Secretariat.  John Malkovich gives an especially good performance as Lucien Lauren, the loudly dressed, eccentric horse trainer who believed in Secretariat as much as Penny did.  Also impressive are Eddy the horse groom (Nelsan Ellis) and jockey Ronnie (Otto Thorwath).

Even though I knew the outcome of the story, the movie creates a strong sense of tension and suspense during the race segments.  The filming and editing of each of these scenes is really good.  The beauty and strength of those majestic horses comes through in every shot.

From the opening segments with Biblical quotes from the Book of Job to the closing segment with same quote, Secretariat is a movie not afraid to show its Christian roots and values.  This is a movie that the whole family, Mom, Dad, kids over 9 and grandparents can enjoy together.

Anyone who loves horses or stories about inspiring people will appreciate Secretariat.  This movie has a lot of heart.

___________________________________________________________________________

Secretariat Review By Tony

**** (out of 4)

Secretariat is about arguably the greatest racehorse in history, winning all three races in the 1973 Triple Crown (Kentucky Derby, Preakness & Belmont Stakes) and siring hundreds of other great horses. It is as much about its owner Penny Chenery Tweedy (Diane Lane), who against all advice from her brother, husband and others refused to liquidate her father’s Virginia breeding farm or sell its greatest asset.  She also had to overcome challenges from skeptical investors and sportswriters, trash-talking rivals, and especially separation from her family in Denver. Her winning team included the retired eccentric Québec-born trainer Lucien Lauren (John Malkovich) and Acadian-born jockey Ron Turcotte (Otto Thorwarth).

Secretariat is based on books by sportswriter William Nack with the real Penny Chenery (who appears briefly in a crowd scene) as a consultant. Supported by a great script and fine cast, Diane Lane’s brilliant portrayal of a real living person rivals Sandra Bullock’s role in The Blind Side. Though over two hours long the film never drags, and the relatively brief racing sequences are brilliantly shot and edited, using multiple cameras following the horses, slow motion, and an interesting soundtrack including spiritual music and scripture.

___________________________________________________________________________

Consensus: Based on the inspiring true story, Secretariat is an excellent look at the famous race horse and his unlikely owner.  With great performances and spectacular footage of the races, the film is uplifting and deeply emotionally affecting. **** (Out of 4)