REVIEW: SECRETARIAT: PG
Some could look at the one word and dismiss this as a cliche-ridden horse flick for kids: Disney. That's what I thought about it, the feel-good story, the PG rating, it all led to a "better than direct-to-DVD so we stuck in theaters" vibe. I was definitely stereotyping, something critics are known for, and I apologize sincerely.
Most everybody knows the story, though the film's younger audience should be eager to soak up the engrossing story. The movie really isn't exactly for children, there's nothing explicit about it but the subject matter deals more with an adult subject: how Secretariat's owner struggles financially to support the horse, her somewhat crumbling relationships with her husband and her brother. She gets so involved in training this underdog horse that she loses track of her older daughter's (her other 3 children are merely props for as much attention she gives them) life as a hippie, which is pretty accurate. Diane Lane does a great job, possibly Oscar-nom worthy as owner Penny Tweedy, who's stubborn but likable and very determined. It will come to no surprise to movie fans that the ever-eccentric John Malkovich gives the film its best performance, as a fun, not ready to embrace retirement, horse race loving Lucien Laurin.
The film would definitely lose some of its steam if this was a fictional story pulled out of Disney's ever growing hat of ideas. The fact that it's 100% authentic is a nice touch and it keeps you on the edge of your seat even though most know what the outcome will be.
Rating: 8/10
Most everybody knows the story, though the film's younger audience should be eager to soak up the engrossing story. The movie really isn't exactly for children, there's nothing explicit about it but the subject matter deals more with an adult subject: how Secretariat's owner struggles financially to support the horse, her somewhat crumbling relationships with her husband and her brother. She gets so involved in training this underdog horse that she loses track of her older daughter's (her other 3 children are merely props for as much attention she gives them) life as a hippie, which is pretty accurate. Diane Lane does a great job, possibly Oscar-nom worthy as owner Penny Tweedy, who's stubborn but likable and very determined. It will come to no surprise to movie fans that the ever-eccentric John Malkovich gives the film its best performance, as a fun, not ready to embrace retirement, horse race loving Lucien Laurin.
The film would definitely lose some of its steam if this was a fictional story pulled out of Disney's ever growing hat of ideas. The fact that it's 100% authentic is a nice touch and it keeps you on the edge of your seat even though most know what the outcome will be.
Rating: 8/10
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