First Hit: A predictable, well shot, feel good film.
In some ways it is unfortunate that I followed Secretariat’s success when it actually happened in 1973.
My in-laws always traveled to the Kentucky Derby as they were from that state and liked the whole extravaganza of the Derby.
Watching television that day I watched as Secretariat came from behind and won the race in record time. The newspaper write ups kept me interested enough to watch the subsequent two races in the Triple Crown.
This Disney production brought back those memories in spades. However knowing the story made the film lack suspensefulness for me, yet there were enough audience members who didn't know the story which created an energy in the theater that was fun to feel.
Diane Lane playing the owner Penny Chenery, John Malkovich playing unlucky trainer Lucien Laurin, Nelsan Ellis as stableman Eddie Sweat, and Otto Thorwarth as jockey Ron Turcotte made a wonderful team around this amazing horse.
This is a story about a horse being allowed to run and a woman learning about her internal strength and perseverance. The best shot of the film is the rounding of the far turn at the Belmont.
The film goes silent and camera points down the inside rail from the finish line towards the end of the turn home. There is nothing, a camera shows the faces of the race watchers, you wonder, but it is just the moment before each of them realize they are seeing perfection.
The perfection of a horse running the race of our lives and as the horse rounds the home turn the sound comes back in and we are now all in concert with the beauty of this moment.
Lane is wonderful as Penny Chenery and clearly holds the screen when the horse wasn’t the central focus. Malkovich was funny and strong as the unlucky trainer who had great horses before Secretariat but they seem to lose the big races. Ellis as the stableman was perfect in showing his internal love and belief in the horse. Thorwarth was great as the Turcotte the jockey who knew how to communicate and let this house run. Mike Rich wrote a solid and predictable script. Randall Wallace did a great job of mixing drama with the drama and beauty of a horse running.
Overall: Regardless if you saw the event when it happened, it is wonderful to relive the moment once again.