Horse racing has been called the sport of kings. If that’s true, then “Secretariat” is true royalty. Despite being known as the most famous horse in history, Secretariat is only just now being featured in Disney’s latest movie. “Secretariat” is the first film to attempt telling the amazing story.
In true Disney fashion, “Secretariat” has something for everyone. Unfortunately, this also means the film is somewhat of a mixed bag. It clumsily balances family melodrama, social commentary and corny humor. Regardless, sports fans, horse lovers, or people looking for an old-fashioned feel-good story will undoubtedly enjoy the film. It’s definitely a movie grandparents will enjoy watching with the grandkids.
If you know anything about horse racing, you probably know a little about Secretariat and his famous run at the Triple Crown. This true tale of Penny Chenery and how she saved her ailing father’s farm by raising the greatest horse to ever race is often told through the eyes of sportswriters, naturally focusing on the exploits of the horse.
“Secretariat” seeks to find a more human face behind the record-breaking track times. Penny (Diane Lane) is the real star of the movie, competing with her horse for screen time. We see her as a typical 1960’s housewife, concerned with the caring for her family. When her mother dies, Penny finds herself caretaker of her feeble father (Scott Glenn) as well as the family horse farm. Secretariat is born soon after Penny gets rights to his ownership through an “unlucky” coin flip.
The film explains the many intricacies and traditions that go into horse breeding without becoming too dry. The mood lightens when Penny hires the eccentric Lucien Laurin (John Malkovich) to train the horse. It seems Lucien has a novelty hat, along with his unique French Canadian humor, to go with every scene.
A happy ending is expected of this Disney film, but the road there is a bumpy one. It’s excruciating to watch the tragedy and hardship piling up in Penny’s life— by the time the racing actually begins, it’s a welcome relief from the first hour of drama. It’s easy to feel the joy the characters are experiencing when Secretariat finally wins.
The race scenes themselves are exciting enough, as shots are often taken from the horse’s point of view rather than the jockey. We hear trumpets sound, beating hooves, heavy breathing, and the distant roar of the crowd. However, scenes of jubilant fans get repetitive, and frequent outbursts from the gospel choirs become distracting. Apart from Lane and Malkovich, the performances of the other actors border on stereotypical. Even when Penny’s daughter inexplicably becomes a flower child the emotion feels forced.
Ultimately, “Secretariat” is a pleasant surprise. It mostly remains conventional, occasionally telling the familiar story in an original way. The film is worth sitting through the syrupy family episodes, if only for the Kentucky Derby scenes. As Secretariat runs in slow motion with a voice over from the book of Job, it will take your breath away. It’s just too bad the horse doesn’t get more time to run onscreen.
