Seabiscuit (2003)

User Rating:

7.4/10   

Director:

Gary Ross

Writers (WGA):

Laura Hillenbrand (book)
Gary Ross (screenplay)

Release Date:

25 July 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | History | Sport

Tagline:

A long shot becomes a legend.

Plot:

True story of the undersized Depression-era racehorse whose victories lifted not only the spirits of the team behind it but also those of the nation as well.

Plot Keywords:

Admiral | Irish American | One Word Title | New York City New York | Competition

Awards:

Nominated for 7 Oscars. Another 4 wins & 32 nominations

Cast

David McCullough	...	Narrator
Jeff Bridges	...	Charles Howard
Paul Vincent O'Connor	...	Bicycle Supervisor
Chris Cooper	...	Tom Smith
Michael Ensign	...	Steamer Owner
James Keane	...	Car Customer
Valerie Mahaffey	...	Annie Howard
David Doty	...	Land Broker
Carl M. Craig	...	Sam (as Kingston DuCoeur)
Michael O'Neill	...	Mr. Pollard
Annie Corley	...	Mrs. Pollard
Michael Angarano	...	Young Red Pollard
Cameron Bowen	...	Pollard Child
Noah Luke	...	Pollard Child
Mariah Bess	...	Pollard Child

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some sexual situations and violent sports-related images.

Runtime:

141 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Australia:M | Iceland:L (original rating) | Iceland:LH (video rating) | Malaysia:U | Brazil:12 | Argentina:Atp | Canada:PG | Denmark:7 | Finland:K-7 | Germany:6 (w) | Hong Kong:IIA | Netherlands:MG6 | Philippines:G | Singapore:PG | South Korea:12 | Spain:T | Sweden:7 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Zurich) | Switzerland:12 (canton of the Grisons) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | UK:PG | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

California, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

A contraption called Equicizer was used to film the close-up action. It resembled a hobby horse. It was a mechanical horse that had springs, a wooden head and a carpet body. It was affectionately called SS Seabiscuit. In reality, it was a 12 ft by 20 ft rolling platform with a steering wheel in the rear and front. It simulated the rolling action of a running horse and yet it ran on rails around the track. It was powered by a 454 Chevy engine and could go at a speed of 40-50 mph.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Red's father calls his wife Agnes. Red's mother's name was actually Edith. Red's future wife (who we do not meet in the film) is named Agnes.

Quotes:

Narrator: [First lines] They called it the car for every man. Henry Ford himself called it a car for the great multitude. It was functional, and simple, like your sewing machine, or your cast-iron stove. You could learn to drive it in less than a day. And you could get any color you wanted...

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "How I Met Your Mother: Rebound Bro (#3.18)" (2008)

Soundtrack:

Joy in the Salvation Army

When Losers Have a Second Chance to Become Winners

After the American Depression, the millionaire Charles Howard (Jeff Bridges) gets married again with Marcela (Elizabeth Banks) and decides to invest in a race horse. He gathers the old couch Tom Smith (Chris Cooper), the problematic jockey Red Pollard (Tobey Maguire) and the horse Seabiscuit, all of them losers, and he believes on them, giving a second chance to them. Seabiscuit becomes a winner and legend in a difficult period of the American life. "Seabiscuit" is a beautiful film with positive and wonderful messages. Charles Howard has the best lines, such as: "When the little guy doesn't know that he is little, he is capable of big things"; or, "Sometimes all somebody needs is a second chance". The excellent and underrated actor Chris Cooper has probably his best performance along his career. Although having 141 minutes running time, the viewer does not feel time passing. I particularly liked not only the direction, performances, locations and reconstitution of a period, but mainly the never corny and very positive messages in the excellent lines and screenplay. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Seabiscuit – Alma de Herói" ("Seabiscuit – Soul of Hero")