Wick's Review

Summary - Good 3.0

Malkovich, Lane and the Greatest Horse Ever, what could go wrong? Nothing, it turns out, although Secretariat never pulls a Secretariat, turning promise into triumph. Perhaps because it’s a Disney production – reverential to a fault – or perhaps because of its mildly precious dialogue.

Still it’s an amazing story, well presented and very well acted. For fans of sports movies, and for anyone who remembers what a spectacular sensation Big Red – er, Secretariat – was, it’s a worthwhile viewing experience, enjoyable and plenty interesting.

Acting - Great 4.0

Diane Lane is magisterial as Penny Chenery, a tony housewife who fills the considerable shoes of her tremendously successful Father. Lane’s well contained performance largely consists of expressions that range from astonishment to bemusement, generally delivered via tight smiles of fortitude. Acting!

John Malkovich sinks his chompers into the role of Lucien Laurin, Secretariat’s eccentric trainer. Malkovich is perfect for any role combining eccentricity and egotism.

The large supporting cast are quite good:

• Fred Thompson and James Cromwell as aristocratic breeders.
• Dylan Walsh as a traditional husband.
• Margo Martindale, a great character actress, as the secretary who named Secretariat.
• Otto Thorwarth, veteran of nearly 1,500 races, conveys jockey Ronny Turcotte’s pugnaciousness.
• Kevin Connolly as prolific Sports Illustrated writer William Nack.

Watch for the real Penny Chenery, who gets a moment as an extra towards the end.

Film - OK 2.5

Sports biopics must wrestle with the limits of a preordained story, no matter how exceptional the athlete. This one fails to overcome the challenges of the genre, in somewhat similar fashion as did The Express.

Yet it does include several nice touches, for instance establishing that jockey Ronnie Turcotte once raced a horse so intensely, its heart exploded. Would he do the same to Secretariat the film asks? Of course not, as anyone familiar with the story of this superhorse knows.

As it turns out, Secretariat’s heart probably weighed 22 pounds, or about two-and-a-half times as large as that of the average horse, according to Wikipedia. Talk about the heart of a champion!

Edge - Tame 1.2

Reality - Glib 1.1

The story is interesting in part due to the lens it opens into the blue blood world of thoroughbred owners.

As for Secretariat himself, we’re talking the first Triple Crown winner in 25 years, a superhorse who still holds the speed records for the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes. His 31 length margin-of-victory in the Belmont was so exuberantly over-the-top that “pulling a Secretariat” connotes crushing domination in the face of great expectation. 31 lengths in the third race of the Triple Crown! Superhorse indeed.

2 Comments

• Wick Jun 3, 2011 8:48PM

  Regarding BigdaddyDave’s Review
  Happy to see you liked it BigD. Looks like you came to a pretty similar conclusion as me.

• BigdaddyDave Mar 5, 2011 12:05PM

  Regarding Wick’s Review
  Nice review Wick. It’s now on my must see list.

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