Beautiful, Inspiring and Touching. Seabiscuit lives up to the hype
Despite the fact that the first 20 minutes of the film feel a little drawn out, Seabiscuit grabs your attention and doesn’t let it go for the next 2 hours. It’s not an action film (although the race sequences are exciting), it’s really a character film that revolves around 3 people and a very special horse that brings something out of each of them. Each of the three characters have in their own way been beaten down by life and have hit their own versions of rock bottom before Seabiscuit brings them together and inspires something profound in each of them.
Despite what the marketing department would have you believe, the main character of this movie that really anchors the film is not Tobey Maguire’s character, nor is it the horse. The character of Charles Howard, brilliantly played by Jeff Bridges, is the central character around whom the rest of the story is set in motion. Charles Howard represents an endless hope and optimism even in the face of unbearable pain and loss in his life. His hope is so radiant that it becomes contagious and draws in the other 2 major characters. What happens after that is just a beautiful story to watch unfold, even if the film is a little too long. Do yourself a favor and go see this one instead of the other drivel that’s currently in the theaters.
