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 their nation.

Plot Keywords:

Seabiscuit | Jockey | Horse | Wheelchair | Profanity

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:

Anachronisms: Before Seabiscuit and Red's first race, when Seabiscuit is being loaded into the starting gate, you can see the Santa Anita racetrack sign in the background, with a digital scoreboard. Digital scoreboards were first manufactured in the 1980's.

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 Postal 2: Apocalypse Weekend (2005) (VG)

Soundtrack:

Everloving

Sea of emotion!

"Sea Biscuit" is a story about a long shot horse and a man who discover each other on the road to equestrian glory. An extremely rewarding journey though the lives of man and beast. Every aspect of human emotion, bonding and courage is explored with an "equine" tinge. Set in a time when horse racing is more passion than business, Seabiscuit glorifies the positive appeal of horse racing. Every derby event is an emotional doorway which lifts your spirits. Be it the Santa Anita or the Pimilco, you are just just hanging on the edge of your seat praying , vying and hoping for a Seabiscuit win. Such is the emotional grasp and visual brilliance of Gary Ross's direction and Scwartzman's cinematography. Being a thoroughbred race horse by birth, Seabiscuit treads the race track under the watchful eyes of trainer Tom smith( played by Chris Cooper ) and jockey Red Poddard( played by Tobey Mcguire ). What follows is a sequence of predictable vicissitudes. Why ! This movie wasn't advertised in the mystery genre either!

A frail looking (really) Tobey manages to deeply bond with the horse at least on screen, kudos indeed. Nobody else could have possibly fit into his role as well as he did, physically too. Chris Cooper is the silent marvel. There is a completely subtle tinge to his acting which lays low, yet beautifully exuberates class. Seabiscuit is simply one of those "silent' movies which just hurtles you beyond imaginable frontiers. Sit back and relax and let the long shot consume you.