Secretariat (2010)

From NetFlix:

When Penny Chenery (Diane Lane) agrees to take over her ailing father’s thoroughbred stable, she transforms from housewife to horse breeder — and owner of the colt that will take the 1973 Triple Crown — in this dramatic biopic. The film explores Chenery’s bond with “Big Red” and depicts her rise to greatness as the “first lady of racing.” John Malkovich plays trainer Lucien Laurin, and Fred Dalton Thompson co-stars as big-shot breeder Bull Hancock.

Secretariat was an amazing horse. No other horse has ever performed as well in the Triple Crown. At the end of the film there are some information screens. Secretariat died at age 19, having sired over 600 foals (lucky horse!). After his death the autopsy revealed that his huge heart (14 pounds) was in perfect condition.

Probably it is the story of the horse itself that keeps this film afloat. We are talking real Walt Disney here (read that “corny” or “hearts on our sleeves”). At least it is a film that everyone can watch.

Dylan Walsh (the husband) will always be Mister “Nip/Tuck” for me. James Cromwell will always be the farmer who owned “Babe” the pig. He was also a very bad guy in “LA Confidential”.

But then it is always exciting to watch a well-filmed horse race.

Leave a Reply