Written by Amanda Hourt
Horse movies have come a long way since “National Velvet.” Disney’s “Secretariat,” based on the true story of a horse of that name, is not an average horse movie. From the beginning quote taken from Isaiah to the high school-aged hippie actress, the viewer knows the story is deeper than just a horse race.The big picture is essentially of a woman who tries to gain respect as a racehorse owner and breeder, despite being a female in a male-dominated industry. Actress Diane Lane (“The Perfect Storm”) plays Penny Chenery-Tweedy, a housewife living in the early 1970s, trying to take care of her father, who is ailing from dementia after her mother’s death. Tweedy takes over her father’s horse racing and breeding business. Through a stroke of luck, a horse of rare value is born to their stables, a horse with which Tweedy immediately identifies. From that point on, the viewer is enthralled by a story that is just as much about a woman proving herself to the world as it is about a horse trying to do the same.What viewers will appreciate most about “Secretariat” is that it stands out from the dozens of horse flicks that Hollywood has already sold. “Seabiscuit” was a good movie, “Black Beauty” was good, “Spirit” was good — they are all decent; but “Secretariat” has a story so much deeper that it cannot be classified on the same level as those films.The movie is not perfect, however. The teenage hippie daughter does not fit into the story. If there were someone in the family who died in Vietnam, then it might work. However, the war is only addressed by the girl, and she has too minor of a role for the producer to justify her as a subplot.If you are considering running off to see “Secretariat,” then go for it. Be sure to remember that Tweedy sees Secretariat as an analogy for herself, because otherwise it might seem strange that she becomes so obsessed with the horse. “Secretariat” is an inspirational story that could be trivialized by the brainless movie goer, so be sure to take the gray matter along with you to the theater.One more suggestion is to enjoy the film. It’s supposed to be entertaining, so don’t see it if you are cynical about watching horses galloping in slow motion. For the rest of you — race you there!
