This week, I take off my handicapping cap and put on my movie critic cap and give my review of the new motion picture; Secretariat. I move into a field that my late father; Bill Hoffman enjoyed, films from the wide screen. This subject I know a little about and this particular movie I’m well versed in the background story. So the anticipated opening last weekend got me out to the theatre and here’s my assessment of this new Disney movie about the greatest thoroughbred of all time.
I was nine years old the year Secretariat won the Triple Crown. The event was big enough for me to remember and through the years, I learn about the people behind the story of his success. Besides the horse, the main character was a woman and at that time period in history this was significant. The portrayal of Penny Chenery Tweedy by actress Diane Lane was very good. It showed how a married woman and mother of four children could go from a housewife in the 70’s to a business-wise woman, cast into the man dominated world of thoroughbred racing. The sport of kings was led by the famous names in the early 70’s and this was not your typical owner or trainer. Her family farm; Meadow Stable had fallen on hard times early in that decade. But did have a champion horse before Secretariat. This part was omitted from the film, but her family campaign champion; Riva Ridge in 1972 and 1973 along with Secretariat.
The portrayal of her trainer Lucien Laurin was excellently done by John Malkovich. It showed his quirkiness and flamboyant style. The French-Canadian trainer with his wildly colored suits wasn’t your typical trainer in thoroughbred racing during this time period. He wasn't like the Kentucky “bluebloods”, Laurin was one of a kind and played an important role in the story. His counterparts were portrayed as hard-nosed no nonsense horse people. The accurate portrayal of Ogden Phipps, Bull Hancock and Frank “Pancho” Martin as the owners and trainer that led the sport during this time period was well depicted.
The blending of Penny Chenery Tweedy’s family life and the story of this great race horse makes the perfect movie. Secretariat was a one of a kind animal with great bloodlines, the will to win and the talent that no horse since then has shown. His magical season of 1973 has not been duplicated since and may never be. The racetrack scenes could have been better depicted though, especially the final scene of his greatest achievement. While his races at Aqueduct, Saratoga and Churchill Downs were close to accurate, the portrayal of Belmont Park was not quite the same. For the film, the scenes from the Belmont Stakes were shot at Keeneland racetrack in Kentucky . Belmont Park is a unique track because of its mile and an half circumference. Watching the scene of his race in the Belmont Stakes really did not do justice in his overwhelming victory in history. The scene portrayed for his Preakness Stakes victory in the movie with original footage would have been much better used for the final scene of the movie and his 31 length victory. The new movie scene incorporated with original footage would have brought out the real essence of that historic achievement. This is the only thing I would have changed in the movie. Other than that, Secretariat was a thoroughly enjoyable movie with a great story for all to see, presented in a way that even the non-horse racing could enjoy. It blended in all the elements that made Secretariat, the legend that he is. It's a four-star movie and I highly recommend to all.
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