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David Dodd

David Dodd is a Reader contributor. See staff page for published articles.

Seabiscuit

This film failed. It should have won a Razzy for worst adaptaion of a book into a screenplay. Of course, Laura Hillenbrand's book was also slightly flawed, but she tried a lot harder than did this film. The Tijuana aspect of this story - which was a thousand times larger than the film cared to demonstrate - was lost in attempts at stoic footage of trainer and jockey and owner, none of which have nearly as much to do with the horse as most people think. If you don't believe me, watch Zenyatta (same running style, same showmanship) next time she races, and you'll see that it's all about her. To her credit, Hillenbrand got a lot of things right about the history of Agua Caliente, and for that alone I admire her efforts. Unfortunately, the film didn't catch them. The direction does nothing to focus on the horse and everything to focus away from it. Bridges is Bridges, playing a character that isn't really a character. In this, he could've been a cardboard cut-out. Most owners are far more vocal, and far more commandeering concerning their horses. Chris Cooper, well, there is only so much one can do portraying a hermit trainer. Stevens was good, I was surprised at how well he handled what was expected of him by expecting nothing. Should he want it, perhaps a script with better writing and direction with a truer purpose concerning the game of thoroughbred horse racing awaits somewhere beyond all of this. So long as it's not another film just like this one.
— September 15, 2010 4:30 a.m.

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