Jeanskynebu the audience applauded

Dorathen Better Late Then Never

Taraparain Tells a fascinating and unsettling true story, and does so well, without pretending to have all the answers.

Allison Davies The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

Python Hyena Secretariat (2010): Dir: Randall Wallace / Cast: Diane Lane, John Malkovich, Dylan Walsh, Margo Martindale, Amanda McChalka: Secretariat was the famous winning race horse that beat incredible odds but many will likely compare it unfavorably to Seabiscuit. The comparison is warranted but that isn't to say that this film by director Randall Wallace is without its charm. Diane Lane plays Penny Chenery whose family goes through a rough patch, which leads to her taking over her father's business, which evidently involves race horses. She knows nothing of the sport but is but in contact with Lucien Laurin who, after initially refusing the offer, decides to train a foul named Secretariat whom she champions to be the next big winner. One of the big issues with this film is that these are primarily the only characters in the film that contain any personality. Lane dominates the film as a woman determined to beat a system dominated by male chauvinism this becomes corny and forced within a screenplay that travels too close to formula. John Malkovich is strong as Lucien who learns that his skill is still rewarding and that assisting the underdog has its perks. Other roles are unfortunately cardboard or boarder on stereotypes that fail to ignite much flare into the familiar screenplay that uses its true story nitch over what we have seen before. The horse race action is spectacular and energizing despite the fact that we know where this all concludes. The theme seems to regard the underdog, not just in the horse that few outsiders believed in, but also the woman who conquered the gender differences to win. Score: 6 / 10

januaryman-1 A conventional, inspiring sports story, and yet it stands out. Thank you, Walt Disney for producing it. Thank you, Randall Wallace for directing it. Thank you, Mike Rich for the screenplay. Thank you, William Nack for the book upon which the movie is based. This film is a breath of fresh air. It tells the story of the legendary racehorse, Secretariat. I remember the phenom he was in the early 70s, and his impressive story has not dimmed in the 40 years since. He was a horse that never gave up, that loved running. He was surrounded by people who believed in him. The result is an unforgettable story that is eloquently told by director Wallace. His film is tight and without excess or superfluousness. Ladd and Malkovich take on the roles of Secretariat's owner and trainer with comfort. The film is set in the early 1970s but the props and costumes are done subtly and without any hint of introduced novelty.I felt good when I finished watching Secretariat. I even read up on Secretariat afterward. He was a truly amazing horse. His Triple Crown records stand to this day.Thanks again for this movie.

rwestjr606 As someone who lived right in the middle of the whole Secretariat story, I have to say that the real life events were much more glorious than the movie. Secretariat was a larger than life animal, a Pegasus in the flesh. I have to agree with Ben Lapke's review that the movie was about Mrs. Chenery (then Mrs Tweedy) and as someone who knows and respects her for the lady that she is, if she liked the movie then that's good enough for me. Its certainly not the movie that all of us in the racing and breeding business hoped would be made about this greatest horse of the second half of the 20th Century but I think that's more due to the movie's budget. I'm sorry but you just can't substitute the backstretch of bush track Evangeline Downs for Belmont Park. The broken down barns and rusted out pick-up trucks visible while the Belmont was being run down the backstretch in the movie were embarrassing for all of us who watched that most astounding of performances in the third leg of the Triple Crown. For horse lovers, this was something akin to a religious experience; for a horse to win the first Triple Crown in 25 years by 31 lengths and lower the track record by 2 seconds (setting a new World Record in the process) was amazing. I just hope that at some point in the future, the REAL story of Secretariat will be told.

ldquinn This is a very enjoyable film for all - not a great one, but a fine way to spend a couple of hours on a cold afternoon.Then again, for the horse lovers (or inveterate gamblers) who followed the nags back then, this is an epic! Well, maybe not an epic; but, certainly, a fond reminder of a wonderful horse and a wonderful period in the racing world.Having seen the real Secretariat at Saratoga in '72 and having rooted for (and bet heavily on) Sham throughout '73, this film was a wonderful reminder of how much I loved the horses.The film is a very good portrayal of the industry, populated as it is by a myriad of characters - all odd in their own way...Diane Lane gives a fine performance as a strong woman in an era when women were just beginning to realize they could be strong.John Malkovich is perfect as the trainer, Lucien Laurin - almost washed up; but drawn back to the life for one more chance. Of course, his French accent is terrible!Dylan Walsh, as the husband, should have stayed on Nip Tuck and left well enough alone. His part was small, poorly written and poorly acted.French accent and Dylan Walsh aside, the other 99.9% of the film was very well done. If you like the horses, then see this film. If you've never followed the horses, be careful - this could make you an aficionado and drag you (and your wallet) to the track...