Review of Secretariat (2010) by Arkä M — 07 Feb 2011

I don't give out five stars unless the movie in my personal opinion moved me to such extent as to shout from the rooftops how wonderful it was! The acting, dialogue, musical score, everything about it is a class act! This is what one critic had to say which I concur with:

"Secretariat earns its best accolades for asking even larger questions as it highlights the story not just of a terrific horse but of his greatest champion, owner Penny Chenery, portrayed with grace, edge and a growing sense of self by Diane Lane." Diane Lane steals the show as Penny Chenery- a devoted mother and housewife who inherits a horse farm after her parents passed away. There was incredible pressure on her to sell both the farm and the horses but she saw something special in this one horse and decided to risk it all. She is courageous and persistent and with the help of Lucien Laurin (played by Malkovich) - Secretariat's trainer, Ronnie Turcotte (Otto Thorwarth) the jockey and Eddie Sweat (Nelsan Ellis) the caretaker, Ms Penny Chenery navigates the male-dominated business and achieves the impossible, the unthinkable, the amazing feat of having a race horse WIN the Triple Crown! The horse that plays Secretariat also steals the show no doubt, especially how he enjoyed posing for the camera, the looks he gives his owner Ms Chenery- its as if both could communicate with each other! Despite knowing from the very beginning how this movie ends, its a joy to watch. Lane nails the character perfectly, she is a class act in this motion picture and she wins you over in the first 20 mins; so does Secretariat. Watching him race in the last 15 minutes will leave you in awe- he managed to cross the finish line so well ahead of the competition that in the 37 years since Secretariat won the Triple Crown his winning time in the Belmont Stakes and his margin of victory have never been approached. It was a magical moment, what legends are made of!! Secretariat finished in 1973 with four more victories and retired to the Hancock's Claiborne Farm in Kentucky where he sired more than 600 foals. Ms Penny Chenery saved her family and her farm and lives happily in Colorado. The closing credits soundtrack was phenomenal and everything about this motion picture felt so genuine, so real, like the heart of a champion. So inspirational, you WILL cheer for SECRETARIAT and his statue stands tall and strong at the entrance to Churchill Downs- home of the Kentucky Derby. He is the greatest race horse that ever lived...Added to my private collection and two thumbs way up for this compelling, incredible, true story of triumph and victory! HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!