'Secretariat' review

Diane Lane (Credit: John Bramley/Disney)

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In 1973, Secretariat became the first winner of the horse racing Triple Crown in 25 years. His remarkable journey to success was backed by housewife Penny Chenery Tweedy (Diane Lane), who assumed control of her family’s horse racing interests after her father (Scott Glenn) passed away. With a stubbornness that might have seemed insane if things turned out differently, Penny ignored the objections of her husband (Dylan Walsh) and brother (Dylan Baker) and convinced veteran trainer Lucien Laurin (John Malkovich) to help Secretariat go all the way.

The buzz: As an inspirational true story from the sports world with a determined female lead, “Secretariat” has already earned comparisons to last year’s breakout hit “The Blind Side.” Screenwriter Mike Rich has previously written true sports movies “The Rookie” and “Radio” and director Randall Wallace was nominated for an Oscar for writing “Braveheart.” He also directed “We Were Soldiers,” and wrote “Pearl Harbor” (oops!).

The verdict: “Secretariat” is a cheesy, square, emotional button-pusher that often feels like a Disney movie from the era it’s set in—and that old-fashioned appeal actually works in its favor. It earns eye-rolls and cheers in equal measure. There’s nothing sophisticated about Lane’s earnest portrayal of Penny standing up to horse racing's old boys club or Malkovich’s characteristically quirky turn as a hard-headed know-it-all. Yet their performances overcome the movie’s clunky dialogue and sappy music to locate real heart in the usual thrill-of-victory/agony-of-defeat sports playbook. Margo Martindale and Nelsan Ellis lend strong support as Penny’s closest allies, and, together with Lane and Malkovich, radiate enough warmth to give human stakes to the ready-made underdog story. Wallace brings a thrilling urgency to the horse races—frequently putting the audience right on the track with shots from the jockey’s and horse’s point of view—and builds a steady momentum through the Triple Crown victories. “The Blind Side” comparison isn’t really fair—especially since “Secretariat” is a superior film—but if audiences can embrace a saccharine, whitewashed movie like that, they must have room for the winning formula on display here.

Did you know? Secretariat was the only non-human to make ESPN’s list of the 100 greatest athletes of the 20th Century. He placed 35.

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