Patman

This film is like a leisurely walk on a Sunday afternoon in the country. The film unfolds with just enough pacing to gets us to connect with the main characters, and does a nice job of making us care for them and Seabiscuit while telling this story, a reflection of resiliency, and how adversity can make you stronger and heal you faster provided you have the drive to make it happen.

I think most who see it will enjoy it.

I give it 3.5 stars, or a grade of B+.

Dr. DVD

I see this movie having staying power and possibly sticking around the top five up into mid September. Word of mouth will make this a sustained hit.

TheMadMonk

It is hard to rank this type of movie. It's not like most summer fare. So, what $ range are we talking about where this movie will be considered a huge hit, decent success, or flop?

Hmmm, I'm gonna predict that this will be a disappointment, box-office wise. Just a feeling I have, based on how little interest I have in seeing it.

Goat3001

I agree. Although the movie doesn't look *bad* I just have no interest in it. While watching trailers and commercials I just think to myself that I've seen this before.

Supreme Sean

I liked it. I didn't find the first hour to be boring, as many people are claiming. I felt it set up the three main characters perfectly, and gave us the reason to cheer for their success in the end. Bridges, Cooper, and Maguire all turn in good performances, with Cooper being the standout. The costumes are great, the cinematography pretty, and the racing sequences are cool. The only flaws I could find is this unnecessary cut from the beginning of the War Admiral race, to various old photos of people gathered around their radio sets, listening to the race. We miss the first 1/4th of the race, looking at these photos. The other flaw is a forced, and out of place voice over from Maguire's character at the end. He hadn't given a voice over throughout the whole movie, and it seemed out of place. Grade: B+

Catch 21

Too Much character development which made this movie long, but good. In the beginning, I thought I was watching the History Channel.Good movie just needed to be edited down a bit.

Matinee price

jekbrown

there seems to be a general anti-plot sentiment these days, especially (for some reason) during the summer months. I have no problem with movies that take their time and develop the plot/characters. If they don't, all the critics say "the characters were thin", if they do the movie is "to slow at the begining". Good grief, does no one else here read Clancy? Some of them books u read 200-300 pages before you really know whats going on.

At any rate, Im going to Seabiscuit today, looks like a great movie to me from what I have seen so far... and a nice breathe of fresh air compared to the standard "action from scene 1, absolutely no plot or characters worth caring about" summer "films".

j

Corvin

I saw this last night. Not sure if it was the late show I went to (twenty-five minutes after midnight) or just the movie itself, but the theater was empty. In about a 270 person theater, there were probably seven or eight people, excluding my friends and me.

But yeah, I liked it. There were some geniunely touching moments. I can see why people say the first part of the movie dragged. It did got a lot better once Seabiscuit came into the picture.

Anyway, glad I went.

Patman

For those interested in more additional information on Seabiscuit, A&E is showing "The True Story of Seabiscuit" at 9 p.m. EDT on Sunday (Tomorrow). And right before in the 8 p.m. slot is a Biography on Jeff Bridges.

jekbrown

cool deal... Im not a racing fan but from what i have read SB was an amazing horse... gonna have to watch the A&E thing to learn more..

j

Rypro 525

if you go to the senator theater in baltimore city, they are playing the original race as part of like a 6 min newsreal before the movie, so hopefully that will be on the dvd.

Dubya

I think the reason for that is that senior citizens are in bed at that time of night. They made up the probably 50% of the sold out crowd I watched it with this afternoon. It was a very good movie, and one that should be experienced with a crowd as during certain scenes there was applause, then "hear a pin drop" silence, and finally a rousing ovation at the end of the movie.

theneobez

I'll see this sometimes this week, seems rather trite but could be good I suppose. I'll just have to see it for myself and see how it is.

JayPen

Went to see it tonight, and I had to go to two different theatres to actually get a ticket. First one had 10 tickets left 15 minutes before the movie. The second had 75 tickets left 35 minutes before the movie, and the line was enormous.

Not since 'Titanic' can I remember crowds that large. I think this movie will make quite a bit of money.

Overall, I liked it a lot. 3.5 stars out of 4. It loses half a star for some loose plot points. But a definite recommend.

DRG

Great movie... the supposed "40 mintes of hell" I'd read about was quite enjoyable, actually... as I watched I thought to myself, "Man, if this is the 'lousy' part I can't wait for the 'good' part!" A nice, straightforward film with great characters. It manages to be touching without clobbering you over the head with earnestness.

Corvin

Uh, who called the first segment of the film "40 minutes of hell"?

jekbrown

I'm generally an action or comedy guy... but I have to say that seabiscuit is the best non-action movie I have seen in a loooooong time. It gets 4 stars (out of 4) from me, and I'll be surprised if it doesnt have a shot at Best Picture and Best Actor (bridges). Great great movie, I wanna go see it again. I have never been into horses or horse racing... even in the slightest... but I still really really liked this movie.

The theater was absolutely packed when I went saturday at noon... havent seen the big auditorium that full since day 1 for star wars ep 1. I really think weekend 2 is gonna smoke weekend 1 for seabiscuit, with respect to ticket sales, word is gonna get around and people are gonna go see it.

anyway, if you like movies at all, go see the 'biscuit.

j

resinrats

I seriously hate the name Seabiscuit. It makes me want to punch the damn horse for having that name. What the hell does it mean?!?! I'll avoid it just because the name is so damn stupid.

Inverse

People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.

Sea biscuit is a hard, cracker-like form of bread that sailors used to eat back during the age of sail. Another word for sea buiscuit is "Hard Tack" -- and Hard Tack was the name of Seabiscuit's father.

B.A.

I always like to think that I learn something new everyday. Thank you, I just learned something new.

Just saw it tonight. Good, solid film. ***1/2 out of *****

I liked the cast a lot. Chris Cooper, William H. Macy and Jeff Bridges never disappoint. Liked the new girl that played Bridges' second wife - she's a looker. Tobey Maguire held his own, too.

It's predictable, but it works.

movielib

I saw the movie this afternoon and, thanks to you Patman, I watched the A&E show tonight. It's a more accurate movie than most that are based on a true story. A few things were compressed or two incidents were made into one a couple times and a little drama was added here and there.

Fine movie (***½ out of ****) and excellent documentary.

Corvin

To say the least.

Patman

That's Elizabeth Banks (who played Charles Howard's 2nd wife, Marcelas), who also appears as Betty Brant in Spider-Man, and in the upcoming sequel, Amazing Spider-Man. So that's 3 consecutive films that she's been in with Tobey Maguire.

hgar78

saw this last night and i absolutely adored it! fabulous story and beautiful acting all around (especially jeff bridges). such a breath of fresh air during the summer mix, will definitely be recommending thins to everyone. BTW, the theater cheered right along and applauded at the end.

my theater was sold out and people were in line an hour before hand. and i don't mean a few people, the line was stretched around the corner (on a day that was humid as hell). i believe all yesterday's shows sold out as well.

hgar78

thank you for that great statement.