Secretariat: The Movie, Whoa!

[saratoga guy]

As noted earlier - I found it only "mildly entertaining", and I'd really be shocked if it pulled in much in the way of Oscar noms..

BUT, that said, again I'm rooting for the movie and I agree with what NTRA prez Waldrop had to say in a mass emailing today:

"If you feel, as I do, that even more movies should be made about great horses like Secretariat and his unforgettable owner Penny Chenery, then seeing the movie this weekend would be an excellent way to convey that message to Hollywood, which puts a lot of stock in the opening week performance of its releases."

In other words - IF YOU'RE PLANNING TO SEE THE MOVIE, OPENING WEEKEND IS THE TIME THAT YOUR $$$ WILL REGISTER THE BIGGEST BOX OFFICE PUNCH AND SEND A MESSAGE THAT RACING MOVIES CAN BE SUCCESSFUL.

[MaTH716]

Originally Posted by saratoga guy

As noted earlier - I found it only "mildly entertaining", and I'd really be shocked if it pulled in much in the way of Oscar noms..

BUT, that said, again I'm rooting for the movie and I agree with what NTRA prez Waldrop had to say in a mass emailing today:

"If you feel, as I do, that even more movies should be made about great horses like Secretariat and his unforgettable owner Penny Chenery, then seeing the movie this weekend would be an excellent way to convey that message to Hollywood, which puts a lot of stock in the opening week performance of its releases."

In other words - IF YOU'RE PLANNING TO SEE THE MOVIE, OPENING WEEKEND IS THE TIME THAT YOUR $$$ WILL REGISTER THE BIGGEST BOX OFFICE PUNCH AND SEND A MESSAGE THAT RACING MOVIES CAN BE SUCCESSFUL.

If you really think about it, they probably should hope that some die hard racing fans stay away from it, because they are going to be the most critical about it. You would think that many of the people are going to complain about footage being filmed at other tracks than the original and elements of the story that are exaggerated or wrong. If anything there is a chance that they will talk people out of going to see the film.
If this film is going to do any damage at the box office, they are going to need mainstream America's support. But even if they kill it this weekend, what possible racing movie would they really consider doing?

[saratoga guy]

Originally Posted by MaTH716

If you really think about it, they probably should hope that some die hard racing fans stay away from it, because they are going to be the most critical about it.

Even the racing pundits that have written about the film over the past few weeks have been mostly forgiving of the racing gaffes - at least so far as recognizing that the changes have been made in service to a Disney-fied story. I believe big box office numbers on opening weekend will trump any critiques offered by racing fans.

Originally Posted by MaTH716

But even if they kill it this weekend, what possible racing movie would they really consider doing?

The possibilities are virtually infinite. Don't get caught into thinking that only "true" stories will be fodder for future movies. Most movies are pure fiction -- and fiction based at the racetrack is ripe for exploiting by Hollywood (I'm looking forward to the HBO series "Luck").

[Phalaris1913]

I have read a review that suggested there was an "underdog" element to the movie. Is this true? If so, what did they have to do to contrive "underdog"-ness either for Secretariat himself or his connections?

[Indian Charlie]

Maybe they took a liberty with Turcotte and portrayed him as being in a wheelchair while riding Secretariat!

[saratoga guy]

Originally Posted by Phalaris1913

I have read a review that suggested there was an "underdog" element to the movie. Is this true?

This reviewer addresses that notion:

"...that’s kind of hard to do when your “underdog” was one of the greatest horses to ever hit the track. It’s like trying to make a football movie set in the 1970s about this plucky little team called the Dallas Cowboys."

http://host.madison.com/entertainmen...19dcce019.html

[Riot]

Well - we saw the movie tonight. Was very well made movie. 4 out of 5 stars from our "horse-world" group. Very enjoyable. Theatre was packed. Crowd applauded and cheered throughout. Everyone there seemed to love it.

That said, I don't think they got one "horsey" detail, and most of the real story, even remotely correct - the complaints about that type of thing from Haskin, Crist in their columns, etc. didn't even approach the reality in the film - it's almost as if they had no racing/horse world technical advisor at all on the set, let alone paid much attention remotely to the reality of the story.

Weird - still a very good movie! Wouldn't bother to see it again, though.

[westcoastinvader]

Originally Posted by Riot

Well - we saw the movie tonight. Was very well made movie. 4 out of 5 stars from our "horse-world" group. Very enjoyable. Theatre was packed. Crowd applauded and cheered throughout. Everyone there seemed to love it.

That said, I don't think they got one "horsey" detail, and most of the real story, even remotely correct - the complaints about that type of thing from Haskin, Crist in their columns, etc. didn't even approach the reality in the film - it's almost as if they had no racing/horse world technical advisor at all on the set, let alone paid much attention remotely to the reality of the story.

Weird - still a very good movie! Wouldn't bother to see it again, though.

That was my concern with regard to my personal motivation to see the movie in the theatre.


I think my compromise is that I'm gonna contribute to the box office.....as everyone here should as a horse racing fan......and buy some tix onliine and then no-show.

I have a lot of football to watch this weekend anyhow. It's sometimes a burden to be an Oakland Raiders season ticket holder.


I'll watch the movie in the theatre when the hype and crowds wear down.

Or I'll just buy it and watch in my living room.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by Phalaris1913

I have read a review that suggested there was an "underdog" element to the movie. Is this true? If so, what did they have to do to contrive "underdog"-ness either for Secretariat himself or his connections?

from what i've read, it involves penny chenery and her moving in a mostly male world of horse racing. i guess some of the men are portrayed in a less than flattering light.

[Merlinsky]

Secretariat had a $35 mil budget, Sebiscuit was $87 mil. Can you tell in terms of production values?

Box office is going be a bit funky this weekend. There's a Katherine Heigl movie out and she always has a shot at number one. God only knows why people still go. Women drag their bf/husband so that doubles the ticket sales. She has ability and for some reason ends up with Jennifer Aniston reject movies which I refuse to watch.

The Social Network's got good word of mouth in week 2 and is a contender for a few Oscars, especially screenplay. It and the Heigl movie are neck and neck for the lead right now, but Secretariat's not too far back. After Saturday we'll have a better idea. Initially I was disappointed it wasn't opening as big as I thought it would, then I realized all 3 movies I just mentioned would finish behind Seabiscuit's opening weekend which was a tad earlier in 2003 I think. Seabiscuit came out in 5th place its week at just under $21 mil.

[Princess Doreen]

We saw Secretariat yesterday. For those in the audience (many of whom didn't know Secretariat actually won the Triple Crown), it was a good movie. I had to squint and keep from groaning at the myriad of inaccuracies - inaccuracies that could have been avoided.

That being said, Diane Lane was superb and John Malkovich made me believe he was Lucien Lauren.

It might get people interested in horse racing if horse racing was accessible on national tv. But, what's the odds of that happening?

Also, bought the SECRETARIAT memorial book that DRF put out. Worth $10 - lots of new info and good pictures.

[RockHardTen1985]

Originally Posted by Merlinsky

Secretariat had a $35 mil budget, Sebiscuit was $87 mil. Can you tell in terms of production values?

Box office is going be a bit funky this weekend. There's a Katherine Heigl movie out and she always has a shot at number one. God only knows why people still go. Women drag their bf/husband so that doubles the ticket sales. She has ability and for some reason ends up with Jennifer Aniston reject movies which I refuse to watch.

The Social Network's got good word of mouth in week 2 and is a contender for a few Oscars, especially screenplay. It and the Heigl movie are neck and neck for the lead right now, but Secretariat's not too far back. After Saturday we'll have a better idea. Initially I was disappointed it wasn't opening as big as I thought it would, then I realized all 3 movies I just mentioned would finish behind Seabiscuit's opening weekend which was a tad earlier in 2003 I think. Seabiscuit came out in 5th place its week at just under $21 mil.

I took a guy from work to see Let Me In last night, at a small older theater... It was packed. And I think that movie has been out for a while.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by MaTH716

If you really think about it, they probably should hope that some die hard racing fans stay away from it, because they are going to be the most critical about it. You would think that many of the people are going to complain about footage being filmed at other tracks than the original and elements of the story that are exaggerated or wrong. If anything there is a chance that they will talk people out of going to see the film.
If this film is going to do any damage at the box office, they are going to need mainstream America's support. But even if they kill it this weekend, what possible racing movie would they really consider doing?

one on zenyatta!

[Cannon Shell]

Originally Posted by Danzig

one on zenyatta!

Then Ebert and company could get death threats when they call the plot unimaginative and cowardly.

[GenuineRisk]

Saw it last night. Almost so bad it's good, but not quite. Thanks for the budget numbers, Merlinsky; that explains why it looked so bad. It was either shot on a combination of film and video or entirely on video and then transferred to film (poorly). Also explains why there were so many scenes of people sitting around talking about things instead of showing those things happening. I don't think there was a single scene of Malkovich's character actually training a horse.

And the dialogue is really clunky. They should give Diane Lane an honorary Oscar just for all the as God is my witness I'll never be hungry again speeches she had to deliver.

The best part was the two people sitting behind us.
Diane Lane: "Daddy, this is Big Red."
Lady Behind Us: "I THOUGHT HIS NAME WAS SECRETARIAT."

[Merlinsky]

Originally Posted by GenuineRisk

The best part was the two people sitting behind us.
Diane Lane: "Daddy, this is Big Red."
Lady Behind Us: "I THOUGHT HIS NAME WAS SECRETARIAT."

May God inspire a woman like that to bet on racehorses. Talk about dumb money.

Yeah I did a double take when I realized the budget was so different. Another point about the shooting of the movie, I heard the director said they tried to shoot the racing with better cameras, but it looked lousy so they did it with cheap $800 cameras and it supposedly looked better. No idea how bad it must've been to not go with the original footage.

The Seabiscuit book was such a phenomenon. People who didn't normally follow the sport got interested in the film because the book was big. There's another book about a horse being adapted for the screen. Steven Spielberg's doing a film based on the novel War Horse. http://www.filmofilia.com/2010/05/06...rgs-war-horse/

[MaTH716]

Originally Posted by Merlinsky

May God inspire a woman like that to bet on racehorses. Talk about dumb money.

Yeah I did a double take when I realized the budget was so different. Another point about the shooting of the movie, I heard the director said they tried to shoot the racing with better cameras, but it looked lousy so they did it with cheap $800 cameras and it supposedly looked better. No idea how bad it must've been to not go with the original footage.

The Seabiscuit book was such a phenomenon. People who didn't normally follow the sport got interested in the film because the book was big. There's another book about a horse being adapted for the screen. Steven Spielberg's doing a film based on the novel War Horse. http://www.filmofilia.com/2010/05/06...rgs-war-horse/

I also think that people embraced Seabiscuit and Red Pollard (for that matter) because of their underdog status/story. It was a REAL likeable story that was easy to root for. There was a true high created for the end of the movie (even though they ruined it by having him come from like 20 lengths out to win).
I really believe that people who don't follow the sport can't appreciate how good Secretariat was. And from what I'm hearing the rest of the storyline around the movie sounds ficitional. So it just sounds like a tough movie to really embrace. I guess they leave the theater thinking that Big Red saved the farm, which would really detract how good he was on the track. That's bad for the sport. I would almost rather have people watch the ESPN sports century on Secretariat. I thought that was a great piece that really hit the spot on how good he was and what he really meant to Penny Chennery. Obviously if you a fan of the sport, the Bill Nack book is a must.

I still plan on seeing it, but I am really not expecting much.

[randallscott35]

Originally Posted by GenuineRisk

Saw it last night. Almost so bad it's good, but not quite. Thanks for the budget numbers, Merlinsky; that explains why it looked so bad. It was either shot on a combination of film and video or entirely on video and then transferred to film (poorly). Also explains why there were so many scenes of people sitting around talking about things instead of showing those things happening. I don't think there was a single scene of Malkovich's character actually training a horse.

And the dialogue is really clunky. They should give Diane Lane an honorary Oscar just for all the as God is my witness I'll never be hungry again speeches she had to deliver.

The best part was the two people sitting behind us.
Diane Lane: "Daddy, this is Big Red."
Lady Behind Us: "I THOUGHT HIS NAME WAS SECRETARIAT."

Disney has cut costs for years. Even their G rated flicks look cheap these days.

[Arletta]

I think I have read enough to know I will wait for it to come out on DVD.

[GenuineRisk]

Originally Posted by randallscott35

Disney has cut costs for years. Even their G rated flicks look cheap these days.

Very true. Though I still don't understand why they couldn't have gotten a better screenplay. Writers are cheap. I feel like it's giving a big middle finger to the family-friendly crowd- hey, whatever with the coherent storyline and believable dialogue they'll watch anything as long as there's no swearin' and no nekkid people.