Penny Chenery
came to run her father's horse ranch after her mother passed away. She picks upon a horse that would become the legendary
race horse Secretariat that would break racing records and win the Triple Crown of horse races (including the Kentucky Derby).
Penny is a housewife who risks everything and lives two lives over several years (going back and forth between
the horse races and her family in Colorado).
It is an inspiring film about people risking to go for their
dreams no matter what others say. Diane Lane and John Malkovich are great in this movie while the horse racing scenes
are shot with plenty of suspense. SECRETARIAT is a good inspirational film for the entire family. It's drama
tells the story while hitting the right beats and make you care for Chenery's struggle and see history unfold about a horse
that made racing history. Malkovich plays good eccentric characters (this time a French Canadian who fails to retire
from horse training and keeps news clipping of the races his horses lost). He and Lane play off each other
while the film shows the horse as yet another character (Secretariat was known to pose for pictures). You will
want to check this one out on Blu-ray or DVD.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
The Blu-ray has more extras than the DVD and I wish Disney quit cutting
back so much on what extras they put on the DVD (while leaving the rest for just the Blu-ray).
3 deleted scenes (with introduction
and optional audio commentary by Randall Wallace) are scenes he liked and just couldn't fit into the final film. The
Blu-ray has four additional deleted scenes.
HEART OF THE CHAMPION is a featurtte about the true story that the film
is based on with footage from the actual horse races and interviews with the people the actors played.
Also on the DVD is
a music video. I do wish some of the Blu-Ray extras like the audio commentary for the film were
included on the DVD.
FINAL ANALYSIS: SECRETARIAT is an engaging true story. It makes you live the challenges
Penny Chenery went through to train and race a legendary horse. I wish Disney had more extras on the DVD.
this DVD review is
(c)1-24-2010 David Blackwell and cannot be reprinted without permission. send all comments to feedback@enterline-media.com
