Chicago – There are few things more unsightly than a small-minded film that pats itself on the back for being enlightened. “Secretariat” is no more about a horse than “The Blind Side” was about a football player. Instead, both films revolve around insufferable, blonde, finger-wagging, pontificating heroines who confuse bold feminism with extreme self-absorption.
The fact both films are based on true stories is irrelevant to their inherent worth. With all the depth and nuance of a smarmy campaign ad, these films transform their remarkable source material into Bible-thumping celebrations of conservatism and Palin-esque Mama Grizzlies. “Secretariat” is such a derivative fusion of the “Seabiscuit” and “Blind Side” formulas that it occasionally plays like an “Airplane”-style parody.
Blu-Ray Rating: 2.0/5.0
Diane Lane is a fine actress, but you’d never know it on the basis of her performance as Penny Chenery Tuohy—whoops, I mean “Tweedy.” With her mother gone and her father ailing,...
The fact both films are based on true stories is irrelevant to their inherent worth. With all the depth and nuance of a smarmy campaign ad, these films transform their remarkable source material into Bible-thumping celebrations of conservatism and Palin-esque Mama Grizzlies. “Secretariat” is such a derivative fusion of the “Seabiscuit” and “Blind Side” formulas that it occasionally plays like an “Airplane”-style parody.
Blu-Ray Rating: 2.0/5.0
Diane Lane is a fine actress, but you’d never know it on the basis of her performance as Penny Chenery Tuohy—whoops, I mean “Tweedy.” With her mother gone and her father ailing,...
- 2/3/2011
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
And they’re off! Secretariat is now on Blu-ray and DVD in a wonderful combo pack. The film serves as biography of the legendary racehorse’s owner Penny Chenery, how she came to acquire the animal, and the almost impossible true story of how her champion steed became known as one of the greatest equine athletes that ever lived.
The film opens with Penny Chenery (Diane Lane), a traditional housewife and mother who is tending to her family. She then gets a call that her mother has passed away. This then results in Penny inheriting her parents’ Meadow Stables located in Virginia. Penny has no experience running a stable nor does she have any knowledge of horseracing so she enlists the help of veteran horse trainer Lucien Laurin (John Malkovich), an eccentric but highly capable individual. Joining them in their adventure is seasoned jockey Ron Turcotte (Otto Thorwarth), friend Elizabeth...
The film opens with Penny Chenery (Diane Lane), a traditional housewife and mother who is tending to her family. She then gets a call that her mother has passed away. This then results in Penny inheriting her parents’ Meadow Stables located in Virginia. Penny has no experience running a stable nor does she have any knowledge of horseracing so she enlists the help of veteran horse trainer Lucien Laurin (John Malkovich), an eccentric but highly capable individual. Joining them in their adventure is seasoned jockey Ron Turcotte (Otto Thorwarth), friend Elizabeth...
- 2/1/2011
- by Randall Unger
- JustPressPlay.net
Film: ‘Secretariat’; Director: Randall Wallace; Cast: Diane Lane, John Malkovich, Otto Thorwarth; Rating: ****
When still photography began in the early 18th century, a startling discovery was made – that for the briefest of moments all four feet of a horse are in the air i.e. a horse does not just run, it also flies. To believe it, watch ‘Secretariat’, where in one of its most stunning moments captured in super slow motion, you see the horse.
When still photography began in the early 18th century, a startling discovery was made – that for the briefest of moments all four feet of a horse are in the air i.e. a horse does not just run, it also flies. To believe it, watch ‘Secretariat’, where in one of its most stunning moments captured in super slow motion, you see the horse.
- 11/27/2010
- by realbollywood
- RealBollywood.com
Diane Lane, Nelsan Ellis, Otto Thorwarth, John Malkovich, Secretariat David Fincher's The Social Network, which features Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake, and Rooney Mara, was once again the no. 1 movie at the North American box office on Columbus Day, Monday Oct. 11, with $2.18m, as per Box Office Mojo. Up one spot at no. 2, Randall Wallace's Secretariat, starring Diane Lane and John Malkovich, grossed $1.88m. Secretariat's "rise" isn't surprising, as PG-rated films tend to perform better on weekends and holidays for obvious reasons. Down one spot, the Greg Berlanti-directed Katherine Heigl-Josh Duhamel-Josh Lucas comedy Life As We Know It came in third place with $1.7m. Both Secretariat and Life As We Know It fell below the daily $1,000-per-theater average on Monday, their fourth day out, with $612 and $541, respectively. Wes Craven's 3D horror flick My Soul to Take fell below that mark on Day 3, Sunday,...
- 10/12/2010
- by Zac Gille
- Alt Film Guide
Top critics gave new 'Secretariat' movie mostly positive reviews. Walt Disney Pictures released their new drama flick "Secretariat" into theaters today,and the top movie critics in the business seem to like it for the most part,giving it mostly As and Bs. The movie stars: Diane Lane, John Malkovich, Dylan Walsh, Scott Glenn, Dylan Baker, Margo Martindale, Nelsan Ellis, Otto Thorwarth, Fred Thompson, Aj Michalka, Kevin Connolly, Eric Lange, and James Cromwell. Wesley Morris at the Boston Globe gave it an A- rating. He said, "Lane dominates Secretariat with nothing more than confident poise." Roger Ebert at the Chicago Sun-Times gave it another A. He said, "This whole movie feels authentic." Michael Phillips at the Chicago Tribune gave it a C. He stated, "isn't bad but it's precisely what you'd expect." Owen Gleiberman from Entertainment Weekly gave it a B-. He said, "benignly inspirational.
- 10/8/2010
- by Chris
- OnTheFlix
I’m not sure what took me more by surprise, that Secretariat mostly lived up to my fairly lofty expectations, or that so many of the people in the screening I attended appeared to be completely unaware of the Secretariat story. Though it is somewhat commonplace for the crowd in a screening to politely clap at the as the credits begin to roll, it is downright unusual for this same crowd to applaud during the film, which this crowd did at least twice. That only happens if a couple of things are true: the movie actually is pretty decent, and the moments of suspense and drama are genuine.
Full disclosure here: I am somewhat of a horseracing fan and I am quite familiar with the Secretariat story. In fact, I wrote an article on this site last year begging for this movie to be made. (If you don’t mind a ton of spoilers,...
Full disclosure here: I am somewhat of a horseracing fan and I am quite familiar with the Secretariat story. In fact, I wrote an article on this site last year begging for this movie to be made. (If you don’t mind a ton of spoilers,...
- 10/8/2010
- by Ken Smithart
- FusedFilm
Secretariat
Directed by: Randall Wallace
Cast: Diane Lane, John Malkovich, Margo Martindale, Scott Glenn
Running Time: 1 hr 54 mins
Rating: PG
Release Date: October 8, 2010
Plot: A housewife (Lane) takes over the stables from her ailing father (Glenn) and thinks she has a triple crown winner in a new horse they eventually call Secretariat.
Who’S It For? Want to celebrate a strong woman in the early 70s? Love Diane Lane no matter what? Those are your main motivators. Sure, there are horses, but not as many as you would think.
Expectations: One thought kept creeping into my head, can Secretariat really contend with Seabiscuit. I knew nothing about the Seabiscuit story, where as almost everyone knows Secretariat was the last horse to win the triple crown. I mean, Espn’s SportsCentury had Secretariat at number 35 for best athletes.
Scorecard (0-10)
Actors:
Diane Lane as Penny Chenery: She’s the first lady of horse racing.
Directed by: Randall Wallace
Cast: Diane Lane, John Malkovich, Margo Martindale, Scott Glenn
Running Time: 1 hr 54 mins
Rating: PG
Release Date: October 8, 2010
Plot: A housewife (Lane) takes over the stables from her ailing father (Glenn) and thinks she has a triple crown winner in a new horse they eventually call Secretariat.
Who’S It For? Want to celebrate a strong woman in the early 70s? Love Diane Lane no matter what? Those are your main motivators. Sure, there are horses, but not as many as you would think.
Expectations: One thought kept creeping into my head, can Secretariat really contend with Seabiscuit. I knew nothing about the Seabiscuit story, where as almost everyone knows Secretariat was the last horse to win the triple crown. I mean, Espn’s SportsCentury had Secretariat at number 35 for best athletes.
Scorecard (0-10)
Actors:
Diane Lane as Penny Chenery: She’s the first lady of horse racing.
- 10/8/2010
- by Jeff Bayer
- The Scorecard Review
At last we’re off to the races with the opening of Secretariat - the rousing tale of the 1973 Triple Crown winner and the greatest race horse of all time!
Based on the novel “Secretariat: The Making of a Champion” by William Nack, Secretariat centers on Penny Chenery (Diane Lane), Secretariat’s owner, and how she broke into the “boys only club” of thoroughbred horseracing in 1969. The real Penny Chenery, now 88, even has a cameo in the film as a spectator at the Belmont Stakes race. Walt Disney Pictures decided the time was right and put the story in the very capable hands of director Randall Wallace (Man In The Iron Mask, Braveheart screenplay) and writer Mike Rich (The Rookie). With the unbelievable, mud-in-your-face cinematography of Academy Award winner Dean Semler (Dances With Wolves) and the galloping sound work of 20 time Oscar-nominee Kevin O’Connell, Secretariat is as close...
Based on the novel “Secretariat: The Making of a Champion” by William Nack, Secretariat centers on Penny Chenery (Diane Lane), Secretariat’s owner, and how she broke into the “boys only club” of thoroughbred horseracing in 1969. The real Penny Chenery, now 88, even has a cameo in the film as a spectator at the Belmont Stakes race. Walt Disney Pictures decided the time was right and put the story in the very capable hands of director Randall Wallace (Man In The Iron Mask, Braveheart screenplay) and writer Mike Rich (The Rookie). With the unbelievable, mud-in-your-face cinematography of Academy Award winner Dean Semler (Dances With Wolves) and the galloping sound work of 20 time Oscar-nominee Kevin O’Connell, Secretariat is as close...
- 10/8/2010
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Chicago – In real life, we cling to the notion that the inconceivable can happen, that magical probability can penetrate the mendacity of everyday existence, but it rarely if ever happens. That is what makes the new film “Secretariat” so appealing, that 37 years ago the impossible did happen, through the heart of a horse and his believers. Diane Lane and John Malkovich lead the charge.
Rating: 4.0/5.0
Secretariat is the horse that won the Triple Crown of racing (Kentucky Derby, Preakness, Belmont Stakes) back in 1973, and did it in a fashion that has yet to be equalled. Although it seems that everyone would know this story, the power of the achievement had been lost, until this film found it again. With the feel (complete with wooden dialogue) of a 1940s studio film, Secretariat brings together the characters, settings and drama that only a true story can muster.
Diane Lane is Penny Chenery,...
Rating: 4.0/5.0
Secretariat is the horse that won the Triple Crown of racing (Kentucky Derby, Preakness, Belmont Stakes) back in 1973, and did it in a fashion that has yet to be equalled. Although it seems that everyone would know this story, the power of the achievement had been lost, until this film found it again. With the feel (complete with wooden dialogue) of a 1940s studio film, Secretariat brings together the characters, settings and drama that only a true story can muster.
Diane Lane is Penny Chenery,...
- 10/8/2010
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
12 new photos from the upcoming racehorse drama Secretariat are now online in the Movie Photo Gallery.
Based on the remarkable true story, Secretariat chronicles the spectacular journey of the 1973 Triple Crown winner. Housewife and mother Penny Chenery (Diane Lane) agrees to take over her ailing father’s Virginia-based Meadow Stables, despite her lack of horse-racing knowledge. Against all odds, Chenery—with the help of veteran trainer Lucien Laurin (John Malkovich)—manages to navigate the male-dominated business, ultimately fostering the first Triple Crown winner in 25 years and what may be the greatest racehorse of all time…
Secretariat Movie Photo Gallery
The film also stars Scott Glenn, Dylan Walsh, and James Cromwell.
Secretariat, directed by Randall Wallace, opens in theaters October 8, 2010.
Diane Lane, John Malkovich, Dylan Baker, Nelsan Ellis and Otto Thorwarth in Walt Disney Pictures’ Secretariat
Diane Lane stars as Penny Chenery in Walt Disney Pictures’ Secretariat
Otto Thorwarth stars as...
Based on the remarkable true story, Secretariat chronicles the spectacular journey of the 1973 Triple Crown winner. Housewife and mother Penny Chenery (Diane Lane) agrees to take over her ailing father’s Virginia-based Meadow Stables, despite her lack of horse-racing knowledge. Against all odds, Chenery—with the help of veteran trainer Lucien Laurin (John Malkovich)—manages to navigate the male-dominated business, ultimately fostering the first Triple Crown winner in 25 years and what may be the greatest racehorse of all time…
Secretariat Movie Photo Gallery
The film also stars Scott Glenn, Dylan Walsh, and James Cromwell.
Secretariat, directed by Randall Wallace, opens in theaters October 8, 2010.
Diane Lane, John Malkovich, Dylan Baker, Nelsan Ellis and Otto Thorwarth in Walt Disney Pictures’ Secretariat
Diane Lane stars as Penny Chenery in Walt Disney Pictures’ Secretariat
Otto Thorwarth stars as...
- 9/13/2010
- by Allan Ford
- Filmofilia
I thought Seabiscuit was pretty good. Tobey Maguire was a bit off as the jockey, but overall, it was an enjoyable film. I dig horse racing films overall -- honestly, I just like movies about animals (as long as they're not about special ops hamsters or some other dumb shit). In any event, it's a bit of a surprise that a movie about Secretariat hasn't been made before. Arguably the most well-known race horse, Secretariat was one of only 11 horses to win the U.S. Triple Crown, and when he did it in 1973, no one had done so in 25 years. It's a pretty compelling story.
Now, Disney (of course) has a film adaptation due out, and I have to admit, the trailer looks fun. They've got a juggernaut of a cast -- Diane Lane, John Malkovich, Scott Glenn, James Cromwell, Dylan Baker, and Fred Thompson -- so it ain't exactly short on acting talent.
Now, Disney (of course) has a film adaptation due out, and I have to admit, the trailer looks fun. They've got a juggernaut of a cast -- Diane Lane, John Malkovich, Scott Glenn, James Cromwell, Dylan Baker, and Fred Thompson -- so it ain't exactly short on acting talent.
- 5/5/2010
- by TK
Have a first look at images from Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures' "Secretariat" starring Diane Lane, John Malkovich, Dylan Walsh, Scott Glenn, Dylan Baker, Margo Martindale, Nelsan Ellis, Otto Thorwarth, Fred Thompson, Aj Michalka, Kevin Connolly, Eric Lange and James Cromwell. Based on the remarkable true story, "Secretariat" chronicles the spectacular journey of the 1973 Triple Crown winner. Housewife and mother Penny Chenery (Diane Lane) agrees to take over her ailing father’s Virginia-based Meadow Stables, despite her lack of horse-racing knowledge. Against all odds, Chenery—with the help of veteran trainer Lucien Laurin (John Malkovich)—manages to navigate the male-dominated business, ultimately fostering the first Triple Crown winner in 25 years and what may be the greatest racehorse of all time...
- 4/28/2010
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Walt Disney Pictures has brought online the trailer for and provided ComingSoon.net with the first photos from director Randall Wallace's Secretariat , starring Diane Lane, John Malkovich, Dylan Walsh, Scott Glenn, Dylan Baker, Margo Martindale, Nelsan Ellis, Otto Thorwarth, Fred Thompson, Aj Michalka, Kevin Connolly, Eric Lange and James Cromwell. The film opens on October 8. Based on the remarkable true story, Secretariat chronicles the spectacular journey of the 1973 Triple Crown winner. Housewife and mother Penny Chenery (Lane) agrees to take over her ailing father's Virginia-based Meadow Stables, despite her lack of horse-racing knowledge. Against all odds, Chenery--with the help of veteran trainer Lucien Laurin (Malkovich)--manages to navigate the male-dominated business,...
- 4/28/2010
- Comingsoon.net
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