Seabiscuit 2003

Terry Lawson, Detroit Free Press: What Seabiscuit lacks in weight it makes up for in its old-fashioned faith that Americans will always embrace the underdog, always look to a brighter future and always bet on themselves. Read more

Connie Ogle, Miami Herald: A genuinely inspirational film. Read more

Richard Roeper, Ebert & Roeper: If you've been waiting all summer for a story that doesn't rely on explosions, car chases and computer-generated effects, here it is. Read more

Moira MacDonald, Seattle Times: Its likable cast makes up for any shortcomings. Read more

Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune: Sleek, beautiful and packed with emotion, not too flashy but full of heart, this is a movie worthy of its unlikely yet glorious subject. Read more

A.O. Scott, New York Times: Seabiscuit grew out of a restless, populist strain in American culture. Seabiscuit, decorous to a fault, pays tribute to that spirit without partaking of it. Read more

Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader: I found this film stultifyingly self-important and, despite the regularity with which it cuts to the chase, weirdly static. Read more

Eleanor Ringel Gillespie, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Much like the horse it celebrates, Seabiscuit outruns its problems and comes home a winner by a nose. Read more

Ty Burr, Boston Globe: Seabiscuit is a triumph. Read more

Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times: It is not as exceptional a film as the reality deserves, but with a story this strong and races this expertly re-created, it squeezes out a victory by being as good a movie as it needs to be. Read more

Fred M. Faour, Houston Chronicle: A movie that has as much heart as Seabiscuit himself. Read more

Paul Clinton (CNN.com), CNN.com: Seabiscuit is a good movie, but it could have been a great one -- it just misses by a nose. Read more

Lisa Kennedy, Denver Post: The real find of the film is Gary Stevens as George Woolf, the famous jockey who steps in at a crucial moment for his friend Pollard. Read more

Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly: A rare pedigreed entrant in a summer of mules. Read more

Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail: A well-crafted assemblage of pathos and rousing moments, solidly acted and handsomely shot -- but it's far from champion material. Read more

Chris Vognar, Dallas Morning News: A handsomely mounted Hollywood affair with a can't-miss story. Read more

Ella Taylor, L.A. Weekly: Likable but hopelessly folksy. Read more

Jan Stuart, Newsday: Despite the mugging from Macy and sparks of genuine turmoil generated by the ever-surprising Maguire, there isn't a spontaneous moment in the whole picture. Read more

David Ansen, Newsweek: [It] may be too airbrushed for its own good, but in the end nothing can stop this story from putting a lump in your throat. Read more

Peter Rainer, New York Magazine/Vulture: Watching this movie, you get the feeling that the Depression existed so that Seabiscuit could be memorialized. Read more

Bob Campbell, Newark Star-Ledger: Seabiscuit is resoundingly well made and emotionally satisfying. Read more

Jami Bernard, New York Daily News: Seabiscuit the movie gets it right -- not only providing exciting, saddle's-eye-view racing scenes, but also recalling the Depression era when 'the Biscuit' came from behind and gave the suffering nation hope. Read more

Rex Reed, New York Observer: If you don't go away entertained, informed and sated with satisfaction, you need to have your pulse checked to see if you still have one. Read more

Andrew Sarris, New York Observer: [Seabiscuit] clicks on all cylinders as a technical achievement in re-creating a piece of racetrack history, though its larger sociological statements are more than a little overblown and oversimplified. Read more

James Berardinelli, ReelViews: Even though Seabiscuit is a little on the long side, it works more often than not. Read more

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: Seabiscuit will satisfy those who have read the book, and I imagine it will satisfy those like myself, who have not. Read more

Charles Taylor, Salon.com: Hillenbrand's Seabiscuit is for the ages. Ross' version is designed to last only until the next Oscar season rolls around. Read more

Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle: A faithful, loving piece of work. Read more

David Edelstein, Slate: The best thing about Seabiscuit is that it will make a lot of people hungry to read the book. They've seen the pretty pictures; now they'll want to enter the world. Read more

Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune: Even if thundering hoofbeats don't automatically electrify you, you'll be tempted to cheer when the dark horse crosses the finish line first. Read more

St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Read more

Geoff Pevere, Toronto Star: Like a Ken Burns documentary relieved of the burden of accuracy, this is history as a warm bath you slip into for a while before stepping back into the chill of the present. Read more

Trevor Johnston, Time Out: For a film about an unfancied underdog, Seabiscuit is just far too pleased with itself. Read more

Mike Clark, USA Today: Writer/director Gary Ross' movie isn't grand, but it's very good. Read more

Robert Koehler, Variety: Read more

Todd McCarthy, Variety: Respectable when it should be thrilling, honorable when it should be rough and ready. Read more

J. Hoberman, Village Voice: Cerebral populism aside, there's some moderately exciting action here. Read more