Page 16 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • October 20, 2010 ‘Secretariat’ has great races, but ultimately disappoints by Dennis Seuling “Secretariat,” the new Disney family-friendly movie, is about the 1973 Triple Crown winner. No horse had won the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness, and the Belmont Stakes in 25 years when Secretariat did the near-impossible. The thoroughbred’s combination of speed and endurance made him a once-in-a-lifetime champion, so it’s reasonably fitting that a feature film tells his story. Penny Chenery (Diane Lane) returns to her childhood Virginia home when her mother dies. She finds her father (Scott Glenn) in deep depression and his horse ranch in dire financial condition. Penny has a husband and four kids in Colorado, but wants to stay awhile to look after her father and see to the day-to-day running of the ranch. One of the horses, Big Red, has excellent lineage and looks like he might be a contender for some of the big races, but there are problems. Penny discovers that the ranch’s trainer is not working in the interests of her father. She fires him and hires Lucien Laurin (John Malkovich), a man who knows horses, but has terrible taste in clothes. The movie takes viewers through the ups and downs of Big Red’s journey from the comfort of his home to his various races. The more he runs, the more his value increases, and Penny is offered millions. Selling him would help con- Diane Lane, Nelsan Ellis, Otto Thorwarth, and John Malkovich in ‘Secretariat.’ State Line 375 State Highway 17 North, Mahwah Open 24 Hours, 7 Days Join Us For Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner The Best Got Better! Diner - Restaurant 201-529-3353 siderably with the ranch’s tax burden and other bills, but Penny refuses. She knows he has the makings of a champion and wants to take him all the way to victory. On his rise to fame, his name is changed to Secretariat. On the plus side, director Randall Wallace (“Braveheart”) has created some exciting race sequences, managing to create suspense even though everyone knows the outcome. There are genuine thrills when the cameras are practically on the hooves of the horses as they break out of the starting gate or run neck-and-neck down the final stretch. Lane is very good as Penny, though the script often undermines the character. She is competent, intelligent, willing to take big risks, and focused, but there are great stretches of time when she is away from her family. Her husband, Jack (Dylan Walsh), gets mildly upset at her frequent absences, but the issue is conveniently sidestepped. Lane brings a credibility to Penny, a resolve, and a stubbornness likely inherited from her father. She loves horses, knows them, and functions in a Boys Club of other horse owners. Her strong will, dedication, and pursuit of a personal dream are perfect ingredients for an inspirational Disney movie. There are other good performances as well: James Cromwell as horse owner and breeder Ogden Phipps, Fred Dalton Thompson as family friend Bull Hancock, Dylan Baker as Penny’s brother Hollis, and Kevin Connolly as sports reporter Bill Nack. “Secretariat” is a film with overreaching aspirations, but is no cinematic champ. Rather than avoid clichés, the movie seems to wallow in them, whether in Lucien’s quirky behavior, cloying close-ups of spectators’ awestruck expressions, a boorish owner/competitor more suited for a role on “The Sopranos,” a groom who walks onto the Belmont track at dawn to shout out his encouragement to no one in particular and, worst of all, a repeated soundtrack rendition of the gospel hymn “Oh Happy Day,” an audience head pounding so we understand the horse is inspiring those around him. We get it! This ill-chosen music is especially ludicrous when Secretariat is being lovingly washed by Penny and groom Eddie Sweat (Nelsan Ellis). Horses, especially thoroughbreds, are beautiful animals, but they do not make the same connection with audiences that dogs do. A viewer can admire a horse, marvel at his speed and grace, root him on, and cheer his triumphs, but there is no real emotional connection as there is with an appealing dog actor. “Secretariat” is a disappointing movie. His story is certainly dramatic, but his owner remains little more than a nice woman who decided that maintaining a home was not enough for her and became the power behind the horse’s Triple Crown win. Money, which is a huge factor in raising and racing thoroughbreds, is mentioned only fleetingly and (continued on Crossword page) Now Serving Cocktails, Espresso & Cappuccino $ 00 On $10.00 and over. With this coupon only. One Coupon per table. 5:00 to 9:00 pm only. Off 1 $ 00 VT On $20.00 and over. With this coupon only. One Coupon per table. 5:00 to 9:00 pm only. Off 2 VT The Fyke Nature Association has planned several events and field trips for the coming weeks. On Oct. 22, Bert and Jeff Holt will present “The Rarest of the Rare: The Composite Prints of John James Audubon’s Birds of America” at the associations’ monthly meeting. The session will be held at 8 p.m. at the Wyckoff Public Library, 200 Woodland Avenue, Wyckoff. Learn more about these unique prints and the story behind “Birds of America.” Join Fyke for “Ducks at Dusk” on Oct. 24 at the Celery Farm Natural Area on Franklin Turnpike, Allendale. Participants will meet at the Warden’s Watch platform at 5:30 Fyke announces upcoming events p.m. Registration is required; contact Mike Limatola at (201) 739-8062 or mike.limatola@gmail.com. Fyke invites interested hawk watchers to Sunrise Mountain on Oct. 30. The group will meet on site at 10 a.m. or at the Allendale Municipal Building at 8:30 a.m. to carpool. 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