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Seabiscuit [DVD] [Canadian; 100th Anniversary]

1 disc
Region 1 USA/CA (info)

Laura Hillenbrand's best-selling nonfiction novel comes to life with this spectacular big-screen adaptation. Set in the 1930s, SEABISCUIT weaves its story around three men who turned a seemingly untamable horse into a bona fide champion. Jeff Bridges is Charles Howard, a thriving entrepreneur who gives horse racing a shot when his wife leaves him after the death of their son. Chris Cooper is Tom Smith, a mumbling, sensitive horse trainer who sees the untapped potential of Seabiscuit hiding under his flawed outer shell. Tobey Maguire is Red Pollard, a stubborn, oversized jockey who is determined to prove to the world that he has what it takes to be a champion. Together, these men use their individual gifts to mold Seabiscuit into a national icon, culminating in a showdown with Triple Crown winner War Admiral. But when Red breaks his leg riding another horse, Howard must call in George Woolf (played by real life jockey Gary Stevens) to keep the dream alive.

In adapting Hillenbrand's celebrated novel, writer-director Gary Ross condensed many of the book's characters and events yet his film retains the inspirational spirit of the source material, resulting in a crowd-pleasing, feel-good drama that will have audiences cheering all the while.
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Credits

Tobey Maguire, Toby Maguire, Jeff Bridges, Chris Cooper, Elizabeth Banks, Gary Stevens, William H. Macy, W. H. Macy
Critic Reviews

"..[The film] beautifully re-creates everything from Acapulco's brutal racing scene to that celebrated match race..."
Los Angeles Times
"...The immaculately-looking picture intercuts telling moments in the lives of the three men whose lives would intersect so decisively..."
Variety
"...Maguire uses his natural wariness like an all-purpose tool....When he's on a horse, Maguire becomes a different, energized animal -- and the whole movie surges ahead..."
Entertainment Weekly
"...A coolly rendered, impressively crafted telling of a blood-stirring story..."
USA Today
"...The races are tremendously exciting....Bridges anchors the film with simplicity and strength..."
Rolling Stone
"...The camerawork, gorgeous throughout, is particularly thrilling in the pic's racing scenes..."
Box Office
"...It's beautifully detailed and it boasts some truly eye-popping racing sequences..."
Film Comment
"The three leads all give careful, affecting performances..."
Sight and Sound
"[Bridges] projects a winning affability and intrinsic decency."
Premiere