Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Secretariat (2010)

This is topic Secretariat (2010) in forum Film Handlers' Movie Reviews at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 10-24-2010, 09:27 PM:

Pretty good movie considering everybody knows exactly what's going to happen.

I thought the scenes where the owner basically jettisoned her family for the sake of the horse were treated too lightly. Could have added some more drama to the proceedings. It all seemed a little too casual.

The racing scenes were very well filmed I thought. Sound mix was great in those scenes.

The "period" details were good too except when the girl sang "Silent Night" it sounded totally 2010 with all the unnecessary extra notes thrown in there.

Overall, a solid 3 out of 5 for me. Word of mouth here is going great...Montanans love any movie with horses in it!

Posted by Darryl Spicer (Member # 711) on 10-24-2010, 11:17 PM:

The scenes leading up to and including the Belmont race were filmed here in Lexington at Keeneland race track. Some various farm scenes were filmed here too.

Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 10-25-2010, 12:03 PM:

I enjoyed it. This one will have legs (no pun intended), and should do well with the older crowd as well. Agreed with Mike's comment about the lack of attention to the fact that the main character essentially abandoned her family to run the horse farm. Apparently, they were at least somewhat supportive, but that wasn't exactly the sort of thing that a good parent would typically do.

Reviews for this seem to be very mixed, and I'm not sure why. It's a standard "crowd pleaser" sort of film--very well made, but with an entirely predictable ending. I would find it hard to imagine who would dislike this or why.

"Phar Lap" is still my favorite horse-racing film, however

Posted by Kurt Zupin (Member # 2751) on 10-27-2010, 11:01 PM:

I enjoyed it for what it was. Like said above, the outcome is known for most people enjoying it. It still managed to make you care about the racing scenes and what not. I agree that her just leaving the family wasn't handled well. It was handled in a House of Mouse way. I thought that John Malkovich was funny. Well worth the familys time on Family night for sure.

4/5 [thumbsup]

Posted by Louis Bornwasser (Member # 3063) on 10-28-2010, 07:25 PM:

Will make a good airplane film. (I mean that is a GOOD way.) Louis