Secretariat

Directed by Randall Wallace; Screenplay by Mike Rich; Based on the Book by William Nack

Kind of a by-the-numbers horseracing movie, which is not bad if you like by-the-numbers horseracing movies. If you liked "Seabiscuit", "Dreamer" or "National Velvet", I'm sure you'll like this too.

Diane Lane plays Penny Chenery Tweedy, a woman who struggles to keep her dad's horse farm alive after he has a stroke and finally expires. Scott Glenn plays the aging Chris Chenery (at least I THINK he plays him. He just sits there for the most part, not moving. They could have gotten Charlton Heston for that role.). Her one last chance to save the farm is a new colt named Big Red, which will later become Secretariat.

With the help of her father's secretary, Miss Ham (Margo Martindale) and colorful trainer Lucian Laurin (John Malkovitch) they raise Big Red to be the best horse ever and the first winner of racing's triple crown since Man O' War back in the 1940's.

Is probably John Malkovitch's wardrobe and odd collection of hats which run various patterns of plaid. The combinations are quite startling at times and may scare small children and fashion designers.

Yes, I just gave away the ending. Secretariat wins the triple crown of racing. But its your own fault if you don't know that going in to the movie. Complaining I just gave away the ending of a movie based on a true story shows your own ignorance. Would you complain if I mentioned the allies successfully landed on Omaha Beach in "Saving Private Ryan"? Or that Tom Cruise does NOT manage to kill Hitler in "Valkerie"? Please. Do some reading. Stop complaining.

If this movie is not remembered for Malkovitch's wardrobe, it may be remembered for the film where Malkovitch transitioned into character actor Burgess Meredith. For years we've seen Malkovitch as cunning villians, leads or second leads. This may be the film where he eases into colorful supporting roles and steals pictures left and right.

The rest of the cast includes Fred Thompson at Bull Hancock, James Cromwell as Ogden Phipps, and most importantly, Amanda Michalka as Kate Tweedy. She and Carissa Capobianco (who plays sister Sarah Tweedy) show great promise and nice gams.