Secretariat: The Movie, Whoa!

[GBBob]

Originally Posted by saratoga guy

I'm getting anxious to see what happens over the next few days - as the mainstream reviews roll out -- and then next weekend when the film opens... Because I was hardly impressed by it, and that was completely excusing the racing-related gaffes. I certainly don't agree at all that "You wouldn't think it was Disney one bit." I think it has Disney written all over it. I found it hokey and I thought the (limited) budget showed (Evangeline for Saratoga???).

So my prediction is for a short, undistinguished theater-run.

But, I'll be happy to be wrong. And clearly some of the early reviews are in disagreement with me.

So this next week should prove interesting.

But..everything you are critical of the general population either a) Won't know or B) Will eat it up..Look...exposure is exposure and given the choice between a hokey Disney piece on Secretariat and an open piece on Horse Racing by Oliver Stone...I'll take hokey. There have been so many ridiculous 'baseball" movies..most involving Kevin Costner..over the years that as a baseball purist, make me vomit, but the GP loves that crap. Horse Racing needs more drivel and less reality sometimes.

[blackthroatedwind]

Originally Posted by GBBob

But..everything you are critical of the general population either a) Won't know or B) Will eat it up..Look...exposure is exposure and given the choice between a hokey Disney piece on Secretariat and an open piece on Horse Racing by Oliver Stone...I'll take hokey. There have been so many ridiculous 'baseball" movies..most involving Kevin Costner..over the years that as a baseball purist, make me vomit, but the GP loves that crap. Horse Racing needs more drivel and less reality sometimes.

But who's going to see the movie and then go to the track?

I don't see how it sells. I hope I'm wrong, but if I was betting, it would be on it having a very short shelf life.

[cmorioles]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

But who's going to see the movie and then go to the track?

I don't see how it sells. I hope I'm wrong, but if I was betting, it would be on it having a very short shelf life.

I saw the movie as well on Saturday. It was pretty crowded but in a small theater. Nobody clapped, but people seemed to like it.

I wouldn't call it great. It was ok for me. Tough to get past the Hollywoodization, stuff you know is made up, at least for me. The racing scenes in Seabiscuit were 20 times better. I also saw a screener of Seabiscuit and people were much more enthused.

Diane Lane is still hot.

[GBBob]

Originally Posted by blackthroatedwind

But who's going to see the movie and then go to the track?

I don't see how it sells. I hope I'm wrong, but if I was betting, it would be on it having a very short shelf life.

I'm not sure the weekend opening is going to equate to an increased handle across the country, but this is advertising. Horse Racing can't buy ad space during the Super Bowl like Coke ( well...it could but..) so aren't we left with baby steps through positive exposures wherever possible? It's all about reinforcement of the Brand and it has to start somewhere. If the GP doesn't go to the track it won't be because the Belmont was filmed at KEE. THe only ones who noticed that aren't the issue.

[Sightseek]

They don't have a scheduled release in my area and Secretariat was born 15 minutes from here.

[Indian Charlie]

Originally Posted by Sightseek

They don't have a scheduled release in my area and Secretariat was born 15 minutes from here.

Coming to a torrent site near you...

[saratoga guy]

Originally Posted by GBBob

But..everything you are critical of the general population either a) Won't know or B) Will eat it up.

I'm critical that it feels in tone, content and quality, like a Lifetime TV movie. The racing gaffes I could easily overlook - if the story and direction were strong. They weren't -- at least for me.

I'm with you in hoping the movie does well and provides some decent exposure for the sport. The timing could dovetail nicely with BC promotional efforts.

But, for me, the movie was a "miss". Mildly entertaining at best. And it "missed" in ways that even the general public will be aware of.

We'll see...

[Merlinsky]

Here are a couple links I thought you guys would find interesting:

Talking about Oscar buzz: http://www.deadline.com/2010/10/can-...rites/#respond I love that, to woo Diane Lane to play Penny, the director met her for lunch with a dozen red roses and told her he did it because that's what they give you when you win the Derby. Smooth.

The studio's testing for Secretariat is near the highest they've ever gotten. It really does sound like critics have decided the movie is this year's feel good story to get Oscar buzz. I have heard buzz for Diane Lane, and she's on several lists, so congratulations are in order for her.

Roger Ebert gives Secretariat 4 stars: http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/...IEWS/101009986 He's a friend of Bill Nack, the "suggestee"(?) of the film's tale, but he didn't have to give it that high a mark for a pal. Could've done 3 stars. He did 4 and meant it.

Now I realize there are issues that people have with points of the movie, but I really don't think the audience will care who was or wasn't at the birth of Secretariat. There may not have been a 'performance clause,' but hey, it creates drama. The heart size should've been mentioned because I really think the fans would've gotten that metaphorically even if they don't get the idea of heart/lung capacity making a difference. It sounds impressive. As Steve mentioned earlier this week on ATR (maybe with Davidowitz, I can't remember), Keeneland is a beautiful track. It's not Belmont, but it's cinematic in it's own right. Did NYRA not let them use actual Belmont? Was it too expensive? I have the distinct impression that Malkovich is playing Malkovich, not Lucian Laurin, but if he plays himself well, I can enjoy the movie anyway. I can't see it til Sunday as I'll be out of town, but I'm looking forward to it. Godspeed, Big Red.

[chucklestheclown]

Originally Posted by saratoga guy

I'm with you in hoping the movie does well and provides some decent exposure for the sport. The timing could dovetail nicely with BC promotional efforts.

God. That would be great.

[randallscott35]

I'm happy it's a good movie. Think I will wait for DVD for ease.

[saratoga guy]

As noted earlier - I found it only "mildly entertaining", and I'd really be shocked if it pulled in much in the way of Oscar noms..

BUT, that said, again I'm rooting for the movie and I agree with what NTRA prez Waldrop had to say in a mass emailing today:

"If you feel, as I do, that even more movies should be made about great horses like Secretariat and his unforgettable owner Penny Chenery, then seeing the movie this weekend would be an excellent way to convey that message to Hollywood, which puts a lot of stock in the opening week performance of its releases."

In other words - IF YOU'RE PLANNING TO SEE THE MOVIE, OPENING WEEKEND IS THE TIME THAT YOUR $$$ WILL REGISTER THE BIGGEST BOX OFFICE PUNCH AND SEND A MESSAGE THAT RACING MOVIES CAN BE SUCCESSFUL.

[MaTH716]

Originally Posted by saratoga guy

As noted earlier - I found it only "mildly entertaining", and I'd really be shocked if it pulled in much in the way of Oscar noms..

BUT, that said, again I'm rooting for the movie and I agree with what NTRA prez Waldrop had to say in a mass emailing today:

"If you feel, as I do, that even more movies should be made about great horses like Secretariat and his unforgettable owner Penny Chenery, then seeing the movie this weekend would be an excellent way to convey that message to Hollywood, which puts a lot of stock in the opening week performance of its releases."

In other words - IF YOU'RE PLANNING TO SEE THE MOVIE, OPENING WEEKEND IS THE TIME THAT YOUR $$$ WILL REGISTER THE BIGGEST BOX OFFICE PUNCH AND SEND A MESSAGE THAT RACING MOVIES CAN BE SUCCESSFUL.

If you really think about it, they probably should hope that some die hard racing fans stay away from it, because they are going to be the most critical about it. You would think that many of the people are going to complain about footage being filmed at other tracks than the original and elements of the story that are exaggerated or wrong. If anything there is a chance that they will talk people out of going to see the film.
If this film is going to do any damage at the box office, they are going to need mainstream America's support. But even if they kill it this weekend, what possible racing movie would they really consider doing?

[saratoga guy]

Originally Posted by MaTH716

If you really think about it, they probably should hope that some die hard racing fans stay away from it, because they are going to be the most critical about it.

Even the racing pundits that have written about the film over the past few weeks have been mostly forgiving of the racing gaffes - at least so far as recognizing that the changes have been made in service to a Disney-fied story. I believe big box office numbers on opening weekend will trump any critiques offered by racing fans.

Originally Posted by MaTH716

But even if they kill it this weekend, what possible racing movie would they really consider doing?

The possibilities are virtually infinite. Don't get caught into thinking that only "true" stories will be fodder for future movies. Most movies are pure fiction -- and fiction based at the racetrack is ripe for exploiting by Hollywood (I'm looking forward to the HBO series "Luck").

[Phalaris1913]

I have read a review that suggested there was an "underdog" element to the movie. Is this true? If so, what did they have to do to contrive "underdog"-ness either for Secretariat himself or his connections?

[Indian Charlie]

Maybe they took a liberty with Turcotte and portrayed him as being in a wheelchair while riding Secretariat!

[saratoga guy]

Originally Posted by Phalaris1913

I have read a review that suggested there was an "underdog" element to the movie. Is this true?

This reviewer addresses that notion:

"...that’s kind of hard to do when your “underdog” was one of the greatest horses to ever hit the track. It’s like trying to make a football movie set in the 1970s about this plucky little team called the Dallas Cowboys."

http://host.madison.com/entertainmen...19dcce019.html

[Riot]

Well - we saw the movie tonight. Was very well made movie. 4 out of 5 stars from our "horse-world" group. Very enjoyable. Theatre was packed. Crowd applauded and cheered throughout. Everyone there seemed to love it.

That said, I don't think they got one "horsey" detail, and most of the real story, even remotely correct - the complaints about that type of thing from Haskin, Crist in their columns, etc. didn't even approach the reality in the film - it's almost as if they had no racing/horse world technical advisor at all on the set, let alone paid much attention remotely to the reality of the story.

Weird - still a very good movie! Wouldn't bother to see it again, though.

[westcoastinvader]

Originally Posted by Riot

Well - we saw the movie tonight. Was very well made movie. 4 out of 5 stars from our "horse-world" group. Very enjoyable. Theatre was packed. Crowd applauded and cheered throughout. Everyone there seemed to love it.

That said, I don't think they got one "horsey" detail, and most of the real story, even remotely correct - the complaints about that type of thing from Haskin, Crist in their columns, etc. didn't even approach the reality in the film - it's almost as if they had no racing/horse world technical advisor at all on the set, let alone paid much attention remotely to the reality of the story.

Weird - still a very good movie! Wouldn't bother to see it again, though.

That was my concern with regard to my personal motivation to see the movie in the theatre.


I think my compromise is that I'm gonna contribute to the box office.....as everyone here should as a horse racing fan......and buy some tix onliine and then no-show.

I have a lot of football to watch this weekend anyhow. It's sometimes a burden to be an Oakland Raiders season ticket holder.


I'll watch the movie in the theatre when the hype and crowds wear down.

Or I'll just buy it and watch in my living room.

[chucklestheclown]

Originally Posted by westcoastinvader

I think my compromise is that I'm gonna contribute to the box office.....as everyone here should as a horse racing fan......and buy some tix onliine and then no-show.

That is a VERY good idea. But maybe after you buy them you can post them on craigslist and perhaps make a new fan?

[Merlinsky]

I saw an article on CNN.com about what movies to see and who'd watch Secretariat. I assumed it was about the audience demographic, but I was more interested in what non-critics were saying who'd seen the film. Scrolling through the comments, there's the occasional ridiculous babble where you really believe the person writing it thinks Transformers 2 is Citizen Kane, but most of the remarks involved people loving Secretariat. I keep hearing accounts about folks clapping at the end. Looks like word of mouth is good.