The lights shine in the stadium. The rider leans over with a strained forehead. The horse snorts.
By the time the film ends and Secretariat can boast his Triple Crown victory, the only noteworthy aspect of the film resides in the actual horse races. Each of the many races was filmed in a different way. Close-up shots of horse hooves and eyes and shifts between fast and slow tempos cause you to forget about the predictability of the climactic scene for a split moment. In Disney’s attempt to step away from the stereotypical horse movies, their cinematography was the only point of success.
Because the visual appeal is the only thing supporting the movie, “Secretariat” would be a complete waste to watch on DVD. If you are set on catching this story about “the greatest race horse that ever lived,” race to buy a ticket at the theaters. If you don’t care for aesthetically pleasing movies, “Secretariat” will only leave you with a horse race plot that is much too copious in the film industry.
Before the movie hits the theater, let me warn you. As Secretariat leaves a trail of dust behind him, the movie will only leave a bad taste in your mouth.