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.
Theatrical Release: July 25, 2003
DVD Features:
Region 1
Keep Case
Single Side - Dual Layer
Anamorphic Widescreen - 2.35
Audio:
Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound - English
Additional Release Material:
Audio Commentary: Gary Ross - Director, Steven Soderbergh - Filmmaker
Featurette:
1. "Seabiscuit: Racing Through History"
2. "Bringing the Legend to Life: The Making of Seabiscuit"
3. "Anatomy of a Movie Moment: From Script to Screen"
4. "Photo Finish"
Text/Photo Galleries:
Production Notes
Cast and Filmmaker Biographies
Jeff Bridges' On the Set Photographs
Stars
Tobey Maguire: American actor, THE CIDER HOUSE RULES/SPIDER-MAN series
Jeff Bridges: American actor IRON MAN, THE LAST PICTURE SHOW, STARMAN
Chris Cooper: Actor, ADAPTATION (2002)
Elizabeth Banks: Actress, ROLE MODELS, W. (2008)
Gary Stevens: Actor, SEABISCUIT (2003)
William H. Macy: Stage/Film Actor, STATE AND MAIN (2000)
Director
Gary Ross:
Producer
Kathleen Kennedy: Producer
Frank Marshall: American producer
Gary Ross:
Jane Sindell: Producer, SEABISCUIT (2003)
Screenwriter
Gary Ross:
Composer
Randy Newman: American composer/singer/songwriter
Editor
William Goldenberg: Editor, SEABISCUIT (2003)
Director of Photography
John Schwartzman: Director of Photography, PEARL HARBOR (2001)
Executive Producer
Allison Thomas: Producer, SEABISCUIT (2003)
Executive Producer
Gary Barber: Executive Producer
Executive Producer
Robin Bissell: Producer, SEABISCUIT (2003)
Executive Producer
Roger Birnbaum: Producer/Executive
Executive Producer
Tobey Maguire: American actor, THE CIDER HOUSE RULES/SPIDER-MAN series
Production Designer
Jeannine Claudia Oppewall: Production Designer, SEABISCUIT (2003)
Source Writer
Laura Hillenbrand: Source Writer, SEABISCUIT (2003)
Costume Designer
Judianna Makovsky: Costume Designer, SEABISCUIT (2003)
Review 1:
"..[The film] beautifully re-creates everything from Acapulco's brutal racing scene to that celebrated match race..."
Source: Los Angeles Times
p.C1 07/25/2003
Review 2:
"...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..."
Source: Entertainment Weekly
p.58-9 08/01/2003
Review 3:
"...The immaculately-looking picture intercuts telling moments in the lives of the three men whose lives would intersect so decisively..."
Source: Variety
p.26-36 07/21/2003
Review 4:
"...A coolly rendered, impressively crafted telling of a blood-stirring story..."
Source: USA Today
p.1E 07/25/2003
Review 5:
"...The camerawork, gorgeous throughout, is particularly thrilling in the pic's racing scenes..."
Source: Box Office
p.121 09/01/2003
Review 6:
"...It's beautifully detailed and it boasts some truly eye-popping racing sequences..."
Source: Film Comment
p.78 11/01/2003
Review 7:
"...The races are tremendously exciting....Bridges anchors the film with simplicity and strength..."
Source: Rolling Stone
p.81 08/21/2003
Review 8:
"The three leads all give careful, affecting performances..."
Source: Sight and Sound
p.51 12/01/2003
Review 9:
"[Bridges] projects a winning affability and intrinsic decency."
Source: Premiere
p.191 12/01/2005