Americans fiercely love athletic heroes because we want to believe that the difference really is in something beyond the physical, that it exists in a big heart and scrappy soul.

There is a reason that good movies about sports, almost always about an underdog who overcomes obstacles to succeed, appeal to us in such a visceral fashion. This horse lovers' movie is far from perfect, but it offers good, solid, heartwarming entertainment. However, Smith finds his jockey in Pollard and the team of people who need - and believe in - second chances is complete.

On seeing the rearing and biting misfit, most jockeys flee from the scene. Smith tames and heals horses while introducing Howard to the movie's leitmotif: 'you don't throw a life away just because it's a little banged up.' Smith finds Howard his racehorse when he sees Seabiscuit, a horse who has spent the last years losing schooling races to other horses to build up their confidence. Charles Howard ( Jeff Bridges), who wishes to own racehorses, seeks out a trainer with a good heart and an understanding of horses, whom he finds in the taciturn, itinerant cowhand, Tom Smith ( Chris Cooper). 'Red' Pollard ( Tobey Maguire) is the too-tall jockey whose destitute family gives him to a horse racer who will give him his livelihood by putting him up on his horses. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weeklyīased on Laura Hillenbrand's best-selling book of the same name, SEABISCUIT depicts the equine celebrity who came to fame as the too-small, ill-tempered horse who never should have won, yet somehow managed to defeat the greatest racehorses of his day. The jockeys frequent a brothel in Mexico, where there is a scene of implied sexuality between Red and one of the ladies there. In addition, there are references to drinking during the Prohibition, and the radio announcer drinks quite a bit. There is another sports-related injury which features Red resulting in a mangled leg.

Also, Red tries to make some money by amateur boxing - Red sustains significant injuries and the crowd watching the fight seems quite menacing. There is an off-screen car crash which takes the life of Charles' young son, followed by shock and mourning. His parents' unexpected abandonment scars him and might frighten younger viewers who, like Red, do not understand why his parents would leave him. Parents need to know that in Seabiscuit, Red's parents are forced by their reduced circumstances to give him to someone who owns a stable and who offers to put Red up as a jockey.

Seabiscuit novel