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[apocalypsos]

You know what I wish would have made the book-to-movie cut? The NBC radio interview.

If you've seen the movie but haven't read the book, there's a part where before a big race, Red gets injured and George, the other jockey, must fill in. In the book, NBC decided to do an interview with the two jockeys where Red gave George advice, but gave them a prepared script because Red was known to be a prankster in interviews. They got to one point in the interview where George asked Red what he thought George should do in the race. Losing his place in the script, Red -- on national radio, mind you -- improvised along the lines of, "Well, George, you put one leg over the horse, ride up to the line, and when the bell goes off, you fuck it up like you always do."

George was laughing so hard he couldn't say anything. That was probably my favorite part of the book.

"If we win this thing, he's going to have to face us." Says Jeff Bridges, as the Flambe Pan of Impending Doom flares to life in the background.

Using Eddie Jones to play Riddle distracts the hell out of me as someone who used to watch "Lois and Clark". When he gives the terms of the match race, I keep expecting him to demand John Schneider not play him in any flashbacks.

*winces* Ouch. I have to leave the room when Red gets injured. (And to think, the injury was so much worse in real life. The bones shattered, and practically all of the flesh from his knee down got peeled right off. Ow, ow, ow.)

You know why I love this movie? Because I've probably seen it a dozen times by now and the races don't get any less intense. I'm still saying, "Come on, Biscuit" under my breath every damn time I watch.

I still like Jeff Bridges's character and Chris Cooper's far better than William H. Macy's, though. Chris Cooper nails Tom Smith's personality, and Jeff Bridges does these great little things that just make me totally adore Mr. Howard. Like at the final race, when he's taking his seat and everybody's shaking his hand, he actually takes a moment to greet one of the waiters and lets him wish Seabiscuit good luck. (The final Santa Anita race, as described in the book, makes me cry just as much as the final sequence in the movie. Yeah, I'm a sucker.)

By the way, one of these years, someone will stay for the entire length of one of my movie marathons. This is my prediction. (And we all know how well those turn out. *eye roll*)

Comments

[minisinoo.livejournal.com]

Chris Cooper continually amazes me, as an actor.

And yes, I LOVE this movie. Admittedly, I am a horse nut, but still.

[coyotegoth.livejournal.com]

It almost surprises me that Seabiscuit was only Gary Ross's second movie; right from the opening David McCullough narration (remember his work on Ken Burns's The Civil War miniseries?), I was completely hooked. He told the story beautifully.

[coyotegoth.livejournal.com]

It almost surprises me that Seabiscuit was only Gary Ross's second movie; right from the opening David McCullough narration (remember his work on Ken Burns's The Civil War miniseries?), I was completely hooked. He told the story beautifully.