Film: War Horse
Cast includes: Jeremy Irvine (Life Bites TV), Peter Mullan (On a Clear Day), Emily Watson (Red Dragon), Niels Arestrup (Farewell), Tom Hiddleston (Thor), Benedict Cumberbatch (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy)
Director: Steven Spielberg (E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial)
Genre: Drama (2011)
This colt is different right from the start… strong, spunky and gorgeous. “Now that’s a beauty!” “Don’t be daft,” others say… “that horse can’t plough a field.” And that’s all that matters in this part of England in 1914. But farmer, Ted Narracott, has more pride than common sense. He pays 30 guineas for the showy colt. His wife Rosie wants the horse taken back. It’s teen-age Albert who wins this round. “I’ll train him,” he promises, even though he knows almost nothing about training a plough horse. Albert doesn’t need to know anything. It turns out that Albert has a bond with the horse, almost from the beginning. He quickly wins the horse’s trust. “I’m gonna call you Joey. And I’m Albert.” Albert even trains Joey to come when he whistles. But it’s not until Joey learns to pull a plough that his future on the Narracott farm seems assured… for the time being.
When war breaks out in Europe, the army comes to town looking for recruits… and horses. WWI was our first mechanized war, but not everything was mechanized. Armies still depended on horses, and Joey gets caught in the round up. There’s nothing Albert can do to stop them taking Joey, but Captain Nicholls promises to look after Joey and… if it’s possible… bring him back after the war. As the new recruits jubilantly head off for war, we in the audience know their celebratory mood is going to change pretty quickly. And despite the captain’s promise, there’s no way to keep Joey out of harm’s way. By the end, everyone will be affected. But the bond between Albert and Joey endures.
This is a classic, heartwarming story, and we have a pretty good idea how it’s going to end. What’s most important is everything that happens in between. Adapted from an innovative play where the horses are portrayed by amazing puppets… no kidding, they really are amazing… the film version fills in the story with some additional plot points that strengthen the emotional pull of the narrative. In classic Spielberg style, the old-fashioned widescreen cinematography and the luscious score befit a grand epic in every way. Those who feel manipulated by gratuitous sentimentality will want to skip this one… or just decide to surrender to it. You really will get sucked in. Those who worry about seeing a lot of animal cruelty will be relieved to know there isn’t much gratuitous blood and guts. But that said, there’s a war on, and violence is unavoidable. The acting is all good, but it’s the horse (several of them, actually) that steals every scene. There’s a definite fairytale quality about the story and the way it’s told… not unlike Spielberg’s ET. While it’s fair to say a horse that could survive such a brutal war would be pretty special (and lucky), Joey is endowed with some special traits, such as loyalty, empathy and resourcefulness. In a war where “they’re taking everything from everyone” it's important to believe that one special horse and one special young man deserve to be reunited. Don’t forget your Kleenex.
4 popped kernels
Part fairytale, part history, the classic Lassie-Come-Home story has never been told more effectively
Popcorn Profile
Rated: PG-13
Primary Audience: Teens & Young adults
Gender Appeal: Any audience
Distribution: Mainstream wide release
Mood: Both upbeat and somber
Tempo: Zips right along
Visual Style: Computer effects
Character Development: Engaging
Language: True to life
Social Significance: Pure entertainment
