Steven Spielberg is known for having revolutionized the world of film making by essentially creating the summer family blockbuster. Beyond that, his films are known for tackling non-human characters: aliens, sharks, dinosaurs. In this latest film his central figure is a horse named Joey whose exceptional beauty, strength, and a heart full of love touches the lives of many, namely his carer, Albert (Jeremy Irvine).
I am not a fan of movies about horses. I tend to find them sentimental and preachy. This was an unabashedly sentimental film and mildly preachy, but in good, loving ways and I must say that I fell for its charms. Coming into maturity, the wild horse Joey is purchased by a local farmer to plow his fields. Although Joey is the finest example of a horse he is untrained, and it seems that the huge sum of money paid for him may go to waste. But Albert, the farmer's son, knows that Joey has the capability to save his family's farm.
Their lives are interrupted, however, by the outbreak of WWI, and in a last ditch effort to save his property Albert's father sells Joey to a captain of the army. It is from there that Joey becomes a war horse. He is passed through many hands, but always seems to find affection in unlikely places and reach the hearts of those who need him most. He becomes the legs of a soldier afraid to move, a memory of parents to a young orphan, a symbol of beauty for a weary private, and way of escape for two young, scared lads. Joey is abused, neglected, mistreated, but always manages to find his way to those who might offer him a home.
Joey is a symbol of bravery, of masculinity, and of hope, which is what this film is all about. It is based off of a children's novel from what I am aware of, but this is certainly not a children's film. It is tender, and the main focus of the film is about the bond between a man and his horse, but the battle sequences are intense, and there is much cruelty and death brought to many animals. There were young people in the audience with me and several were very affected by this.
For those who are mature enough for the material, however, this is a supreme entertainment from a master director who knows where the heart is. I laughed when I was supposed to laugh, I teared when I was supposed to feel sad, I was thrilled when the film meant to be thrilling. This is a film that can be appreciated by many types of audiences. For those who may not have been impressed by the acting which was good but not great, or those who were nonplussed by the story which was good but great, there is still so much to be moved by. One thing that cannot be denied about this movie was that it was gorgeously painted. The locations and sets were exquisite, especially in the scenes of Albert's farm and of the trenches in France.
Much credit must be given to the horse trainer of this film. Although there were some wonderfully constructed characters there is no doubt that Finder, the horse playing Joey, was the star of the movie. I should hesitate to use the word "performance" to describe what he did, but there really is no better word for it. Joey's heartache, suffering, and love came through just as clear than the people in this film. Although intellectually I was aware that he was trained exceptionally well I tended to forget it, and that is the magic of cinema. There is a life and an exuberance in the presence of that horse and I was swept away with it.
Audiences will love this film for its epic battle sequences and tender moments of affection. See this for the spectacle and, if you are like me, lose the chip on your soldier, for even though this is a horse film it is a great one nonetheless.
3.5/4
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