Seabiscuit (DVD 2003) (0025192328725)

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.