There is certainly no question that Steven Spielberg is one of, if not the best filmmaker of his or any generation. He served as an inspiration for me as a child while making movies with my friends, feeling that my S.S. initials meant I could be just like him. And I've been a fan since that time, but have grown very skeptical, watching him make millions as executive producer for below average alien projects like Transformers, Cowboys & Aliens, Falling Skies, and more. Tacking his name onto these things for a paycheck made me lose some respect. But now, seeing him return to serious filmmaking has made me remember the true talent this man has. However, I had zero interest in War Horse. I laughed along with the SNL skit mocking the play, but experiencing the film was actually quite similar to the way the audience members react in the sketch. If you don't understand what I mean, you should check it out. At first you may think, "Really? It's just a horse" and then you get emotionally attached and understand. War Horse started off as a children's book, then an award-winning play, and now a future award-winning film.
The film begins with the birth of the majestic horse and shortly after we see it purchased by a man who cannot help but fall for it's beauty and uniqueness. He also buys it in spite of his landlord who tries to outbid him. This leaves the old man and his family with no money, but the son, Albert (Jeremy Irvine) adores the horse and raises it, teaching it how to work on the farm. Albert proves how strong the horse, Joey, truly is despite his size and breed. When the weather destroys the family's crops, the father must sell Joey to the army, hence War Horse. Albert is obviously heartbroken, but he ties his father's regimental pennant to the horse, which we follow throughout the film, and vows to meet him again.
I like the fact that every time a stranger saw how emotional the boy got over his horse, he or she would say, "It's not a dog." That's how I felt at first, but I'm a city boy so I've never had a chance to take much of a liking to horses. But this horse is something special and touches multiple lives in very meaningful ways throughout its journey. I didn't have much interest at first because the main character is an animal and it doesn't have a celebrity providing the voice for it so you know, who cares? But Joey should be nominated for Best Supporting Actor or something. I don't know how Spielberg captured half of the shots in this film, but well done, sir. It really makes me wonder what the people behind the play must do. I'll have to check it out. And the rest of the cast, the humans, are superb as well. Not many recognizable faces other than Tom Hiddleston from Midnight in Paris and Thor, and Eddie Marsan from Sherlock Holmes, but everyone does a great job. The standout performances though are Irvine and Emily Watson who plays Albert's mother.
There are some faulty points, however and surprisingly, the long running time isn't really one of them. All of the characters speak English which certainly isn't a complaint, but a man and his granddaughter in the French countryside speak English as well as the German soldiers. They ignore it for a while like in Valkyrie, but then in one scene, which was still my favorite despite this flaw, an English soldier says to a German soldier, "You speak English pretty good" to which the soldier replies, "I speak it well." That'd be fine if the Germans weren't casually speaking it amongst themselves when you'd think they would speak their native tongue.
War Horse isn't Spielberg's greatest work, but it's a fine piece of cinema. He captures elements of war like with Saving Private Ryan and ties in great emotional story lines. If at first you think, "Why would a boy go into war for an animal?" take a second and consider what you'd do for your favorite pet. My dog Oakley is pretty awesome. Jumping into the First World War is a bit of a stretch, but it works. I think Spielberg will nab Best Director. Regarding the films considered in the current Oscar race, War Horse absolutely trumps The Descendants. The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo will be my next review.
Stars: 3/4
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