WAR HORSE

I finally got a chance to see War Horse. It took me a while to develop the desire to see the film because I so much loved the Broadway play. But with the positive reviews and the Golden Globe nomination (not that that means anything), I decided to give it a looksee.

Of course, the story is very moving whether done as a play or a movie; it follows a warhorse named Joey, who is raised in the country and then sold to be a warhorse during WWI. 

I thought the film was beautifully shot. The countryside came to life and the colors in England and France were so vivid and lovely in contrast to the bleak war scenes in the trenches. The horses that play Joey are the stars of this film and as for the human actors around them; they all do a fine job. I found Jeremy Irvine’s portrayal of Albert a little weak and understated. I wanted more from him.  It was so fun to see Emily Watson in the role of Albert’s mum. I feel like she disappeared from movies and yet she is such a wonderful actress.

Spielberg did a nice job of telling an emotional tale without being overly sappy or manipulative. The whole scene where Joey runs through “No Man’s Land” and gets tangled in the wires is gut wrenching.  And the scene toward the end where Joey and Albert were reunited was deftly handled so that I was very moved, but did not feel manipulated.  It felt completely believable.

I only wish that Spielberg showed restraint in the very last shot of the film when Albert and Joey are reunited with Albert’s parents in England.  The actors are completely black, in silhouette, against the sunset so that we cannot see their faces...too sappy for me…I felt manipulated.

The music too threatened to take over at some points in the movie. I wasn't sure if the actors were whispering or their dialogue simply wasn't important because the music was so loud.

Still, all in all, War Horse is well worth watching. Grade B+.