Movie Review: Secretariat

Despite the name of the movie, this film centers around the life of Secretariat’s owner, Penny Chenery. Penny is a Denver housewife who takes over the race horse farm of her father. Throughout the movie, she is torn between her desire to follow “her dream” of producing a Triple Crown Winner and the domestic cares of husband and children. The horse racing scenes were exceptional. Diane Lane’s performance as Penny Chenery was marginal. John Malkovich’s portrayal of Secretariat trainer Lucien Laurin and Margo Martindale’s “Miss Ham” were exceptional. The run time was appropriate. The plot was predictable, but enjoyable.