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MOVIES | Steven Spielberg's "War Horse" charges shamelessly into your heart
It’s a measure of Steven Spielberg’s skill as a director that though he’s become one of the most beloved and bankable brand names in the movies, he’s never made a film that could be easily pigeonholed as a “Spielberg movie”…until now. Whether you love or hate War Horse will depend on just how much Spielberg you want with your Spielberg.
From the first scene of this WWI adventure, the director lays the schmaltz on so thick that it would be laughable if it wasn’t done so extremely well. Spielberg has never had any shame about using cinematic flourishes to tug the heart strings, but here he sets a new personal bar for shamelessness. We watch a newborn colt struggle to his feet, we see the colt purchased inadvisably by a farmer with big dreams, we see the farmer’s son raise the horse into an animal who can run like the thoroughbred he is but who’s not too proud to pull a plow, and then, amidst rumbles of thunder, we see the horse drafted into a war his trainer is still too young to fight.
All of this is frequently shot from a low angle and lit warmly from below, as though Spielberg dug the Ark of the Covenant out to help with the cinematography. Scored by the peerless John Williams—the 79-year-old composer (Star Wars, Superman, Raiders of the Lost Ark, E.T.) is coming off a three-year break—War Horse intends to sweep you away, and won’t take no for an answer.
The sprawling story—adapted by Richard Curtis and Lee Hall from both Michael Morpugo’s 1982 children’s novel and a 2007 stage version of that story—is a cyclorama that follows the eponymous equine through a series of owners on both sides of the Western Front. To call the concept preposterous is generous; any other director would have been hard-pressed not to turn War Horse into a groaner, but Spielberg jumps through these flaming hoops so unerringly that even hardened skeptics may find themselves wiping their eyes by the silhouetted (of course silhouetted, of course against a sunset) final scene.
Besides his near-perfect mastery of pacing and transition, Spielberg knows how to earn your affection for even minor characters—which is crucial here, since everyone but the horse is a minor character. I won’t even bother to name the cast, because this movie is not about the actors; each in turn arrives onscreen equipped with an identity of comic-book clarity. You know who’s good and who’s bad, and you’re not wrong. The film’s war-is-hell message is enhanced rather than contradicted by its moral clarity: here, the bad guys are the ones on both sides who force the good guys to wage brutal combat instead of rolling around in the hay with their favorite steeds.
A lot of directors set out to recreate the classics of their youth and to improve upon them; few succeed, and none have succeeded as often or as well as Spielberg. War Horse feels like a Wonderful World of Disney action film from 50 years ago, except that—unlike many of those—it doesn’t suck.
This is a movie that knows that movies are just flickering images on a screen, and knows how to use that illusory nature as an asset rather than a liability. War Horse will surely be praised for its lack of “gratuitous violence,” but as Roger Ebert has pointed out, that phrase when applied to movies is silly because the whole idea of filmed entertainment is gratuitous. It’s a gift…if you choose to accept it.
©2011 Jay Gabler
Jay Gabler (jay [at] tcdailyplanet [dot] net, Twitter @JayGabler) is the Daily Planet's arts editor.
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Comments
Loved this movie - and yes, it's a tear jerker
This movie really is the "stereotypical" Spielberg film: wonderfully cast, filmed by the best (Janusz Kaminsky from "Saving Private Ryan"), with all the heart and soul of its main character (a gorgeous horse with the oddly common name of "Joey"). The opposing armies are broken into PEOPLE, with all their strengths and weaknesses.
I'm sorry there were so many spoilers in the review, but this film is really amazing. Done by anyone else, it would be hokey beyond belief. Done by Spielberg and the WAY it was done - is just breathtaking.
warhorse movie
Loved the movie Warhorse. It is about the bond between a human and a horse. It was very much a film about tenacity and hope and never giving up! And yes people sometimes miracles DO happen. There have been cases of people and animals that have been reunited after many years of separation. Fate takes many twists and turns. I enjoyed it very much and would recommend it.
bad movie
Long and boring time waster. Looked good on the screen but had no plot and was entirely hokey. This seems to be based on the assumption that viewers know nothing about horses and if you eat this biscuit you will be somewhat less intelligent having seen it. My favorite pony goes to war!
War Horse
The whole thing was preposterous. From the father buying the horse, to plowing the one field (in one day) to save the farm, to a cavalry officer buying the horse off the street (cavalry horses were more like Clydesdales), to the 4 year jump from 1914 to 1918, it just got worse and worse.
The rule in screenpalys is one per movie. This movie had about ten.
Walt
War Horse
It's a movie not a documentary. Movies are supposed to stretch the imagination. I am going to see it now. I'll post my review later.
Rico
Really speaks to the fabric of humanity
This movie was more than about a horse, or war, but more about the fabric of humanity and the sensibility that exists within humanity; being sensible towards each other and animals. Horses are the largest creatures humans are akin to. Dogs, cats, and horses are the oldest human companions. I think Steven did great with this. E.T. came to mind (Thomas Kincade did also). A must see. Made me cry, and I don't cry at movies. Can't wait till it's out on video.
Amazing movie♥
wow... i just seen the movie and it was amazing, i love it. it's an very inspiring movie, i think. This movie should be rated top for best films of the year. it show a true bond between a person and a horse and how horses are such an unique animal. Definately one of the best movies i've seen by far. (:
War Horse
HOW do they award an OSCAR to a horse. This ONE is MOST deserving!!!
war horse
The best movie I have seen in a long time !!!!!!!
War Horse Review
War Horse Review
Spielberg's films are never done to simply entertain, but to emphasize and promote his social positions. "Schindler's List" opposed the re-ocurrance of the Holocaust; he and "Barbra" teamed up to support women's rights. Animal rights is his position in "War Horse."
"Schmaltzy" is a nice characterization of his personification of Joey, but I could have enjoyed it as I have "Black Beauty," another animal rights position--if, Spielberg didn’t also mirrorize humanity with animals-he dehumanized the masses by giving them the primal motives of animals. The only elevation was in their recognition of animals.
The villain seemed to be machinery, mechanization or technology. The scene of the tank cornering the horse was not only unbelievable, but made unforgettable.
The position of this film--that animals and humans should care for one another--returning the world to The Dark Ages--because the fate of one is the fate of the other is dangerous. Personifying animals is a longtime convention and entertaining, but don't buy into it; animals are not our saviors. Returning to pastoral life is nice as long as a technological world supports it--when put on its own, it becomes a filthy, vicious and vile alternative to humanity's growth and progress.
Where do we go when our goals of security, comfort, education and Christianity have been reached? Why, return the way we have come--back DOWN.
Thirty pieces of silver, the price of a slave, was repeatedly Joey's price. Sacrilege! All orders on earth have their rightful positions and roles--even missions to perform in behalf of one another--even animals. None must be abused. If all you can buy into is the Circle of Life, why animals exist on one another--humans also have that right to participate.
Personhood of animals and devaluation of humanity is Spielberg's theme. George R. R. Martin's series "A Game of Thrones" illustrates the real unsanitary dangerous world this position of reliance on a technologically-lacking social order and reliance on supposedly superior elites would return mankind and animals to plough through.
War Horse
I saw it and didnt bother to overanalyze it or overthink it. Its beautiful and as wonderful as you'd expect a Steven Spielberg movie to be. Spielberg is a genius.
WAR HORSE
This is a must see movie for everyone in the universe.Simply amazing. Friendship,Loyalty,Endurance, Bravery,Perseverance and Love are the main ingredients of this film. highly recommendable.
War Horse
From the moment of the first battle scene, I cried. Not the piddly tears usually reserved for emotional sappy movies, but gut wrenching, sick to my stomach, heartbroken unstoppable horrible tears. The woman behind me was simarly affected and sobbed desparately through out the film. I tried to stifle as much as possible. At the end of the film I said I hate Steven Speilberg, I will boycott all future films, and throw out any dvd's I may have at home. Damn him for dragging me through that torture.
But after a night of sleep I wonder, how on earth did that film bring out that degree of emotion from me? Amazing, amazing, so well done that I have to buy a copy for myself.
Thank you Steven Speilberg for this film. Wonderful job.
War Horse
Genius. Mr. Spielberg is a genius. First he breaks our hearts from the eyes of the innocents(Schindler's List).....Then from the eyes of the combatants...(Saving Private Ryan--Band of Brothers--The Pacific)....If you haven't watched these masterpieces....turn your eyes from the drivel of "X Factor;..and stupid "American Idol"...and learn something. "War Horse"...if you didn't cry......look in the mirror ...you have NO HEART.....My grandpa was former calvary in WWI,,,,,and I also served.....(lots of push ups...)....but we OWE IT...to watch this movie...and FEEL SOMETHING.......GOD Bless you Mr. Spielberg. John
War Horse
My Grandpa served with Black Jack Pershing, my Dad in the Pacific, I went to 'Nam. None of us rode horses, two have died (naturally) and I cried for all three of us. Speilberg touches on the horror of war (NO movie can portay the abject terror of an artillery barrage if you haven't been through one) but doesn't dwell on it. The fact that so many ordinary people (everyone who FIGHTS in a war is ordinary) who touched that horse died was so realistic. The fact that the boy came home (as did the three of us) was miraculous, the fact that the horse reurned was more so. If you don't appreciate that twilit scene when he returns, then you don't know what's it like to return from war. If you have to overthink this movie then too bad for you. To let it take you away and have your emotions run as wild as that horse is exhilarating. To feel those tears course down your face for friend and foe alike is redemptive. To watch estranged father and son embrace is somehow divine. Too many superlatives for one movie? Not for me, my friend, not for me.
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