Salon Reviewer Slams 'Secretariat' as Tea Party Fantasy 'Almost Worthy of Leni Riefenstahl'

NewsBusters ^ | October 9, 2010 | P.J. Gladnick

[PJ-Comix]

At one point in the checkered writing career of your humble correspondent, he criticized children's cartoons for displaying fascistic attitudes such as Snow White unfairly taking advantage of the labor performed by the Seven Dwarfs. One important caveat; I was just kidding. Yes, even though some people took me seriously, I meant the story to be satire.

In the case of Salon.Com reviewer Andrew O'Hehir, he has no such excuse. He actually meant his absurd review of "Secretariat" to be taken completely seriously. Just how absurd was his review? Well, O'Hehir drops any semblance of sanity in his very first paragraph by claiming "Secretariat" was worthy of a Leni Riefenstahl Nazi propaganda movie. So here is the kickoff of the laughable "Triumph of the Will" (or "Triumph of the Horse") fantasizing by O'Hehir:

"Secretariat" is such a gorgeous film, its every shot and every scene so infused with warm golden light, that I began to wonder whether the movie theater were on fire. Or my head. But the welcoming glow that imbues every corner of this nostalgic horse-racing yarn with rich, lambent color comes from within, as if the movie itself is ablaze with its own crazy sense of purpose. (Or as if someone just off-screen were burning a cross on the lawn.) I enjoyed it immensely, flat-footed dialogue and implausible situations and all. Which doesn't stop me from believing that in its totality "Secretariat" is a work of creepy, half-hilarious master-race propaganda almost worthy of Leni Riefenstahl, and all the more effective because it presents as a family-friendly yarn about a nice lady and her horse.

[alecqss]

Let's assume that latest spin - that movie is a “propaganda [that] depicts normal life, or rather an idealized vision of normal life”.

So, we have a depiction of the normal life or even “idealized vision of normal life” (whatever author means by that - left probably for another spin). Such depiction is a propaganda of a “master race”???

What about normal movie review, never mind idealized vision of it?

[Bullish]

I think I now see why little Andy has problems with Christians.

Faggots like him hate anything that portrays family values.

[ottbmare]

It’s actually a very good movie. Only two tiny anachronisms that only a serious horse psycho who lived through the seventies would catch. The characters are accurately depicted, though the jerk-ness of Penny Chenery’s husband is only lightly touched upon, and the film does not display the kind of language and interactions that are typical at racetracks. The horse is not Disney-fied—that is, it doesn’t talk, have ESP, fly, or run to please its owner; it’s just a horse, although one of the three most magnificent horses to have lived in the past 300 years.

The story does have a slightly feminist bent to it, but an accurate one, since Penny Chenery did face great difficulty in running a stud farm and racing stable back then; we tend to forget how tough it was for women in a position like that, in a male-dominated industry, back then. There’s no political ax to grind, though, and Wallace doesn’t beat you over the head with it.

The cinematography is gorgeous and evokes the overwhelming, addictive beauty of the world of horses. It’s exciting even if you know how each race played out.

Heartily recommended. It’s horrible to consider that there are people so twisted that they can be unmoved by this beauty and grace.

[Art in Idaho]

Let's assume that latest spin - that movie is a “propaganda [that] depicts normal life, or rather an idealized vision of normal life”.

A normal family life that is ethical and moral and shown as such in a movie is now propaganda? For whom? Oh, oh, here comes the Sarah spin. I can feel it. . . Maybe the Iron Maiden in the movie is Every Mom. . .

[Popman]

The wife and I just came back from seeing this right wing tea party fueled neo-nazi like propaganda film about the serious lack of portraying the 70's as Hollywood should have been made / s

This critic wants the movie to have been made though the lens of left wing radicals, anti-war, anti-establishment, anti-American, free sex and rock n roll good times myopic BS

Sorry, moonbats, it's about a horse and a woman. If you wanted an documentary on the 70's ask that idiot Oliver Stone to make your movie about Secretariat

[ottbmare]

Oh yes, there was a brief passage in the review that I liked:

...and I can't help thinking that "Secretariat" is meant as a comforting allegory, like Glenn Beck's sentimental Christmas yarn: The real America has been here all along, and we can get it back.

Yes, Andy, the real America really has been here all along, and we really can get it back. Now go play quietly while the adults clean up the mess you've made.

[Lauren BaRecall]

I saw the movie today, and not only was it gorgeous, it portrayed the faith and love the major characters had for each other (and that includes the horse. Great ensemble acting, and the horse was exceptional. The husband and brother came around as they saw Penny's faith in the horse and herself vindicated. Everybody and everything was natural and believable.

The Preakness sequence was especially touching as the family roots for Big Red to win. Shots of the family were cross cut with actual TV footage of the event, thereby giving film-goers an opportunity of seeing the real Secretariat and Ron Turcotte in a priceless cameo appearance.

At the time, everyone loved and rooted for this horse! The Belmont was an electrifying, never to be forgotten moment in sporting history. To see Secretariat open up to those 31 lengths is, most likely, something that will never be seen again.

I think that the closest examples of the American public's love affair with a racehorse was with Seabiscuit and more recently, Barbero - although there was another triple crown winner after Secretariat.

That having been said, from the scripture at the start of the film, through the contemporaneous "O Happy Day," by the Edwin Hawkins Singers, and the overall themes of integrity, values, faith and love, the movie was alive with an infused sense of spirituality. Although it was Christian in nature, persons of any faith or no faith can appreciate it. Andrew O'Hehir, on the other hand, can't stand faith. He can't stand Christianity. He has no scruples concerning journalistic professionalism. He doesn't have a clear mind, and as is the case with all liberals, he is ruled by his viscera rather than his intellect.

He is to be pitied and prayed for.

[Cvengr]

I wasn’t planning on watching the movie, even when it was on cable or a dollar movie, until these liberal rants against it came out. I’m glad to see they vomited all over it. Must have something worthwhile to watch.

[alecqss]

A normal family life that is ethical and moral and shown as such in a movie is now propaganda? For whom?

According to Salon's reviewer - for the master race. Please don't ask me how he came to that conclusion...

[Lauren BaRecall]

According to *me*, the Master Race was the Belmont.

[KarlInOhio]

It presents a prettied-up, phony-baloney vision of America in the early ‘70s, in a transparent effort to appeal to the “family-values” crowd who ate up “The Blind Side” — people who want a comforting and unchallenging movie without any sex or swearing. There’s nothing wrong with that as a way to make a buck, but this example is ultra-tame, scrubbed clean of any genuine conflict or drama, and I pretty much think it’s crap.”

He probably hated Apollo 13 too. Three men alone in space. Where was the sex scene? At least a little zero-g (fill in the blank with your favorite perversion).

[qwertypie]

Penny Chenery did face great difficulty in running a stud farm and racing stable back then; we tend to forget how tough it was for women in a position like that, in a male-dominated industry, back then.

In reality, horse racing was one aspect of American life which had a long history of women owning big-time stables. Many top stables, going w-a-a-y back. It was quite accepted. Elizabeth Arden. Mrs. John Hertz. I love the old 30s and 40s photos of dressed-to-kill women leading their winning steeds to the winner's circle.

[qwertypie]

The two Triple Crown winners after Secretariat were Seattle Slew and Affirmed. Both were quite capable of defeating Secretariat, who lost to several plainer horses. Prove Out kicked ... his ... a—.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88iVbQM_IEY

If anyone wants to read a feel-good and enlightening sports story by an expert in the business, read this one.

http://cs.bloodhorse.com/blogs/horse-racing-steve-haskin/archive/2008/08/04/The-Unbeatable-Horse.aspx

[ottbmare]

yes, but owning a racing stable is very different from hands-on management. I too knew some of the great ladies, but I never saw them get their hands dirty with the nuts and bolts of farm operations or difficult financial issues. People respected Penny as her father’s daughter and the heiress of The Meadow, IIRC, but were a little taken aback at her wheeling and dealing, which the movie shows.

One of the flaws in the film is an omission: Wallace chose not to include the contributions of Dr Olive Britt, the first woman large-animal vet in Virginia, who was the farm vet for The Meadow Farm and was there for the delivery of Secretariat. She taught Penny Chenery about horse care and breeding, and her instruction allowed Penny to make some of the astute decisions Penny did. But Dr Britt was a very rare bird indeed.

[Antoninus]

Hmmm. I had no interest in this movie at all. But now...

[qwertypie]

Many of those grand ladies ran their stables down to every last detail. They were not trainers, but they were not shunned in the business by any means.

[Art in Idaho]

A normal family life that is ethical and moral and shown as such in a movie is now propaganda? For whom?

According to Salon's reviewer - for the master race. Please don't ask me how he came to that conclusion...

Oh, I got it, it's a white normal family life. . . gotta' show the class struggle stuff, the oppressors, and,. . and maybe they're colonialists too. . and taking from us. . and. . . maybe they should spread the wealth around, . and . .

[Lauren BaRecall]

Thanks. I remember both horses, but neither was as universally loved as Secretariat. IMO, I don’t think they could have beaten him, either.

Also IMO, the next horse that was loved was Barbero, even before his accident. There are some horses that just turn out to be extra special and capture the people’s fancy.

[Lauren BaRecall]

One of the flaws in the film is an omission: Wallace chose not to include the contributions of Dr Olive Britt, the first woman large-animal vet in Virginia, who was the farm vet for The Meadow Farm and was there for the delivery of Secretariat. She taught Penny Chenery about horse care and breeding, and her instruction allowed Penny to make some of the astute decisions Penny did. But Dr Britt was a very rare bird indeed.

I'm sorry this wasn't in the movie. I wonder why it wasn't.

[ottbmare]

How long have you been in the horse business?