Secretariat Movie Review and Diane Lane Interview!

She needed a world-class trainer to take the horse from a raw, rambunctious young foal to a champion. She convinced Lucien Laurin (John Malkovich) to come out of retirement and train Secretariat. As the eccentric trainer, Malkovich steals every scene he appears in, and his outlandish outfits would make any 70s disco-goer blush. Once Penny had her trainer, she needed a jockey confident enough to handle such an important horse, and she found him in Ronnie Turcotte (played by real life jockey Otto Thorwarth).

While her team was coming together on the farm, things at home things did not run so smoothly. Penny was essentially living two lives, and her family relationships suffered. She attempted to carry out her duties at home, but her frequent and lengthy trips across the country to the farm proved a hindrance. Her husband became increasingly frustrated and her children increasingly neglected.

Penny faced a number of obstacles including $6 million in inheritance taxes incurred from her father’s death, bias among the media regarding her gender, and a rival horse named Sham. Secretariat, or “Big Red” as his fans knew him, was the solution to both. After trying in vain to sell the breeding rights to this otherwise untested horse to pay for the inheritance taxes, Penny needed Secretariat to win all three “Triple Crown” races to escape debt and family ruin.

Although he always seemed to start dead last and was maddening to watch, Secretariat won all three exhilarating races… and the rest is history. Secretariat is a wholesome movie that any family member will enjoy. With picturesque southern settings, exhilarating horse racing scenes, an upbeat soundtrack, and classic 70s wardrobe, Secretariat will undoubtedly exist in the pantheon of Disney true-life movies such as The Rookie and Remember the Titans.

The Interviews:
The Secretariat experience just kept getting better, as I was asked to interview Diane Lane and director Randall Wallace at the Four Seasons Hotel in Boston.

After enjoying some of the perks generally given to famous journalists (such as chocolate chip cookies and Fiji water) I was ushered into the first conference room along with 3 other reporters for our interview with Secretariat director Randall Wallace (famous for screenwriting Braveheart). A tall, thoughtful man, Wallace captured us with his presence and engaging storytelling. Some brief highlights of our time with him:

On his upbringing:
Born and bred in the south, Wallace originally studied religion with the hopes of being a pastor, but quickly realized religion wasn’t his calling. He moved to Nashville to pursue a country music career, eventually ending up out west to attempt screenwriting.

On success:
“As a lawyer or a doctor there is a ladder model for success. You know where the bottom rung is, and you do your best to climb up to the top. As a writer, there are many unique ways to success, and that’s what drew me to [writing]. It’s like, once you are in the woods, you find out very quick that you can be a craftsman.”

On parenting:
“Before he went to college I took my son to Ireland and set him up with some criminals I met while filming Braveheart. I wanted him to know there were people in this world who want to knock your teeth out just because they are straight. I asked them to teach my son how to fight. The lesson was not about violence, it was about commitment and loyalty.”

On his choice to begin directing:
When asked why he tried his hand at directing after so much success screenwriting, Wallace claimed he found screenwriting to be a natural process for him. He said directing allowed him to utilize his passion for visuals and music. Also, having the final say on casting, a crucial part of the movie process, is an important facet of the job.

On how “truthful” the true story of Secretariat is on film:
When asked about the accuracy of the Secretariat movie, Wallace responded, “I never let facts get in the way of the truth.” He continued, “Movies are works of impressionism” meaning they interpret a story, not belabor over the truth.

On the religious symbols in Secretariat:
Wallace saw Secretariat as an example of transcendence. He says, 
“The horse’s physical achievements, a miracle in itself, went beyond what anyone thought was possible.” The song “O Happy Day” was featured throughout the film, and Wallace loved how no matter who or where you are, that song will make you celebrate – just like Secretariat.

On working with horses:
“You live in the existential moment of surprise, and you embrace the majesty of the animal.” And with that, he was gone.

After a brief 20 minutes, we were shuffled over to Diane Lane’s conference room. She was strikingly beautiful, with long flowing dark hair – a stark contrast from the blonde locks she sported in Secretariat. After some pleasantries and some uncomfortable staring by me, the interview began:

On Secretariat:
“This horse was like Elvis, he conjures up everything I believed about horses, mostly that they were capable of greatness. When Secretariat saved the day, everyone had smiles on their faces and joy was around again. The cynicism and that gray cloud [over the 70s] blew away for awhile.”

On choosing this role:
“Most of the interesting roles for women, the flawed characters, are on the small screen.” She explained how she could relate to Penny’s maternal guilt and wanted to bring that struggle to the film. She understood the family’s voyage and investment Penny’s family put into Secretariat and her own family can relate.

On acting as a real person vs. a character:
“Its more of a democracy when you’re portraying someone you can sit across the table from…She vetted the whole script and knew what we were getting into… The fact that she came to the set and was willing to help with the project, most people don’t get to be around when they make a movie about your life, it was very surreal for both of [us].”

On working with John Malkovich:
“I’m a huge fan of his, they just don’t make men like that often enough. He’s a renaissance man, he directs his operas and plays and he writes and he has his clothing line and he’s a comedian… he taught me how to cook while we were filming! My hats off to him no matter what. I would’ve liked to have more screen time with him because he raises everyone’s game. If you read the script and do not have Malkovich in that role, it loses its color.”

Disclosure: I received free admittance to a press screening of Secretariat and interviews with Diane Lane and Randall Wallace via Allied Integrated Marketing to facilitate this review. During the movie I ate an entire bag of Reese’s Pieces (which I paid for myself.)

Matt Moretti is a Project Manager at Mom Central Consulting and is not afraid to admit that he cried during the ending of Secretariat… and well, most Disney movies.

Stacy DeBroff

Stacy DeBroff, founder and CEO of Mom Central.com and social and digital consultancy, Influence Central, is a social media strategist, attorney, and best-selling parenting author. A sought-after expert for national media, she trend-spots regularly with national brands and speaks frequently to national and international audiences on a wide range of subjects, including influencer marketing, social media, entrepreneurship, and consumer trends. A passionate cook, gardener, reader, and tennis player, she adores this new chapter of post-college-age parenting.