Photo Source: Walt Disney Studios
No movie would dare try to imitate that experience, and the beauty of Steven Spielberg's adaptation of this splendid World War I story is that he doesn't. Instead, his film harks back to something David Lean might have done in his prime, the kind of stunningly photographed epic of big landscapes and large themes.
It is only appropriate that the source material for both play and movie is Michael Morpurgo's bestseller, which came out in 1982, the same year as Spielberg's seminal "E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial." That boy-and-his-alien story is as close a template to the more traditional boy-and-his-dog (or in this case, horse) story Hollywood has been churning out so well for decades but never as effectively as Spielberg did it then and now.
Set in World War I, the horse, named Joey, travels a memorable journey as he moves from owner to owner. He starts with a rough-hewn farmer (Peter Mullan) who buys him at auction, much to the chagrin of his landlord (David Thewlis). He brings him home to his wife (Emily Watson) and son, Albert (Jeremy Irvine), who trains Joey and takes care of him until he is once again sold and wends his way through myriad owners. These include a sympathetic English soldier (Tom Hiddleston), an elderly Frenchman (a terrific Niels Arestrup) and his granddaughter (Celine Buckens), and German soldiers. At times, what Joey is put through is harrowing to watch, including a scene (also in the play) in which he gets caught up in barbed wire.
What makes the film work so well is what made the play and the book click. It is full of heart, adventure, and emotion for a horse that is a hero in his own right. The actors, beginning with Irvine in his film debut, make you believe every moment. Hiddleston is especially good, bringing a three-dimensional, human quality to a small but key role. Watson is also fine in her few scenes, and Arestrup hits just the right notes.
Still, this movie belongs to a horse, and the joy of seeing what Spielberg hath wrought is knowing it is almost 100 percent real, with little or no CGI work. Janusz Kaminski's extraordinary cinematography soars, as does the score from John Williams, all helping Spielberg to make this such an affecting experience for all ages.
"War Horse" may be old-fashioned but in the best sense of the word. It's a triumph and a stirring movie not to be missed.
Genre: Drama
Written by Lee Hall and Richard Curtis
Directed by Steven Spielberg
Starring Jeremy Irvine, Emily Watson, Niels Arestrup, David Thewlis, Tom Hiddleston
