By Trevor King
Steven Spielberg's latest release is yet another epic—is he capable of anything else (that doesn't include an alien)? Adapted from Nick Stafford's popular stage drama and Michael Morpurgo's book, “War Horse” centers around Albert Narracott (ably played by Jeremy Irvine), a young boy coming-of-age in rural England during World War I.
Prior to the war, the boy's father, a drunken farmer, purchased a fine young horse at a town auction, out-bidding his landlord. His impulsive purchase jeopardizes the family's finances, and the only way they can avoid being evicted is to produce a successful crop in time for the autumn harvest. But the field is full of rocks and hasn't been tilled in years. The family's only hope for survival lies with the young colt.
The opening scenes of the film feature expansive shots of England's beautiful landscapes. Dramatically colored skies reflect the intimate emotions stirred up by tender scenes of the boy training his horse, Joey. The music pulls at your heartstrings as the orchestra evokes a symphony of fine-tuned emotions.
Forces beyond the Narracotts' control lead to the divergence of Albert and Joey's narratives as WWI begins to rage, ravaging picturesque countrysides. Each persists while in the midst of trench warfare, clinging to the hope that the other survives and that fate will reunite the estranged souls when the time is ripe.
Some scenes fall a little flat in the context of WWI. Familiar tropes of war manipulate the audience's emotions, at times feeling contrived and conventional for a family-friendly movie. But the cinematic grandeur and the background symphony still create an epic feel, and Spielberg expertly weaves intertwining narratives to paint an endearing portrait of a boy's relationship with his “War Horse,” fully showcasing his skills as a director and producer.
146 Minutes
Rated PG-13
Playing this weekend at:
542 Westport Avenue, Norwalk, CT - (203) 846-8797
118 Summer Street, Stamford, CT - (203) 323-1690
Fairfield Cinemas at Bullard Square
41 Blackrock Turnpike, Fairfield, CT - (800) 315-4000
Trevor King's first name means “farmer boy” in Old English, or “careful” or “prudent.” The interwebs told him so. He finds it fitting and thinks his first and surname make for a nice paradox. Speaking of paradoxes, Trevor is only ironically writing in the third person right now. If he could think of an oxymoron at the moment, he'd obnoxiously try to tie that in too.
I graduated from Dartmouth in June of 2011 (Conan delivered my commencement speech—watch it if you like to laugh!). There, I was lucky enough to assist world-class professors with their research and writing in our Education and Government departments. I graduated with a major in Psychological & Brain Sciences, though I always romanticized about being an English major and even served afternoon tea in Sanborn Library, which houses our English department.
I'm now the Director of Admissions at Andover College Prep, a high school aiming to revolutionize the educational system in America.