I put off writing this review for a long time. I actually had the opportunity to screen War Horse several weeks ago, but haven’t had the heart to put words to (digital) paper. I had many problems with the flick; but it wasn’t a bad movie. In some ways, I had the same reaction to one of director Steven Spielberg’s earlier films, Schindler’s List: Great movie, but I don’t have some burning desire ever to see it again. War Horse is similar in that regard: There was a lot to like about the movie, but it isn’t one that is ever going to find its way onto my DVD shelf.
Before I get any further, I have to warn you. Touchstone is promoting War Horse as the feel good movie of the holiday season. Between that marketing, and the Christmas Day release, one would reasonably think this is a good movie to take the kids to. One would be very, very wrong to make that assumption. But, more on that later.
War Horse is the story of a boy and his horse set against the background of the first World War. Originally a book by Michael Morpurgo, and then adapted for the stage by Nick Stafford, the film was both directed and produced by Spielberg. Jeremy Irvine plays Albert, a young Irishman who bonds with the stallion horse Joey that his hapless drunkard father purchases to help on the farm, a job a work horse would be much better suited for. When the war starts, the boy’s age and the family’s finances send the horse to battle while his owner waits until he’s of age to join the effort. Both experience the hells of war separately before finding each other just as the conflict comes to a close. Reuniting isn’t necessarily the same thing as living happily ever after, so I’ll leave that particular part of the story unspoiled for those who’ve not yet read the book or seen the play.
The cast is filled with plenty of familiar faces: a couple of Harry Potter vets in David Thewils and Peter Mullan, the definitive Sherlock Holmes – Robert Downey Jr.’s films be damned – Benedict Cumberbach, the “big bad” in arguably one of 2012’s most anticipated films (The Avengers) Tom Hiddleston and, if you look hard enough, Liam Cunningham, a man that fans of Game of Thrones are going to become very familiar with in the next year. Sadly, though, only one performance really stands out. Emily Watson owns the screen as Albert’s mother Rose, but, because of the narrative structure, doesn’t get that much screen time.
I generally try to stay as far away from spoilers in my reviews, but it is hard to touch on my biggest problem with the film without treading onto that ground, so be aware: Spoiler Warnings are in effect for the rest of the text. I went into War Horse uninfluenced by knowing the source material, and screened the film before the big marketing push had started. But as I walked out of the theatre, I knew that the people would later walk in expecting War Horse to be “feel good.” My reaction to the film couldn’t have been further from that feeling. As Joey experiences the war, he is “owned” by a series of people whom – for the most part – care for the animal and treat him well, however, just about every single one of these “owners” meets with an unfortunate fate. As the film comes to a close, and the audience is supposed to be inspired by Albert and Joey’s eventual disposition, I couldn’t help but think of all of the characters that paid for that happiness at great cost, let alone the different cruelties Joey experienced in the war. Nothing wrong with that kind of story, but I don’t think that’s what people will be expecting this holiday season.
Clacked by Ivey West 
on Dec 23, 2011 @ 02:35 EST5EDT
