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I love Steven Spielberg.. I love it more it when he does honest filmmaking. I am also a sucker for films about animals and children and he combines both with a flair and mastery few can. I got to see an advance screening at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences last night in Bevertly Hills.
Seeing something as brutal, horrifying and human as war through the innocent eyes of a horse is a form of storytelling, that only Spielberg could pull off with honesty and authenticity.
The Film's begins with the birth of a foal, as a 15 yr old Albert ( new comer and stunningly handsome -Jeremy Irvine) watches from afar. He lives on a farm in Devon rented by his family – father (Peter Mullan) and mother (Emily Watson). When his father drunkenly buys the same beautiful horse for three times its value during an auction , and brings it home, Albert becomes enamoured with it and trains it, naming it Joey. Yes, there is the evil Land baron here that comes into the picture. He's the reason the father bids so high.
Their bond becomes as strong as possible between a human and an animal.( grab the tissues. A box of them)
There are two battles scenes that will blow you away. Equal and as disurtbing as the SAVING PRIVATE RYAN battle scenes, you might just have to look away. The scene in which the horse becomes entangled in barbed wire while running through no-man's land will have you twisting and sqirming in your seat.
A scene with two German boys will leave you with your jaw dropped.
AND..then, one of most touching scenes, is set in "No Man's Land", involves a German and an English soldier, a pair of wire-cutters, a horse and a conversation about home. Its Spielberg at his best.There are scenes between two horses that will amaze you as we see the emotion thru their eyes.
The score by John Williams is magnificent..and at times a tad over powering but beautiful nonetheless..
War Horse is as flawless a movie as we've ever seen from Steven Spielberg. GO SEE IT!
read the making of WAR HORSE HERE
