***
Dir. Steven Spielberg
Between this and Tintin, it seems as though Spielberg is competing with Scorsese and Eastwood for another Oscar. Although this film lacks a certain essence that makes his classic works so captivating, it is very well done nonetheless.
War Horse tells the story of a farm boy named Albert (Jeremy Irvine) seeking to reunite with his beloved horse Joey, after the creature is recruited by British forces at the start of WW1. When Joey's second master is killed in action, he is then rescued by a young French girl and her grandfather. From there, the plot merges these stories together until fate returns the adventurous horse to his faithful master and friend.
The central problem with this, the Broadway musical, and the novel, is that the plot is an overtly outlandish sob story that tries to present itself as a compelling drama. Despite being dragged across the European continent and coming close to death more than once, the horse still manages to magically find its owner in the midst of a battleground at the conclusion. Then there's the fact that Albert's not that interesting a character. Other Spielberg films like E.T. explore misunderstood adolescents much more effectively. This guy is a mopey-dopey wimp lacking a lot of depth and intrigue.
However, from a cinematic standpoint, Spielberg once again demonstrates his innate ability as a visual storyteller. The best scenes are at the end when he gives a great depiction of trench warfare, much in the same manner as Saving Private Ryan and Band of Brothers. His methods of immersing audiences into the setting are executed brilliantly. Having teamed up with long time producer Frank Marshall once more, the team utilizes a very artistic vision to make this film.
And of course, a Spielberg picture wouldn't be complete without a great soundtrack by John Williams. The legendary composer's work here enhances the mood very effectively, and is definitely one of the movie's highlights.
Being one of the most celebrated and iconic directors in film history, it's only natural for Spielberg to make a just okay picture every now and then. Although the quality of this one is high, it's certainly no classic or masterpiece.
