War Horse

This is a story about the love between a man and his horse. Or rather, the sometimes slightly creepy love between a man and his horse. But mainly the totally incredulous story of a man and his horse who are parted by war but who are destined to be together regardless. Utterly ludicrous and grossly manipulative War Horse certainly is, yet somehow it just about works.

Based on a children’s novel, the film stars newcomer Jeremy Irvine as Albert Narracott, the son of a drunken farmer (Peter Mullan) whose pride forces him to challenge the local landlord (David Thewlis) during an auction for a thoroughbred horse. The end result is that the family’s annual rent is spent on a horse that won’t work the land. It is left to Albert to break in this horse, which, through lack of imagination, he christens Joey. Albert turns out to be a bit of a horse whisperer - either that or there’s something far more sinister going on between him and Joey - and they achieve a great feat which looks likely to save the farm.

And then it rains something shocking so Joey finds himself up for sale to the highest bidder. Unfortunately for him, he is sold to a rather pompous officer (Benedict Cumberbatch) just as war breaks out and Joey finds himself among the poppy fields in Flanders. It will prove to be an eventful war for Joey with taking on several owners including an incredibly irritating French girl and two German brothers with a rather unnerving fondness for each other. Meanwhile, in an effort to find Joey again, Albert is signing up for the war effort. These things never go well, do they?

War Horse is shamelessly sentimental. How could it not be when it is directed by Stephen Spielberg and written by Lee Hall (Billy Elliott) and Richard Curtis (Love Actually, Four Weddings and a Funeral), three men who have made careers out of eliciting tears from stony men? And if you allow yourself to be swept up in the epic love story of one man and his horse, you will no doubt find yourself a bit misty eyed as you leave the theatre.
Whether it is a film of any real substance is another matter entirely. It seems rather odd that Spielberg and his collaborators are intent on making us care for a horse when the action is set against the background of one of the most extraordinarily bloody wars the world has known. When it all goes a bit Saving Private Ryan, people are dying left, right and centre and, frankly, a horse is a horse, no matter how pretty he is. Perhaps, that is being a bit too cynical - War Horse is certainly best watched with that kind of attitude left at the door.

Still, it is a rather odd script. Sprawling doesn’t even cover it. During the excessive two and a half hour running time, Joey goes through owners like Elizabeth Taylor went through husbands. The film is at its most interesting, and original, when he switches sides – the Germans are given a fair go of it for once and though they are cruel to Joey and his mates, they are no crueler than the British who race them into a massacre. They could easily have slashed about 20 minutes by leaving out the annoying French girl, however. There’s also an unexpected homoerotic subtext going as well not only with the two German brothers who look far too fondly on each other for siblings but with Joey who seems falls very hard for another thoroughbred stallion while at war. What happens in Flanders, stays in Flanders, I suppose.

Where it truly excels is in the cinematography which deliberately echoes the classics (the final shot could have been lifted from Gon with the Wind) and in John Williams’ fantastic score. The acting is, for the most part, very good though Irvine occasionally looks a little bit out of his depth.

So saccharine at times that it will bypass your teeth and start rotting your brain, War Horse won’t please the beret wearing hipsters but it is a fine family film that will age well. Just prepare to blink back a few tears no matter how tough you think you are.

Stars: ***