Seeing war through the eyes of Steven Spielberg is usually one dash of realism and two dashes of human triumph, a formula he once again turns to in "War Horse." Though not a great war movie, "War Horse" is a great story with old-fashioned movie values that will tug at the hearts of many of its viewers. For those that buy into its unabashed sentiment and uplifting path, you might even find yourself pondering the true insanity that soldiers and horse alike were forced to suffer through during World War One. It may not be "Saving Private Ryan," but "War Horse" is another well-made film from cinema's most talented optimist, making for a movie that seems built to be a major contender this awards season.
In many war movies, our protagonist signs up for the front lines due to mistaken pride or some false sense of duty, or something else equally as frivolous that leads them right to the middle of the chaos. In "War Horse," Albert Narracott (Jeremy Irvine) signs up for his horse, a beautiful thoroughbred named Joey that he becomes attached to when growing up on a farm in England. For many, it will seem like a ridiculous premise, but "War Horse" - based on a beloved book of the same title - is so earnest and forthright that it's hard not to get sucked in and starting rooting for both our heroes.
Opening in a rural town in England, "War Horse" shows us a beaten family that seems to be hopelessly stuck in poverty. Ted (Peter Mullan) is mostly a drunk, but not one of those miserable louses that we're used to seeing in the movies. When he goes to the market to buy a horse to help plow the fields, he simply can't help but exceed his budget and buy a shiny thoroughbred that he names Joey. His wife Rose (Emily Watson) may disapprove, but his son Albert takes an instant liking to Joey and soon the horse becomes a fixture of Albert's adolescence. It may have been the wrong financial decision, but there's much joy in watching the happiness that it brings Albert.
But England in the early 1910s isn't exactly the place of fairytales and soon Ted sells Joey to the army as Europe bulks up for war. Unfortunately, Ted has underestimated the bond that Albert has with the horse and in effect sends Albert running off to war himself. Though this may seem absurd, Albert at least knows what he's fighting for when he joins the ranks of his countrymen, and soon he's knee-deep in horrific trench warfare just like his beloved stallion. If a boy can fight and die for a cause he doesn't understand, why not for the love of a horse?
The plot itself is straight-forward, if not predictable, from this initial jumping off point, giving Spielberg many excuses to show that he's still one of the best cinematic technicians that we have, particularly when it comes to showing warfare on screen. Some of the night battle shots are so wonderfully executed that you feel like you're galloping right alongside Joey as he hurdles through the chaos. Even though the film is PG, it drips with a surprising level of realism without ever having to show the pure graphic detail Spielberg used in "Saving Private Ryan." From a purely technical standpoint, there wasn't a better movie released in 2011.
But the movie itself is limited by its very being. "War Horse" does an amazing job in showing the unlikely bond between a boy and a horse mainly viewed of as a tool by the army tacticians, though it doesn't seem to have a whole lot else to say. This does give us some interesting characters, such as the humorous drunkard Ted and the frank Captain Nicholls (Tom Hiddleston), but "War Horse" ends up occasionally getting dragged down by over-the-top sentiment, which is something that many of Spielberg's films seem to suffer from. Spielberg has once again found a nice story to tell and has told it with his usual mastery, but is it a movie that will stir us after the final credits?
Still, "War Horse" shouldn't be dismissed as typical Spielberg fodder, as a great deal of skill went into its making and there are moments that are so well done that you can't help but get completely brought into the story. Spielberg has also found a talented set of British actors, with Jeremy Irvine providing the centerpiece and giving us an easy to root for hero that is vital to the success of the entire movie.
If you're looking to delve deeply into the grim nature of WWI, Stanley Kubrick's "Paths of Glory" is a stunning display of the madness of trench warfare that is just as haunting today as it is was when it was made in the 1950s. Spielberg, who reportedly showed "Paths of Glory" to close friends after the death of Kubrick, also brilliantly captures the look and feel of the cold, dingy trenches, though he also finds a glimmer of hope that Kubrick wasn't inclined to search for. Despite the occasional moment that may cause a few eye rolls, "War Horse" by comparison is a good film that provides a new angle on the Great War that is well worth it for anyone that the subject matter might speak to. That Spielberg makes it look easy isn't his fault.
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June 12, 2026 17:14 ET Major central bank action was the focus this week in economic news. The European Central Bank became the first major central bank to move in response to the rising inflationary pressures in the backdrop of the conflict in the Middle East. In North America, the U.S. inflation and trade data as well as Canada’s central bank decision gained attention. The Chinese trade data was the main news in Asia.