In 1910's Devon, the young boy Albert Narracott (Jeremy Irvine) is one day given a horse when his drunken father (Peter Mullan) buys it at a fair. The boy and his horse, Joey, grow to be closer than brothers, but when the 1st world War breaks out, Joey is taken to be used on the front lines. While Albert searches for him, Joey must fight through the horrors of the war, which will take him from German Occupied France, to the very heart of No-man's land.
Beautiful. There is nothing else that can describe this film: it is simply beautiful. The English Countryside and the 1st World War have been brought to life in a way that can never be measured up to except for perhaps Saving Private Ryan (I know it isn't the same war, but the point should be obvious). The cinematography seeps of Spielberg, but in spite of this the story and the beauty on screen is all the more powerful, or horrific as the case may be. The cast giving winning performances, and every so often a famous face peers out of the crowd. But it is impossible to talk about the cast here, without referring to Joey the horse. If animals ever start receiving oscars, he deserves one hands down. The level of acting, yes it can be called that here, for this animal is astounding and the various tricks and performances he is forced to give would force the horses seen in The Lord of The Rings and Hidalgo to bow down and worship him as some sort of acting horse god. Even the relationship between Joey and Albert is heartwarming and plays the bongos on one's heart.
Having now seen it, I am even more puzzled why War Horse did not receive an oscar, for it is without a doubt an oscar winning film.
