Tobey Maguire and Chris Cooper in 'Seabiscuit'

"Our horse is too small; our jockey is too big; our trainer's too old and I'm too dumb to know the difference." Thus spoke Seabiscuit's chronically optimistic owner Charles Howard (Jeff "Big Lebowski" Bridges) about his 3/4-size steed. Seabiscuit (played in the film by four different horses) was an unlikely champion despite his high-stakes heritage. He preferred comfy comforts like eating and sleeping, to competitive pastimes. Adding heft to the story and the saddle is rider Red Pollard (Tobey "Spiderman" Maguire) who often has to induce vomiting to make the 115-pound weight limit. And to make matters more incredible but true, Red is also half-blind, but makes up for his lack of physical vision with a spirit that is twice normal size. Though Bridges and Maguire both put in solid performances, Chris Cooper (Adaptation) stands out as usual as Seabiscuit's tight-lipped trainer Tom Smith. An old soul of few words, but whose firm, understanding hands and world-weary eyes speak volumes.

Though it takes a near-exasperating 45 minutes for Seabiscuit's characters to come together, at a racetrack in beautiful downtown Tijuana, there's no stopping once they're finally out of the starting gate and the motley crew begins to make its run for the roses and redemption. The thundering horseracing sequences – including a showdown between the ridiculously overmatched people's favorite, Seabiscuit, and the heavily favored rich man's toy, War Admiral – are the most exciting equestrian scenes since the epic chariot race in Ben Hur. They'll have you on the edge of your seat despite their rather forgone conclusion. Hint: there's a reason the movie is not called "War Admiral." And when both jockey and horse have to come back from near-death accidents, to defy doctor's orders and to race again, well, it's no surprise what happens, but it's still a pulse-pounding pleasure to watch.

Even with its yesteryear setting, a molasses-slow first reel and Randy Newman's schmaltzy soundtrack, Seabiscuit is a triple-crown achievement for writer/director/producer Gary Ross ("Pleasantville"). And the movie will doubtless appeal more to that lost demographic known as "grown ups" than to the typical summer target market of adrenaline-addicted dweebs and attention-span-deprived teens. Additionally, it isn't likely to inspire video-game manufacturers, and though a boffo opening weekend is possible, a sequel ain't likely – unless Dreamworks' honchos decide to bring everybody back from the dead to win a futuristic mechanical-stallion horserace against evil. You read it here first.

When Academy Awards are handed out next spring, however, don't be surprised if Seabiscuit is the odds on favorite. Especially due Best Supporting kudos is William H. Macy as motor-mouthed racing reporter "Tick Tock" McGlaughlin, whose comedic rants and raves are welcome relief and keep Seabiscuit's melodrama meter from parking in the red zone for the long term. So for proof that fiction isn't half as strange as truth, beat the summer heat and have a much easier time catching Seabiscuit than his opponents ever did.