Gothamist

A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.

Gothamist

WNYC Listen Live

Donate

 

 

Arts & Entertainment

Movies this weekend: Seabiscuit & Camp


By

Jen Chung

Published Jul 25, 2003

Modified Mar 6, 2008


Share

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail


Never miss a story

 Email address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .


By

Jen Chung

Published Jul 25, 2003

Modified Mar 6, 2008


Share

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail


We rely on your support to make local news available to all

Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

Seabiscuit finally opens, after two years of reading about the plucky horse, with Oscar winners, nominees, and hopefuls in the production. Reiterating Gothamist's thoughts from earlier this week about the film, it's a very handsome adaptation (highlights being the cinematography, the race sequences, and William H. Macy), but a little bloodless at times, more reverential than rigorous - which may be a function of the adaptation process, though not always - yet certainly better than most of the Hollywood dreck out there now. The most fascinating thing might be the coordination and choreography of horses, humans and cameras.
David Edelstein of Slate feels there should be more Seabiscuit in Seabscuit. Roger Ebert liked, but not loved, it. Jami Bernard of the Daily News thinks the movie "get it right."

For something not produced with the words "Oscar bait" written all over it, but rather with "A fun, joyful experience," go see Camp. Set at a summer musical camp for teenagers, where Stephen Sondheim is God or at least Godot, and "honest-to-God straight boys" are catnip to both the boys and girls, Camp is a little cliche ridden but the performers and singing elevate it to something more honest and hilarious. The movie website is a bit weird, but one cool thing is that there are full length versions of some of the movie's showstopping songs available for listening, as well as clips from other songs.
Kenneth Turan of the L.A. Times says, "The singers know why they're there, we know why we're watching, and, for a moment at least, everything is right with the world." Gothamist on Camp earlier, when we saw it at New Directors/New Films.

Tagged

daily news

david

David Edelstein

entertainment

film

fun

gothamist

hollywood

Kenneth Turan

movies

New Directors

New Films

news

race

roger ebert

sports

stephen sondheim

this week

William H


Jen Chung

Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.

Read more

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


MORE arts-entertainment

Inside the hidden chamber that controls Lincoln Center's magnificent fountain

Gothamist went behind the scenes to learn how the NYC landmark keeps its majestic waters flowing.

By

Sonia Rao

Published Oct 23, 2026


In the algorithm age, NYC college radio DJs are still broadcasting the funky stuff

We dropped by WNYU to see what the next generation of radio DJs is up to. The answer is "Br00tal Beats To Study/Relax To."

By

James Ramsay

Arts & Entertainment

In the algorithm age, NYC college radio DJs are still broadcasting the funky stuff

We dropped by WNYU to see what the next generation of radio DJs is up to. The answer is "Br00tal Beats To Study/Relax To."

By

James Ramsay


A Queens prop shop shutters, bunnies find a home uptown, and more openings and closings

By

Hannah Frishberg

A new film invites you to eavesdrop on one of the greatest conversations in NYC history

By

Sonia Rao

The Knicks are NBA champions. Now they have to start dressing the part.

By

Sonia Rao


Never miss a story

Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.

Sign upEmail address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .