'Seabiscuit' a sure bet among fans of race horse

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Writer-director Gary Ross grants lavish old-school treatment to a classic underdog (or underhorse) story in the rousing fact-based drama Seabiscuit, new from Dreamworks Pictures/Universal ($26.98 DVD, $22.98 VHS). It's our...

Video pick of the week

In Mr. Ross' adaptation of Laura Hillenbrand's best seller, a triumvirate of unlikely characters shepherds the long-shot eponymous equine to eventual track stardom: an owner (Jeff Bridges) seeking to overcome personal tragedy, an unorthodox trainer (Chris Cooper), and an oversized, essentially one-eyed jockey (Tobey Maguire). Mr. Ross wisely takes his time in building up their backstories and relationships as the film follows a traditional story arc leading to Seabiscuit's much-celebrated ultimate showdown with heavily favored reigning racehorse War Admiral.

The three leads prove more than reliable, with Mr. Cooper, fresh from memorable turns in "American Beauty" and "Adaptation," a special standout as laconic trainer Tom Smith, while William H. Macy lends additional color as radio track tout Tick Tock McLaughlin. Randy Newman contributes an appropriately lush (if occasionally overly manipulative) score, and the period designs rank among the best seen onscreen since last year's "Road to Perdition," similarly set in the 1930s.

Universal's widescreen edition gallops in with a wealth of welcome extras, including audio commentary with Mr. Ross and fellow filmmaker Steven Soderbergh, the documentaries "Seabiscuit: Racing Through History" and "Bringing the Legend to Life: The Making of Seabiscuit," Jeff Bridges' on-the-set photographs, and more. (For hard-core buffs, Universal also has a double-disc Special Edition, tagged at $49.98.) When it comes to holiday season home-viewing, "Seabiscuit" rates as a sure thing.

The 'A' list

In other theatrical-to-digital developments, the scare sequel Jeepers Creepers 2 (MGM Home Entertainment, $26.98) flies into area vidstores this week, in a special edition that incorporates audio commentaries, a behind-the-scenes documentary, five featurettes, storyboard scene comparisons and more.

In a lighter vein, Columbia/TriStar Home Entertainment debuts the romantic comedy "I Captured the Castle" ($24.95), set in Britain and starring Henry Thomas and Romola Garai, along with the action-packed The Medallion ($26.95), with Jackie Chan as a Hong Kong detective with newly acquired magic powers.

Rob Reiner's fast-vanishing romantic comedy Alex & Emma, with Kate Hudson and Luke Wilson, seeks to score a second life via Warner Home Video's new special edition DVD ($27.98), featuring audio commentary by actor Wilson and director Reiner, along with other bonus material. All of the above are also available on VHS.