Movies about super athletes often contain elements of excitement, surprise and lots of heart, especially when the athlete must put extraordinary effort into making a mark. On ESPN’s list of the 100 top athletes of the 20th century is one surprise -- Secretariat. Ranked 35th, the horse is the only non-human on that list. Randall Wallace details the horse’s history in Secretariat, an engaging and heartwarming film about family, faith, a remarkable animal and an equally momentous woman who fought family and logic to do what she felt in her heart was the right thing to do.

Secretariat, the first horse to win the Triple Crown in 25 years, had a perfect journey for the big screen. But turning history into a compelling two-hour story would take a screenwriter who understood how to make the journey with an already known ending compelling enough to make people in theatre seats clap and cheer as if they didn’t know the end results -- exactly what happened in the two screenings I attended.

Wallace, the Academy Award-nominated screenwriter of Braveheart and director of We Were Soldiers saw something special in this story. “I have worked on many historical subjects as a filmmaker…in making a movie, you are making an impressionistic painting,” Wallace said. “You are choosing which facts to highlight and which facts to omit. So in this story, what people are going to feel is the deeper truth of what Secretariat and Penny accomplished.”

As the story opens, the Chenery farm in Virginia is experiencing solemn times. Mrs. Chenery has passed, and Penny Chenery Tweedy (Diane Lane) and her family have returned to console her ailing father (Scott Glenn). She’s also faced with figuring out with her brother Hollis Chenery (Dylan Baker) what to do with the financially stressed farm.

While Hollis, who sees the farm in terms of dollar signs, wants to sell all the assets including the horses, Penny has her father’s heart when it comes to these animals. With only one horse that might have a chance at being a real champion, Penny remains behind when her family returns home. She sets a course that will change their lives forever.

After an historic and good-old-boy tradition agreed upon in the past by her father; Penny attends a traditional coin toss with horse breeder Ogden Phillips (James Cromwell), to see which of two foals produced by Phipps’ stallion Bold Ruler and Chenery’s mares Hasty Matilda and Somethingroyal he wants. Penny puts on a good case of wanting Hasty Matilda, so when Phillips wins the toss, that’s the foal he chooses.

Left with the unborn foal that gets the name of Big Red when it’s born, Penny has insurmountable hurdles ahead of her. She sets out to find the right trainer, but when she approaches acclaimed horse trainer and now retired Lucien Laurin (John Malkovich), Penny finds he wants nothing to do with “stubborn horse owners” ever again. Slowly he’s lured to the job where his unusual style is another bit of allure to this story.

Penny faces many challenges. She’s running the farm, overseeing her ailing father, missing her own family during key times of her children’s lives and battling a men’s world to get her horse ready for major competition. Lane is remarkable in endowing Penny with a core of steel and a heart of passionate good will as she tackles every challenge. When all the odds point to failure, Penny looks right into the eyes of Secretariat and boldly moves on, putting her family at risk of losing everything.

That’s part of the charm and inspiration of this film, which opens with a quote from the Bible -- a portion of God's speech to Job in reference to the posture of Secretariat. Other inspiration elements in the movie include some of the music. And rather than being preachy, songs like “Oh Happy Day! When Jesus Walked” seems to motivate the movie audience to clap with joy.

Secretariat’s groom Eddie Sweat (Nelsan Ellis) is a faith-based soul who more than once inspires Penny to overcome hurdles and keep going in her pursuits. Ellis is quite enjoyable in this role. Real-life jockey Otto Thorwarth does an excellent job as Ron Turcotte, Secretariat’s jockey. He plays to Penny’s weaknesses and strengths exceptionally well.

There’s plenty of humor in Secretariat, mostly at the hand of Malkovich. Lucien not only dresses like a vaudevillian actor but has a quirky personality. But he’s a pro when it comes to knowing what to do with Big Red, and Penny’s decision to bring him on board was a pivotal moment in history. Margo Martindale, as the Chenery’s long time secretary, comes across as quite amusing and marvelous as a confidant, advisor and friend to Penny.

Of course, some of the biggest stars in the movie are the horses. Between three and five horses portray Secretariat throughout the film, and each one is absolutely stunning. Another 36 horses were utilized to recreate the races. The incredible work of horse wrangler Rusty Hendrickson meshes perfectly with the sensational camera work of cinematographer Dean Semler (Appaloosa), who doesn’t miss a single detail in bringing this story to life. From the beautiful early morning sunlit sky over the farm or the glistening dew on the tall grass offering a respite to the grazing Secretariat, to the heart pounding hoofs of horses on the track, every moment is stimulating.

With an inspirational script by Mike Rich (suggested by the book Secretariat: The Making of a Champion by William Nack), fantastic cast, and a director who went to great lengths to get just the right story on the screen, Secretariat ends up as a wonderful film for families, horse enthusiasts and anyone who enjoys a feel-good movie.

(Released by Walt Disney Pictures and rated “PG” for brief mild language.)

Review also posted at www.reviewexpress.com.