ThiefHott
Too much of everything
GurlyIamBeach
Instant Favorite.
VeteranLight
I don't have all the words right now but this film is a work of art.
851222
Greetings from Lithuania."The Horse Whisperer" (1998) is a lovely, amazingly looking, superbly acted, paced directed and written romance / and a bit ("fantasy romance") drama. The story itself, yes, predictable, but never dull or boring. I loved the romance aspect of the movie, i loved the whole "Horse Whisperer" thing. I love country music, west, so this movie is for me. It has an amazing soundtrack - "A Soft Place To Fall" - and it plays in a movie itself amazingly - stunningly good sequence. Overall, "The Horse Whisperer" is a bit predictable romance drama, but it is an amazing "guilty pleasure" movie. Now i do not thing the real country life is as romantic as it was shown in this movie, but hey - this IS a movie, and an amazing one.
jimsboatworks
This is a pretty good story, a bit too slow at times. The scenery is what makes this film tolerable, sometimes enjoyable. Some of the equestrian practices shown are not depicting correct or safe methods, but this is normal in films. Horses don't flip out like people in the first place. They may be scared of places, sounds and things where the trauma occurs, but would never become psychotic as shown here. The other troubling thing I kept seeing over and over in the film is Scarlet Johansson's character kept trying to do things with her prosthetic instead of her good leg. I myself had a slow healing broken ankle and spent 9 months on a cast. You learn to use your good leg quickly, like when trying to climb a corral fence and mounting a horse from the side of your good leg, not your bad. These little film maker faux pas and the acting by Kristin Scott Thomas (trying too hard, obvious fake smiles- how hard is it to smile?) kept this from being an excellent movie.
Wuchak
"The Horse Whisperer" (1998) is a drama with Western elements starring Kristin Scott Thomas as Annie, a workaholic magazine editor from the Big Apple, who takes her troubled daughter (Scarlett Johansson) and horse across the country for succor after a horrible tragedy. Can Montanan horse expert Tom Booker (Robert Redford) help them? Sam Neill is on hand as Annie's husband in an aloof marriage.This is an outstanding drama that proves that ordinary life conveyed effectively is more engaging than the most overblown CGI-laden blockbuster with constant "exciting" things going on. Those types of movies have their place, of course, but they're usually only good when they include elements of ordinary life in which the viewer can relate (2009's "Star Trek" and 2013's "Star Trek Into Darkness" are good examples). As my title blurb points out, "The Horse Whisperer" is so potent it's a veritable spiritual experience (which I'll explain momentarily); you just have to be in the right mode for a long drama.One critic said Annie (Scott Thomans) and Tom (Redford) lack chemistry. Poppycock. Do you think director Redford would even do the film without the right actress in the starring role, an actress he had great chemistry with? Besides, the film itself proves this criticism wrong: There's a barn dance sequence late in the film that builds-up to a dance scene. Tom and Annie look deeply at each other from across the room until they ultimately come together, while still looking into each other's eyes. This is EXACTLY how a man and woman look at one another when they love each other. The film expertly captures this intangible element.Despite the above scene, "The Horse Whisperer" doesn't play like a steamy romance novel at all (not that I've ever read one, lol). Redford was 61 during filming and looks it, even though he definitely looked good for his age (Scott Thomas was 36-37, by the way). As such, the love elements are decidedly low-key – a look, a touch, a word – elements that slowly build over the course of the story. I'm not going to say any more or give away the ending, but it concludes the way it had to – excellent job on this front.Johansson does a great job, particularly considering she was only 12 during filming. It goes without saying, don't expect the voluptuous young woman she would soon blossom into for 2002's "Eight Legged Freaks" or 2003's awesome "Lost in Translation." Why do I call "The Horse Whisperer" a veritable spiritual experience? Because everything about it works to produce this effect – the story, the music, the cinematography, the locations – and maybe especially because it's a film about healing. Both Grace (Scarlett) and the horse desperately need healing, but so do Annie and her marriage; and I think maybe even Tom Booker.I don't know how else to describe "The Horse Whisperer" except to say that it's just a beautiful film and easily one of the greatest dramas ever made. If you love great films like "Grand Canyon" (1991), "The Green Mile" (1999), "Whale Rider" (2002) and "Dances With Wolves" (1990) you will also love this one. "The Horse Whisperer" shares qualities of these excellent movies, but is unique.To close, I'd like to share a powerful scene from late in the film (you might not want to read further if you haven't seen the movie, but it's only a mild spoiler at best): Booker tells Grace about this Blackfoot boy whom he was friends with and who became a paraplegic after an accident. Tom would visit him now and then, but the spirited boy he once knew was gone. It was as if he "just went somewhere else." Grace responds, "I know where he goes." The film runs 2 hours and 49 minutes and was shot on location in New York and Montana.GRADE: A
RNMorton
I had always dodged this movie, I think I still associated Robert Redford with what I thought were self-indulgent movies in the late 70s -80s. He never entirely gets away from being smug, but if you can deal with that this movie has a lot going for it. Scarlett J and her horse are involved in horrific accident which leaves both of them physically and psychologically scarred. Her mom Kristen Scott Thomas (always fine) tracks down horse whisperer Redford in Montana or thereabouts, and when he refuses to see them in NY she travels to his turf, Scarlett, damaged horse and all. Redford's family are nicely played, and there are tons of beautiful scenery where Robert calls home. What I liked best about this movie was the slow but persistent pace, along with the scenery and beautiful music. I would have played out the potential love interest between Redford and Thomas differently, but I really think the story is in the Redford-horse-Scarlett angle anyway. Much better than I anticipated.
