Save your money for something good and enjoyable

It's a good bad... and worth a popcorn matinée. While it's easy to lament what could have been...

There is definitely an excellent idea hidden in the background of the film. Unfortunately, it's difficult to find it.

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties. It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

Sometimes people carry wounds more on the inside than outside. Beyond the reach of a doctor's knife, skill or medicine, or despite them, despair and gloom consume hearts. This is the case for both a girl and horse, Grace and Pilgrim, who barely managed to survive a tragic accident together. Even though Pilgrim appears beyond help, Grace's mother Annie is determined to see to his recovery. She hopes the horse will help make Grace happy again. Annie reads of a mysterious horse healer in Montana who sees into troubled souls and soothes inner wounds. Soon Annie, Grace and Pilgrim are headed across the country in a desperate bid to hire this horse whisperer and rebuild their lives.Montana with its big sky, spectacular snow-capped mountains and resplendent Yellowstone River valley bathed in moonlight, is one of the stars of the film. Other stars, both rising and established, include Robert Redford (the horse whisperer), Kristin Scott Thomas (Annie), Scarlett Johansson (Grace) and Sam Neill (Annie's husband). Redford is in his element. He carries the film with his rugged Western charm, folksy wisdom and wry humor. The connections he establishes with the other characters seem real. Much of the satisfaction of this film comes from its compelling themes; determining strengths and weaknesses, recovering from tragedy, rebuilding trust, the power of nature and good people in the healing process, the importance of patience and providing space for those in need, human sympathy with animals, and more.

The mother of a severely traumatized daughter enlists the aid of a unique horse trainer to help the girl's equally injured horse. The biggest problem with The Horse Whisperer to me at least was definitely the runtime i mean the film is 170 minutes and even tho i appreciate it for developing things in detail both in terms of it's plot and it's character development and situations, the film could have been told in somewhere around 120 to 125 minutes right? Also i didn't like the fact that Sam Neill's character was almost forgettable at times and takes half of the film to show up again. But even with it's problems the 3 leading perfomances from Robert Redford, Kristin Scott Thomas and a Young Scarlett Johansson were brillaint and the best part of the film especially Johansson who proves that she can do more than just Avengers and Ghost in the Shell. The cinematography and the overall direction from Redford is amazing and the rest of the supporting cast also does a good job in their specific parts, overall The Horse Whisperer does have it's fair share of problems but it's still an enjoyable drama with the best intentions both in mind, spirit and paper. (7.5/10)

This movie excels on many levels, but its unique quality is that it shows very clearly the healing of heart and body that takes place when we focus only on those things that really matter. The perfect place and way to portray this was through a lifestyle intimately connected with the earth (ranching) and a family steeped in traditional manners of simple honesty and courtesy.One scene which exemplified this focus-on-manners was when young Joe Booker (played by Ty Hillman) was talking with Grace. He asked her what it was like riding Pilgrim. She wasn't able to answer. He excused himself, politely.Joe Booker's manners and persona are always respectful, and this aspect of the movie, alone, tells us that we are in a far-different place, ethically, than modern-day U.S.A. Chris Cooper (as Frank Booker) does a magical job of showing this deep but practical respect for people and the land, as well. This deeply traditional and reverent family ranch was adeptly juxtaposed to the frenetic, distraught and disconnected life lived by the horse's owner's family.The sparse, direct and vital dialogue between Redford (as Tom) and Johanssen (as Grace) was the interface between those two worlds, and Tom's silence was just as significant as his succinct words. One lesson I got from this movie is the (sometimes graceful) acceptance of reality, including the changes that it brings.The scenes with Tom and Pilgrim are particularly insightful and intuitive, especially for Hollywood. We are compelled to wonder whether Tom had learned some kind of Native American energy (aura) assessment of the horse and had learned to communicate by controlled vibration or projected visualization. In The Horse Whisperer, Tom Booker healed two hearts, those of Grace and Pilgrim, while exposing his own to injury.The end result for the relationship between Annie and Tom, though, is not a formulaic tragedy or victory: The wounds must be realistically and gracefully accepted along with the pleasures enjoyed: A state of mind and soul that leads to an even disposition.One critical and beautiful part of the movie made me cry: Cherry Cooper (as veterinarian Liz Hammond) asked Annie for permission to "put down" Pilgrim. Hard-bitten executive Annie looked in Pilgrim's eyes.., and replied, "No."From this one word alone, we can see what Tom saw in her.I could have done without the branding/roping scenes, but that is perhaps my own denial of reality, and will not give this movie any fewer than ten stars.

one of the best films for me, I watch it each time with the same enthusiasm as the last and each time I see something new. Amazing. For various personal reasons I love this film. The acting from all, the story itself, the fact that Tom Booker doesn't quite engage on the telephone to the Annie, I thought he was rather shallow ie we are in Montana and I am not interested in anywhere else. Annie's sole commitment to healing the horse, whatever it takes, her pain and patience, the latter sometimes diminishing due to emotions. Scarlet excellent from beginning to end, the pain of her friend tragically dying, her horse being ill and near to death. I like Robert's ways, but prefer Tom. I watch this film at least once a month.