Similar in many ways with 1995's big screen adaption of "The Bridges of Madison County," Robert Redford's latest film, "The Horse Whisperer," is an emotionally compelling picture that features great performances, superb directing, and all around wonderful technical credits. Perhaps a bit too long and jettisoning some of the material from Nicholas Evans' original novel -- that may or may not upset its faithful fans -- the film should please audiences looking for mature storytelling in a season brimming with action-oriented fare.
Like "Bridges," this film features a middle-aged sex symbol who directs himself in a slow moving, but emotionally gripping story about a strong and confident silent-type who finds himself falling for a married woman in a wonderful country setting. While kids will obviously get a major case of the fidgets trying to sit through this film -- just like in Clint Eastwood's picture -- their parents and other adults should find this quite to their liking.
Directing himself for the first time, Robert Redford excels in both departments, and if ever a role was seemingly written for him, the part of Tom Booker is it. While Redford could have simply and easily played this character as the typical, near silent man who occasionally speaks learned words of wisdom, he instead creates an amazingly complex man who's experienced more of life than one initially suspects.
Of course much of the credit belongs to Evans for creating the character in the first place, but also to screenwriters Eric Roth ("Forrest Gump") and Richard LaGravenese ("The Fisher King") who do a wonderful job with all of the characters (and some marvelously compelling scenes). Even so, Redford gives the character that special touch that only he -- and a few other gifted performers -- can manage.
Kristin Scott Thomas ("The English Patient") is wonderful in her role as the concerned and harried mom and executive who eventually succumbs to the charm and beauty of the landscape of both Montana and Redford's chiseled face. Like Redford, she easily could have portrayed her character in the stereotypical "worried mother of a troubled teen" fashion, but Thomas brings so much more to her role.
The rest of the performances are first-rate across the board. Scarlett Johansson ("Manny and Lo") is quite believable as the teenager saddled not only with normal teenage angst, but also with the worry that no one will ever be attracted to her due to her altered physical appearance. Sam Neill ("Jurassic Park") is as good as ever playing the concerned and loving father, while Dianne Wiest ("Hannah and Her Sisters") is delightful in her smaller supporting role. The fellow who nearly steals the show, however, is Ty Hillman as Redford's young nephew. Making his acting debut, eleven-year-old Ty not only seems a natural in front of the camera, but he also plays such a well-mannered and behaved boy that you'd wish every child could be like him.
Technical credits are outstanding as well, and the lovingly photographed aerial footage of the majestic Montana landscape could easily have been shot for the state's tourism department. Redford, who won a best directing Oscar for "Ordinary People" and already displayed his admiration of the great West with "A River Runs Through It" and "The Milagro Beanfield War," certainly gets the best from his award winning cinematographer, Robert Richardson ("JFK," "Born on the Fourth of July"). Not only is the aerial footage stunning, but the interior work -- where he often uses massive amounts of contrast to give the light coming in through the windows and doors a near "heavenly" look -- is equally impressive.
As is the score from composer Thomas Newman ("The Shawshank Redemption") that equally captures the splendor of the scenery. One also can't forget the work of Buck Brannaman who is the film's equine technical advisor. Redford was reportedly determined to get the horse training scenes right -- figuring that those are a big part of the story -- and they certainly seem realistic enough to this untrained eye.
Criticisms are few and far in between, but there are a few things to consider. Having never read the Evans novel and only knowing the barest of facts concerning it, I can't assuredly state how much of the story has been changed. However, I do understand that they have altered some things and faithful readers of the original novel might not like those changes (as is often the case with cinematic versions of popular literary works).
Also, we never really get to know the how's and why's pertaining to Tom Booker's horse whispering gift. That is, other than the fact that he's capable of standing and staring for long periods of time that would stretch a normal person's patience and endurance. Of course we're supposed to accept and believe that his gift is somewhat mystical -- similar to the effects that the charm of the countryside has on the characters and the audience -- so this isn't too big a dilemma and isn't hard to swallow.
The film's biggest problem, however, is its length. At something approaching three hours (about 2:45), the film begins to feel a bit long about half way through (when most typical movies are beginning to near their conclusion). While I understand that Redford is allowing the laid back story and its wonderful scenery to calm us down from most of our frantic, rat race days, some judicious editing could have shortened the film without losing any major content. Long films like "Titanic" can support their "butt numbing" duration with action and high suspense, but a picture like this may just test some moviegoer's patience.
It will be interesting to see how the movie's length will affect its box office returns since it doesn't have that "Titanic" draw (the famous story and the heartthrob cast for the teen audience) and its run time will limit how many times it can be shown in any given day. Fortunately, the film looks great and the captivating performances and wonderful direction from Redford easily make up for the long time in the theater. I can't say how fans of the original novel will react to this adaption, but for those of us who never read it, this is a wonderful picture that nearly all of the family can enjoy together. We give "The Horse Whisperer" an 8 out of 10.
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