Buck

PG

Released Jun 17, 2011

1 hr. 28 min.

Documentary

List

90%

105 Reviews

Tomatometer

89%

2,500+ Ratings

Audience Score

American cowboy Buck Brannaman has a unique way of communicating with horses, and it's exactly this unorthodox style of training that inspired the novel "The Horse Whisperer." In this documentary, director Cindy Meehl gets to know the real-life Buck as she reveals his fascinating story about how an abusive childhood helped teach him the compassion and insight needed to train horses, not with punishment but by treating them the way he would treat humans -- with respect.

Read More

Read Less

Prime Video

Apple TV

Rent Buck on Prime Video, Apple TV, or buy it on Prime Video, Apple TV.

Jerod S

Documentary on a true horse whisperer. I'm not a docu guy - but his ability with horses was intriguing.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

04/05/24

Full Review

george s

Outstanding! You won't want it to end.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

maelstrom e

Authentic and heartfelt, even if the viewer has no horse experience, they will likely be able to relate to some part of this.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

A good documentary is entertaining, educational, informative and usually makes you leave the theater thinking long after the movie has ended. While many documentaries have a political or moral stance, it is the rare documentary that fulfills all of the criteria for a good documentary, yet really has no purpose other than to enlighten. "Buck," is the documentary of real-life horse whisperer Buck Brannaman, his path to the life he chose, the lessons he learned as a child and how he took the right path as an adult in spite of his past. "Buck" was timely for me as it represented what is in my heart at the moment. Wanting to enjoy each moment as they come. Not dwell on the past. Turn the negative things that have happened to me into positive things for the future. While the documentary did serve to tell Buck's story, as well as give insight into the amazing work he does as a horse trainer, it did much more. It displayed immense insight into fatherhood, parenting, patience and living for the positive things in our short lives. While watching, I frequently thought of my estranged father-in-law, whom I believe would love this movie. Not only as a father, but also as a love for the roots of what makes a good cowboy. "Buck" is a beautifully shot film with a captivating, heartwarming, as well as heartbreaking, story. I couldn't encourage seeing it more.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/16/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Would have been 4 stars until he blew it badly (SPOILER ALERT!!! STOP!!)--by telling that poor woman to have her gorgeous but crazy stud killed. Some horseman. And no, don't let an assistant threaten & scare him into attacking (that's NOT how you sack out a green horse! Slow & gentle! But no one tried that with this horse.) If they're just going to give up on him, why not geld him, pull his shoes & turn him out with older horses? (Plenty of land.) Wrongly handled thru-out. Next time give him to Hempfling.

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

02/05/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Not only it's generally insightful on the fresh subject that shows potential in being inspiring, the best aspect is being a captivating titular profile on Buck Brannaman like you're witnessing his gift as a horse whisperer and attending his clinic session, backed-up with depth of his life story that's stretched to his present. (A-) (Full review TBD)

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/17/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Post a rating

Cindy Meehl

Director

Buck Brannaman

Actor

Gary Myers

Actor

Bibb Frazier

Actor

Betty Staley

Actor

Gwynn Turnbull Weaver

Actor

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

94%

81%

Life, Animated

TRAILER

for Life, Animated

90%

73%

A Place at the Table

83%

84%

The Elephant in the Living Room

76%

58%

Rejoice & Shout

100%

93%

Racing Dreams

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Critics Consensus: It’s Not Easy Being Green Lantern

View more photos

Chris Norris

Film Comment Magazine

Meehl roots this redemption tale in carefully observed demonstrations at his clinics, even as the gorgeously shot landscape reminds us why stories like this are Hollywood's very lifeblood

Nov 7, 2013

Full Review

Catherine Shoard

Guardian

There's a whole heap of Americana to wallow in here, but it's testimony to the director and subject that Buck still trots along at such a lick.

Rated: 4/5

Apr 27, 2012

Full Review

Derek Malcolm

London Evening Standard

An unforgettable film about an extraordinary man.

Rated: 3/5

Apr 27, 2012

Full Review

Richard Propes

TheIndependentCritic.com

How did no one think to make a documentary about this guy before?

Rated: 3.5/4.0

Sep 4, 2020

Full Review

Felicia Feaster

Charleston City Paper

Buck offers a good-natured amble through one man's compelling life path.

Jan 17, 2020

Full Review

Mattie Lucas

From the Front Row

It has a strange and enigmatic beauty, bringing the myth of the American cowboy to startling and compelling life.

Rated: 2.5/4

Aug 5, 2019

Full Review

Read all reviews

Synopsis

American cowboy Buck Brannaman has a unique way of communicating with horses, and it's exactly this unorthodox style of training that inspired the novel "The Horse Whisperer." In this documentary, director Cindy Meehl gets to know the real-life Buck as she reveals his fascinating story about how an abusive childhood helped teach him the compassion and insight needed to train horses, not with punishment but by treating them the way he would treat humans -- with respect.

Director: Cindy Meehl
Executive Producer: Cindy Meehl
Distributor: IFC Films
Production Co: Motto Pictures
Rating: PG (Thematic Elements|Mild Language|An Injury)
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jun 17, 2011, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Feb 21, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $4.0M

Most Popular at Home Now