Matthew D
A surprisingly funny, romantic, heartfelt, and thoughtful Western drama about a cowboy who cares for a horse.
Director Sydney Pollack’s Western romantic comedy-drama The Electric Horseman (1979) is a lovely surprise to me. Pollack gives us a fun opening half making fun of shallow capitalistic corporations trying to see cheap cereal with a cowboy mascot, then he mellows out for a pensive second half with a cowboy taking care of a hurt horse. It’s very mature, but also quite entertaining. The jokes about the cereal promotions, the wisdom of the cowboy, the cute romantic flirtations, the wild car chase, and the quiet riding of the horse across the desert are all beautiful. Writer Robert Garland gives the cowboy grace, wisdom, foolishness, humor, cleverness, skill, and an aimless path to walk. The Electric Horseman is a strange, unique, and delightful Western that’s as funny as it is dramatically moving.
Robert Redford is fantastic as Sonny Steele, a worn and world weary cowboy. Redford gives Sonny a humorous and fed up personality. He’s likable and interesting as this complex tough guy. Redford clearly adores horses and really takes care of this prize stallion as he did in real life too. He makes Sonny feel like a cool rodeo cowboy, amusing cereal mascot, then a true hero for freeing this horse. Jane Fonda is funny and pretty as his love interest Hallie Martin. Her journalist is treacherous, annoying, amusing, romantic, and fierce with a big personality.
Valerie Perrine gets a wonderful supporting role as Sonny’s ex-wife Charlotta Bell, who shows affection and sorrow at their failed marriage. She’s so stunning in The Electric Horseman. Willie Nelson is delightful acting as Sonny’s rancher manager Wendell Hickson. He’s kind and considerate with a real sweetness to him. John Saxon is a riot as the cereal CEO Hunt Sears, who wants his prize horse back. Will Hare is funny as Sonny’s old pal Gus Atwater.
Editor Sheldon Kahn’s cutting lets us get to see the jokes, the journey, and the scenic landscapes without ever dragging down the storytelling. 122 minutes fly by as you gaze at cinematographer Owen Roizman’s stunning far wide shots of deserts, mountains, fields, and long winding roads. The close-up shots of Robert Redford’s ponderous cowboy Sonny are fantastic. Bernie Pollack’s electric cowboy suit for Redford is a scream once you see it. His blue denim jacket and blue jeans for Redford are a cool look for Sonny.
Composer Dave Grusin’s soft score is lovely and fits the melancholic tone of The Electric Horseman. Willie Nelson contributes several songs here for real Country songs and authenticity. “My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys,” “Mammas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys,” “Midnight Rider,” “So You Think You’re a Cowboy, and “Hands on the Wheel” are fantastic Country folk tunes by Willie Nelson. His forlorn voice is both sweet and melancholic. He admires the cowboys for their courage and free lifestyle, while also warning against their wayward ways. His songs perfectly fit the conflicted feelings of The Electric Horseman.
In short, Robert Redford is amazing as ever as the forlorn and considerate cowboy Sonny, who just wants to free a horse, much like finding his own freedom in life.
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
11/07/25
Full Review
Stephen C
Funny in 2 hours even!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! All ages admitted!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
09/16/25
Full Review
alan g
Robert Retred as drunken cowboy and Hanoi Jane as Bitchy NY reporter. What could go wrong? Everything. Two has beens reunite for crappy movie.
Rated 0.5/5 Stars •
Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars
06/18/25
Full Review
Eric B
This is a WILDLY under-rated film, no doubt because it wasn't edgy or spectacular enough for critics and audiences at a time when movies like "Star Wars" and "The Godfather" 1&2, were shaping expectations.
This was simply a GREAT story, with great actors, both in the Leads and in Supporting roles. It was a smaller movie, with tons of heart and a solid message/communication: Sell-out at your own peril, and that resonates in just about every human being.
One of my ALL-TIME favorites, and I'm out of Hollywood production, have studied film extensively, and am no mere Marvel fan. This film isn't meant to blow the theater speakers out, or splash blood onto your popcorn. It's just a simple story, with a ton of charm, and we don't see that enough nowadays.
Rated 4.5/5 Stars •
Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars
05/11/25
Full Review
Madam D
Saw this at the movie theater when it came out. Liked it alot then & now. Not usually a rom-com lover, but with Fonda & Redford it works for me.
Rated 3.5/5 Stars •
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
04/15/25
Full Review
Blu B
Weird concept for a movie. A RomCom Adventure Road Movie about a cowboy looking to set a corporations horse free with a reporter looking for a story escaping the law and everyone. It's a miracle this doesn't devolve into nonsense. It actually makes perfect sense. The Willie Nelson soundtrack is really good here but I wish it was used a bit more. It goes long stretches where it could be used more after the first few minutes. It's solidly made all aorund. It's got some beautiful scenery that evokes the likes of Jeremiah Johnson. It's also a very suprisngly quiet and low key type of road movie where a lot of crazy stuff doesn't happen. Don't get me wrong there is crazy things but nowhere near as crazy as something like Midnight Run or Planes, Trains & Automobile type antics. It really is focused on the characters motivations, the romance between them, and a few antics here and there. Where this struggles is the romancitc chemistry and the comedy is alright enough. It really never excels at either. Sometimes it can drag on a little too long because there just isn't that spark in the romance or enough laugh out loud moments. Just chuckles and some charm. Redford and Fonda are good in this with great performances but they just don't have hat much chemistry. What really carries this is the original quirky story and the solid direction to make up for that. There also is a bit of a animal rights agenda at times that can be a bit too on the nose sometimes from Redford a little here but it's not that bad, just noticeable. If it excelled better at one of the two it would really help but as it is, it's a Pollack, Fonda, and Redord deep cut classic. Anyone who is a fan of Pollack, any actors in this, or a very quirky low key romcom or road movie should check this out. Suprised it was solidly good.
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
09/20/24
Full Review
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