The Horse Whisperer

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Matthew D A very gentle and patient film that gives every character moments of heartfelt depth. Director Robert Redford’s neo-Western drama The Horse Whisperer (1998) is surprisingly engaging and moving. Redford directs these incredibly intimate and vulnerable performances from his stellar ensemble that I found very touching. He lets his actors and actresses feel real and conflicted about their raw emotions. It’s a beautiful film with vast grassy plains, wavy hills, and tons of pretty horses. Redford’s direction starts off with an exciting and horrifying accident that genuinely shocked me. Then he takes his time with appreciating each person and horse’s trauma with how best to help them heal. It’s a very mature, adult, and nurturing picture. I just think it’s lovely. It’s precious to see Redford in his favorite horse ranch environment. You can tell that The Horse Whisperer was a very important passion project for him. Writers Richard LaGravenese and Eric Roth take care with each person and their individual traumas, frustrations, anger, isolation, loneliness, romance, humor, regrets, fears, and hope. The Horse Whisperer takes everything very seriously and earnestly for a mature tone. I really felt empathy for each of their pains. It will make you want to consider those around you more tenderly with empathy and patience, much like Robert Redford patiently cares for this wounded horse Pilgrim. Robert Redford is very cool, calm, and tender as the affectionate and tough horse rancher Tom Booker. He’s an understated hero in a way that Redford excels at portraying. He’s very handsome, funny, and likable, but it’s his gentle manner with helping Scarlett Johansson’s little girl heal her trauma that is the sweetest stuff. Scarlett Johansson is adorable, moving, natural, and powerful as the injured little heroine Grace MacLean. She comes across as a real teenage girl who is hurting inside and frustrated with her mother’s high standards and lack of empathy. This is honestly one of her greatest performances. I love her scenes with her horse Pilgrim. Kate Bosworth cameos as Grace’s best friend Judith, who perishes in the shocking opening accident. Kristin Scott Thomas is fantastic as the heartbreaking mother Annie MacLean, who is having trouble opening up and reaching out to her daughter. She feels very harsh, then opens up as she gets to know Redford. Kristin Scott Thomas is a very versatile actress, and it’s nice to see her so expressive. Sam Neill is excellent in his brief role as her husband Robert MacLean, who really cares about his daughter. He’s very natural and sincere. Dianne Wiest is pleasant as the sweet rancher’s wife Dianne Booker. It’s fun when she’s stern with her husband that Chris Cooper plays so endearingly as Frank Booker. They’re a fun pair of supporting characters. Cherry Jones is excellent as the concerned horse caretaker Liz Hammond, who thinks the horse Pilgrim should just be put down. Ty Hillman is great as the fun loving rancher kid Joe Booker. Editors Freeman A. Davies, Hank Corwin, and Tom Rolf cut these loving montages of horse riding, horses galloping themselves, horse washing, cattle roping, and cattle branding. They linger on the heartfelt emotional scenes and allow us to really get to know the characters. Cinematographer Robert Richardson’s stunning wide shots of the ranch grasslands are something else. Composers Gwil Owen and Thomas Newman’s film score is amazing with a gentle style that swells with emotion. In all, The Horse Whisperer had me enthralling even for a massive 169 minutes. Scarlett Johansson, Kristin Scott Thomas, and Robert Redford are fantastic. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/30/25 Full Review Vanessa W. Who drives away from Robert Redford..?! 😍 Slow but good watch 👍🏼 Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 09/27/25 Full Review Stephen C Success in 2 hours and 48 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ages 13 and older!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The USA grossed over $75,400,000.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/16/25 Full Review Chet M I could see how it was going to end so that ruined it for me. I just turned it off. Redford's unemotional acting does nothing for me. So he has good hair that is not enough for me. I appreciate the delicate touch with the kissing scenes. I think they could have smoothed out the ugly scenes about the horses injuries. That was enough to turn me off. I just wanted to see Scarlett Jo. Romanticizing the ranching life is a joke for anyone who has lived it or been near it. Still worth watching though compared to most of the dull, pointless efforts we see these days. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 07/27/25 Full Review Gregory S I enjoyed how patient that Redford was with the story. Nothing was rushed. It is definitely a love letter to ranch life. Scarlett was incredible in this role. Especially for her age. The cinematography was absolutely gorgeous, as most Redford movies have. Just a great movie to watch on a day that you want to relax and slow things down. One thing that I really enjoyed was listening to Scarlett discuss working with Redford during this movie. If you get a chance to check out her interviews regarding this movie, it’s pretty incredible. Of course, I am here reviewing a movie that I have already reviewed due to Redford passing yesterday. Dude was just a great soul. He is a human that the world is less great without. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 09/18/25 Full Review Tim M Overlong and a tad sentimental, The Horse Whisperer nevertheless finds its stride thanks to committed performances and tender direction from Robert Redford. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 05/18/25 Full Review Read all reviews

The Horse Whisperer

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