Horse Whisperer [VHS] [1998]

Speaking as one who read the book when it first came out in 1995, (and who has since re-read it several times!) I have to give full marks to Robert Redford for taking the time to make such a wonderfully captivating take on a story that I thought wouldn't be done justice to. I COMPLETELY disagree however to the ending and thought it would've been far better left untouched. But as usual, the Hollywood team always seems to want to stir things up and change bits just to annoy us!

This tells the story of a 13 year old girl called Grace, played to perfection by a very young Scarlett Johanson, who is the daughter to her lawyer father, Sam Neill, and her editor mother, again played to perfection by Kristin Scott Thomas. Annie, (Mum) is a very strong willed business woman who doesn't believe in quitting, no matter what the circumstances. She comes across as quite obnoxious and rude at times but as the scenes unfold, you realise that she just doesn't know how to be any other way. Robert, (Dad), is quite the opposite, which being a lawyer is rarely seen! Grace and Robert tend to just go with whatever Annie wants for a quiet life and are closer together than either are with Annie. It's obvious that although there is much love between all three, there are some definite issues surrounding the marriage.

One morning Grace goes out in the snow to meet her friend Judith. They're both keen horseriders and meet up at the stables to prepare the horses, Gulliver and Pilgrim. Whilst out riding, they decide to have a slightly longer ride and go back another route. They have to walk the horses up and over a railway bridge to cross the road below it. As they are walking up the embankment, Gulliver slips back down and Judith falls off leaving her foot caught up in the stirrup. As Grace is trying to gather the two panicked horses together, a 40 tonne truck comes around the corner. Pilgrim sees it and rears up against it trying to protect Grace but she too falls off. The truck swallows up Judith and Gulliver and slams into Pilgrim and Grace. Amazingly, the latter two survive.

What follows is the heart wrenching/warming story of the pair's survival and how their lives affect everyone and everything around them. Annie refuses to have Pilgrim put down, despite the many pleas from her vet, for fear that if Pilgrim dies, something in Grace will die too. She becomes obsessed with finding a way to 'fix' him and comes across some articles about a man called Tom Booker, a 'horse whisperer'. She contacts him but he refuses to have a look at her horse because he's too busy and lives a couple thousand miles away. Annie won't take no for an answer and decides to tell a few white lies and drives Grace and Pilgrim all the way from New York to Montana, leaving Robert at home to work.

Pilgrim is a completely destroyed horse now. His muscles are wasted away from lack of exercise and he's covered in scars. But more terrible than that is his mental state. He's a nervous, untrusting wreck of an animal and he won't let anyone near him. Annie turns up unannounced at the Double Divide, Tom's ranch, and pretty much demands that he come see her horse now that she's dragged him all the way out there. It's dislike at first sight!

Tom goes to see the horse and isn't sure he can do anything with him but agrees to try, for he feels for Grace. The therapy, (if that's what it's called), begins and it's touch and go all the way. As Pilgrim begins to mend, so does Grace and Annie learns that it's okay to let her guard down and relax. Pretty soon she and Tom are obviously sharing some feelings for each other.

This is another thing that got my goat up in the film. In the book they have a full on affair, sleeping with each other and what not, but although it's wrong, it's told tastefully so that you want them to be together. In the film all they do is kiss once! If they want you to believe how much they love each other, surely they can show a bit more to their relationship?

Anyhoo, the story ends happily with Grace finally being able to ride Pilgrim and the horse himself is quite a happy one, once again. Annie and Tom part with many tears and broken hearts to boot. No-one is any the wiser for their feelings for each other and so no-one gets hurt except them.

The visuals are absolutely stunning throughout this film. They are just as I have pictured them when reading the book. The supporting cast are just as great as the leads, with Dianne Weist playing Tom's sister-in-law and Chris Cooper playing his brother. I didn't cry as much during this film as I do when I read the book but it's still very moving just the same. I suggest the book to all of you who enjoy this film because it's just got so much more in it and the ending is literally one that you don't see coming! (Yes,yes, Tom dies as someone has already said, but it's the way it happens that counts!)

If you like epic films, watch this one. If you like romance, drama, oh and of course blowing big snot bubbles!, watch this! Sit back with a big bar of chocolate girls and enjoy! :o)

Although this is a truly magnificent film with a great script; impeccable acting from all four leads (Kristin Scott Thomas, Robert Redford, Sam Neill and a 13-year-old Scarlet Johannsen), admirable self-direction from Redford and cinematography that captures the very essence of the Montana grasslands, it will most definitely not be for everyone.

Let's begin with the pacing. The film is 16 minutes off being three hours long. If you're mad about horses, love pictures of landscapes, get lost in romantic movies or could watch Redford/Thomas all day, this is not a problem - time will fly and you should buy this film immediately. If, however, you're more of the action movie type, then the subtleties and nuances of the film will pass you by and the time will drag. A fair test might be “The Remains of the Day”; if you liked that, you'll probably also like this; if you felt nothing ever actually happened in that film, save yourself a rental fee.

The one other sticking point might be for those who read and loved Nicholas Evans' novel on which the film is loosely based: emphasis on the 'loosely' here. Although the film mirrors the book to start with ¬- the horrific accident that maims both horse and girl - the development of the two plot lines is given a different emphasis in the film. Hollywood have also done to the ending what they so often do ¬- as per “Captain Correlli's Mandolin” ¬- and changed it, not really for the better, though doubtless that was the intent. However, this epic is so good that, not only are you prepared to forgive this, but not knowing what is going to happen in the end actually adds a piquancy to the romantic angst that otherwise might be lacking.

This film is remarkable - it is so emotionally engaging that you can't help but fall in love with the film and the character's in it as they embark on their journey of healing and discovery.
The twists and turns that occur throughout the film keep the audience gripped and we are left feeling satisfied if a bit sad at the end of it all as the characters find themselves choosing the path to follow.
I highly recommend this film! A tribute to Redford's directing skills.