The Horse Whisperer (1998)

The mother of a severely traumatized daughter enlists the aid of a unique horse trainer to help the girl's equally injured horse.

Director:

Robert Redford

Writers:

Nick Evans (novel) (as Nicholas Evans), Eric Roth (screenplay)

Stars:

Robert Redford, Kristin Scott Thomas, Sam Neill

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 4 wins & 18 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Robert Redford	...	Tom Booker
Kristin Scott Thomas	...	Annie MacLean
Sam Neill	...	Robert MacLean
Dianne Wiest	...	Diane Booker
Scarlett Johansson	...	Grace MacLean
Chris Cooper	...	Frank Booker
Cherry Jones	...	Liz Hammond
Ty Hillman	...	Joe Booker
Kate Bosworth	...	Judith (as Catherine Bosworth)
Austin Schwarz	...	Twin #1
Dustin Schwarz	...	Twin #2
Jeanette Nolan	...	Grandma Ellen Booker
Steve Frye	...	Hank
Don Edwards	...	Smokey
Jessalyn Gilsig	...	Lucy, Annie's Assistant

Storyline

Teenager Grace MacLean (Scarlett Johansson) is riding her horse and is hit by a truck. To help heal her troubled and injured daughter, and horse, the mother, Annie MacLean (Dame Kristin Scott Thomas), takes them to Montana to recuperate at the ranch of Tom Booker (Robert Redford), a "horse whisperer", a horse healer of mystical talents. Annie proceeds to fall in love with him, as well.

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Plot Keywords:

horse | horse trainer | mother daughter relationship | montana | injured horse | 

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Genres:

Drama | Romance | Western

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for a disturbing accident scene

Did You Know?

Trivia

John Barry's original score for this movie was rejected. It ultimately became his concept album, "The Beyondness Of Things".

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Goofs

There is inconsistency with the mud covering Pilgrim throughout the movie. Even though he has been almost submerged in water on the ranch at least twice, the mud covering him is present, then it disappears, and is back again, as if the horse never was exposed to any water at all.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Judith: [waves] Hello!
Grace: [waves] Hello!

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Alternate Versions

The film formats the early scenes at a 1.85: 1 aspect ratio, and the Montana scenes at a wider 2.35: 1 aspect ratio. The Blu-ray release keeps everything at a 2.35: 1 aspect ratio, because if one tried to reproduce both aspect ratios on a Blu-ray, the picture would get smaller during the Montana scenes instead of wider. The screen on an HDTV cannot expand.

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Connections

Featured in Buck (2011)

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Soundtracks

Little Babies
Written by Corin Tucker, Carrie Brownstein and Janet Weiss
Performed by Sleater-Kinney
Courtesy of Kill Rock Stars
By Arrangement with Ocean Park Music Group

User Reviews

Slow but moving

Yes, I agree the film is slow and, perhaps, overlong. Yes, there appears little in common between the methods presented in the film and documented 'horse whispering'.

However this film needed to show the passage of time, which is, after all, the greatest healer. I found the film to be moving.

I was interested in a comment that there was no 'motivation' for the disfunctionality in the family unit. As one who has witnessed many divorces I feel that I can safely say that in real life these forces can be subtle enough to elude the participants; let alone an audience.

I was greatly relieved that the trite ending I envisaged didn't occur.

Overall if you want a gently paced but powerfully emotive film then it is to be recommended; a liking of horses helps greatly!!

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 May 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Horse Whisperer

Filming Locations:

Greenwich, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$60,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$13,685,488, 17 May 1998

Gross USA:

$75,383,563

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$186,883,563

Company Credits

Production Co:

Touchstone Pictures, Wildwood Enterprises

Technical Specs

Runtime:

169 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1