The Horse Whisperer (1998)
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73% of critics liked it
(56 reviews) -
70% of users liked it
(50,642 ratings)
Robert Redford directed himself for the first time in this romantic drama adapted from the 1995 best-seller by Nicholas Evans. Fourteen-year-old Grace MacLean (Scarlett Johansson of Manny & Lo) and her friend Judith go horseback riding in upstate New York on a winter morning, but their horses lose… More Robert Redford directed himself for the first time in this romantic drama adapted from the 1995 best-seller by Nicholas Evans. Fourteen-year-old Grace MacLean (Scarlett Johansson of Manny & Lo) and her friend Judith go horseback riding in upstate New York on a winter morning, but their horses lose their footing on ice and slide onto a road, where Judith and her horse are killed by a jackknifing truck. Grace and her horse are also seriously injured -- doctors must amputate Grace's right leg -- and the frightening incident leaves a lasting trauma not only on Grace but also on her horse, Pilgrim. Grace's mother -- magazine editor Annie MacLean (Kristin Scott Thomas) -- seeking Grace's recovery, feels there's a link between her crippled, embittered daughter and Pilgrim's behavior. Learning about a horse trainer with a special gift, she takes Grace and Pilgrim to Montana where horse whisperer Tom Booker (Robert Redford) lives on a ranch with his younger brother Frank (Chris Cooper), Frank's wife Diane (Dianne Wiest) and their children. Tom's work with the horse also has a rejuvenating effect on the guilt-ridden Grace. Annie loses her magazine job, and the low-key romantic involvement between Annie and Tom develops during the summer, stifled by the unexpected arrival of Annie's husband, Robert MacLean (Sam Neill). Screenplay by Eric Roth and Richard LaGravenese (who adapted The Bridges of Madison County). Filmed in Montana and Saratoga Springs, New York. ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi
- Directed By
- Robert Redford
- Written By
- Richard LaGravenese, Eric Roth
- Genres
- Western, Drama, Romance
- In Theaters
- May 15, 1998 Wide
- Studio
- Buena Vista Pictures
Critic Reviews
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Todd McCarthy, Variety
Directing himself for the first time, Redford has lavished his usual meticulous care on popular material that comes alive on the screen in ways that it never could on the page.
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Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
This has loads of craft and honor but never quite takes off.
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Andrew Sarris, New York Observer
We are not talking postmodern or even modern here, but the best kind of old-fashioned.
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, Time Out
It's a film-maker's love letter to himself.
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Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times
That lack of identifiable passion is The Horse Whisperer's most vexing problem.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Robert Redford
as Tom Booker
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Kristin Scott Thomas
as Annie MacLean
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Sam Neill
as Robert McLean
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Dianne Wiest
as Diane Booker
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Scarlett Johansson
as Grace MacLean
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Chris Cooper
as Frank Booker
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Cherry Jones
as Liz Hammond
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Ty Hillman
as Joe Booker
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Catherine Bosworth
as Judith
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Austin Schwarz
as Twin #1
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Dustin Schwarz
as Twin #2
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Jeanette Nolan
as Ellen Booker
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Steve Frye
as Hank
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Don Edwards
as Smokey
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Jessalyn Gilsig
as Lucy


