The Horse Whisperer | 
| Actors: Kathy Baldwin Keenan, Kate Bosworth, William 'buddy' Byrd, C.j. Byrnes, Chris Cooper
Studio: Walt Disney Video
Category: DVD
List Price: $14.99
Buy New: $5.62
You Save: $9.37 (63%)
New (50) Used (29) Collectible (1) from $4.49
Rating:  198 reviews
Sales Rank: 2302
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dvd, Letterboxed, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), French (Original Language)
Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
DVD Layers: 2
DVD Sides: 1
Picture Format: Letterbox
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 170 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.1
Dimensions (in): 7.3 x 5.3 x 0.6
MPN: DISD15640D
ISBN: 1558905227
UPC: 717951000859
EAN: 9786305128953
ASIN: 6305128952
Theatrical Release Date: May 15, 1998
Release Date: November 10, 1998
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
Although it's best viewed on a big theatrical screen to take full advantage of Robert Richardson's breathtaking widescreen cinematography, it seems likely that most people will see this classy romance in the comfort of their own homes. Adapted from the bestseller by Nicholas Evans and directed by Robert Redford, the film did respectable business at the box-office, but it was too sprawling and too soapy to be a bona fide hit. Redford stars as the title character, a Montana rancher named Tom Booker, who possesses the specialized talent of healing traumatized horses through careful and affectionate rehabilitation. He gets his most challenging case when he's sought out by a fast-lane New York magazine editor (Kristin Scott Thomas, in a role modeled after former New Yorker editor Tina Brown) whose daughter (Scarlett Johansson) was injured and traumatized by an accident that nearly killed her favorite horse. When mother, daughter, and horse arrive at Booker's ranch, the big-city editor falls in love with the serene rancher and faces the painful decision of whether to stay in Montana or return to her husband (Sam Neill) in New York. Some may find this to be much ado about nothing, and comparisons to The Bridges of Madison County are inevitable, but Redford's directorial approach offers the kind of graceful stature, tenderness, and intelligence required to elevate the simple story. The film takes all the time it needs to let its characters heal and make their important decisions, and that alone makes it a refreshing alternative to the frantic pace of most big-studio productions. --Jeff Shannon
Product Description
THE MOTHER OF A SEVERELY TRAUMATIZED YOUNG GIRL INJURED IN A HORSEBACK RIDING ACCIDENT THAT KILLS HER BEST FRIEND SEEKS OUT THE HELP OF A UNIQUE HORSE TRAINER IN HOPES OF HEALING THE GIRL'S EQUALLY INJURED HORSE. THEY TRAVEL TOGETHER TO MONTANA TO CONVINCE HORSE TRAINER TOM BOOKER TO HELP THE HORSE.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 193 more reviews...
 Like Redford himself the movie has aged well! June 15, 2009
Judith Johnson (Albany, NY)
I had the pleasure of watching this movie projected on the big screen when it first came out, however I was disappointed in the ending. It has taken me a while to understand why director Redford ended on a moral high note and I believe he was trying to convey the lesson he had learned from mistakes he made in his personal life.
It was panned when it first came out for its length but it is a visual valentine to the breadth of our great country, from snowy New England meadows to majestic thunderstorms in snow capped mountain ranges. The movie has aged like fine wine and I have to periodically uncant it to savor Redford's grace notes (as it were)-the way Tom secures a missed button on Annie's dress, the rural radio stations coming over the air, the look on Grace's face when she realizes she can drive, that one slow waltz which conveys more raw emotion than most sex scenes.
No director has managed to elict a finer performance from Scarlett Johanson than Redford; Kirstin Scott Thomas is at the peak of her beauty; Chris Cooper and Diane Weist are pitch perfect, heck even the little boys are great. Although the plot centers around a kind, wise and patient man who nurses a girl and a stallion back to health, the healer is only human and I believe he fell for Annie from the first time he laid eyes on her which adds the poignancy that makes this movie so memorable. Beware, the Horse Whisperer can make a girl yearn to live in Montana, and just remember, Tom Booker isn't there!
 A Bit Melodramatic, But Beautiful To See May 23, 2009
Craig Connell (Lockport, NY USA)
Here's a beautifully filmed "horse opera" about a New York teenage girl (Scarlett Johannsson, who is now a well-known actress but wasn't when this was made) and her horse, both of whom are badly injured in a mishap and are healed by a Montana horse expert, played by Robert Redford.
Redford also directed this film and being such an outdoorsman, you know this is going to show nature in a beautiful way....and it does. The Montana scenery is just awesome.
After a dramatic opening scene in which we see the horse and daughter hurt, the mother (Kristin Scott-Thonas) takes the girl and the horse out West to see if the horse can be salvaged. Unfortunately, the mother - who is married - falls for the horseman "Tom Booker" (Redford) and an adulterous relationship almost comes to fruition. That romance is the soap opera part of the film but it's nice to see everyone, including Redford's character, healed of emotional as well as physical wounds.
This film is a bit too much of a melodrama at times which makes it a long in spots, but it's a long movie to begin with (169 minutes). It's so beautifully filmed, however, that for that alone the movie is worth seeing.
I sure hope someone makes a sharp Blu-Ray disc of this film. It would be truly awesome to view.
The Lost Complexities of this Movie May 20, 2009
Boston Legal addict (Redlands, California USA)
This is conceivably my favorite movie of all time, and definitely my favorite soundtrack. There is so much more to this film than I've seen anyone write. Sure it's a romance, horse, child loving horse, injured child (mentally and physically), horsey guy, etc. and whatever else you've read about this movie. But what I'll attempt to write here is what you're not going to see anywhere else.
My personal favorite dynamic in human to human or human to animal relationships is the garnering of trust. And someone, or both, having that intuition to be such that they earn that trust. This is what you have in this movie. Some spoilers may be involved here...
Kristen Scott Thomas' character is ill - on the fast track professionally and away from a quality marriage. Some might call that success and indeed her character was so caught up in her life that she probably thought she was doing fine. Scarlette Johannson's character is ill as well - both physically and mentally from the accident and from a lack of true connection to her parents, especially her mother. The horse is, well, broken - physically, of course, but traumatized from the accident.
These three come to beautiful, clean and pristine (but not over-the-top gorgeous - as I've heard Redford say that he wanted the landscape to speak for itself -intrinsic beauty - not from the photography making it beautiful - paraphrased here) country and they meet Robert Redford's character. He is so peacefully understanding of what these other three are about - he takes stock of the mother (all New York of her), the horse (traumatized) and the girl (resistent and hurting). He presents himself in such a way that he is totally non-threatening and they all, on their own levels, come to trust him...and they heal.
It is a movie about trust. There are prices to pay for that trust, for sure. Redford's character opens up in a way he never thought he would again but I like how this director ended the movie rather than how the book ended. The book ending made no sense in the context of who the character was so I appreciate that Redford changed it. The mother pays a price for sure....the horse and the girl...well, they're healed and all is right with their world..
There are many levels on which to watch this movie - the photography is gorgeous, the horses, the way of life - all beautiful....the music, well, gorgeous and grandiose in parts....the characters multi-level....The husband (Sam Neill)is intelligent and shows he has a good understanding of how his marriage is and the changes his wife has gone through while with Redford. It's a tear-jerker for sure - I don't think as many times as I've watched this movie, that I haven't been crying at the end. But I hate to see it end....Enjoy this movie - I envy you the first time.
The lost message of this film May 4, 2009
W. Blackmore (Boulder, CO.)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
There's a message that Redford is trying to subtly get across. Redford is trying to convey that the most important things in life (and to mankind) are simple. Relax, love one another, live where you want, do what you want, and know that in spite of all of that, you can still be respected.
In a fast-paced America, we fight amongst each other for money, property, job status and damn near everything else. We even compete on the roads to see which one of us will arrive at the red light first!
As the film points out, we have no time for realtionships with our children or even time to make home-made spaghetti sauce.
This film was attempt to remind us that integrity is worth more than greed.
Just my opinion.
Very good movie March 23, 2009
DPNT (Arizona)
Loved this movie and needed to have my own copy to watch whenever I want. Great movie for all horse lovers
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