You
know, it's bad enough when studios feel compelled to give too much away in a coming
attraction trailer, but then they have to go and make a film-maker edit their
film to the point where it's flow is completely interrupted. Such is the case
with All the Pretty Horses, the new film from Billy Bob Thornton.
In
All the Pretty Horses, Matt Damon (Good Will Hunting) and Henry Thomas (E.T.)
play a couple of cowboy buddies circa the late 1940's. Growing disenchanted with
their lives in Texas, they decide to head out to Mexico, to experience the big
ranch life. During their lengthy horse ride, they meet up with young Lucas Black
(Sling Blade), a gunslinger with a plethora of secrets. Upon arriving in Mexico,
they find work at a ranch where Damon falls for the ranch owner's daughter (played
by Penelope Cruz). Before long, Damon and Thomas find themselves fighting for
their lives when they are thrown in jail for a crime they may or may not have
committed.
Obviously,
there is a lot going on in this picture. Far too much, in fact, to make an under
two hour movie work entirely. Therein lies the problem. Thornton has been forced
to cut so much from this film that it undermines the rhythm of the picture. True,
Thornton does a masterful job with his actors. This movie is cast to perfection,
and the actors have perfect chemistry. Thornton also has a true knack for this
material. He seems to have a lot of insight into the way of the cowboy and really
knows how to shoot the scenery. Some of the film reminded me of Robert Redford's
The Horse Whisperer, only here, Thornton is dealing with a richer story. The screenplay
by Ted Tally (Silence of the Lambs) is alive with realistic dialogue featuring
true cowboy lingo and a sort of old fashioned western feel.
Damon
and Thomas are lively and really seem to capture the flavor of their characters,
as does a shining Black. Penelope Cruz is a beauty, but it seems that much of
her storyline was cut and that hurts the film tremendously. It's hard to really
see the passion between these star crossed lovers because Thornton has been forced
to cut so much of the picture, that many things seem rushed and underdeveloped.
Long
epic films can work. Some of our greatest films of all time are lengthy. It's
a shame that a studio would allow Kevin Costner to make the lame Postman. Sure,
the guy proved himself with Dances With Wolves but didn't Thornton do the same
with Sling Blade?
All
the Pretty Horses is a beautiful film. It's well acted, well photographed, well
written (what we have of it anyway), and well scored by country musician Mary
Stuart. I'm giving half a star to the studio for not letting Thornton have his
cut, I'm giving three and a half stars to what this film is, and I'm giving four
and a half stars to what All the Pretty Horses should have been; a big, rousing,
traditional western. The kind we don't see anymore. Hopefully, we'll get the real
version on DVD!
