Film Review: All the Pretty Horses (2000)

over 1 year ago

(source: tmdb.org

Great works of literature are notoriously difficult to turn into great works of cinema. Even the bibliography of Cormac McCarthy, one of the most celebrated American writers in recent decades, provided many examples of such phenomena. All the Pretty Horses, his 1992 novel which is considered to be his first major commercial success, turned into major disappointment when adapted into eponymous 2000 drama film directed by Billy Bob Thornton.

The plot begins in 1949 Texas where a young cowboy John Grady Cole (played by Matt Damon) becomes homeless after his family ranch is sold to oil company. Deprived of the only way of life he knows, he and his best friend Lacey Rawlins (played by Henry Thomas) decide to ride across the border to Mexico and try to find work there. Along the way they are joined by teenager Jimmy Blevins (played by Lucas Black), for whom it is become clear that he is fugitive juvenile delinquent. Cole and Rawlins manage to get rid of his company and find jobs at the large estate of Mexican aristocrat Rocha (played by Ruben Blades). Rocha is quite impressed with Cole’s skill with horses and young American can expect bright future at his estate. However, things get complicated when he meets and hopelessly falls in love with Rocha’s beautiful daughter Alejandra (played by Penelope Cruz).

All the Pretty Horses were directed by Billy Bob Thornton, highly respected actor also known as an accomplished screenwriter and author of lauded low budget independent film Sling Blade. Here, while being given larger budget, script by Ted Tally and studio’s expectations of an epic romantic drama, Thornton failed in his task. Main problem of the film is extremely slow pacing, that makes All the Pretty Horses look too artsy and pretentious. The original cut of the film was allegedly four hours long, but it was later reduced to two hours. Even in that way, it looks too slow and, to make things worse, missing scenes leave certain plot inconsistencies and All the Pretty Horses is quite confusing for the audience. Matt Damon isn’t exactly convincing as Texan and his chemistry with Penelope Cruz leaves much to be desired. What makes this film watchable is supporting cast. Lucas Black is great as young delinquent, just as Henry Thomas plays very good role as Cole’s friend. Best impression is given by veteran Puerto Rican actress Miriam Colon in the role of Alejandra’s wise aunt. Cinematography by Barry Markowitz puts picturesque locations of Texas and New Mexico to good use, but this isn’t enough to make this film anything more than watchable. McCarthy had to wait for No Country for Old Men for proper screen adaptation of his literary work.

RATING: 4/10 (+)