Ugarte-5

The horse whisperer has little -almost nothing- to do with that gentle method of horse training known as horse whispering. Redford's character is the Marlboro man after he gives up cigarettes. The female lead is a stereotype of a career woman obsessed with work. We get geographic stereotypes as well, with the New Yorkers being rude, demanding, short-tempered, bossy, and too busy to be nice to people. Redford's character, and the others at the ranch, are decent god-fearing folks, such as you'll only find west of the Mississippi. They possess a wisdom that comes only to those who live in the middle of nowhere, and spend their days talking to horses. The story develops very slowly. The movie is really about relationships - between the lead characters, and between mother and daughter. A chick flick. Not one to horse around with.

Everyone has seen Public Enemy and Yankee Doodle Dandy, but if you're a serious Cagney buff you've got to see this flick. Made in '33 it is set in that time period. Cagney gets out of the big house and goes legit, if being a paparazzi is legit. The formula is tried and true; with pluck and luck Cagney makes good. The characters are stock, on paper, but the actors breath so much personality into them that they become individuals. Though we know Cagney will prevail, we don't know just how he will succeed, and that is where the drama comes from. The pace is quick enough that you wont go to the kitchen for a sandwich without hitting the stop button first. Great acting, a good story, a happy ending, bouncy theme music, and those great cars of the 1930s. What more do you want?