Customer Reviews

Buck

5 star:		(155)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

Neither my wife nor I had heard of the movie Buck. We went to see it because it was close to our motel in downtown Grand Junction, CO. It was spellbinding. Both my wife and I truly enjoyed the movie. It was an unexpected treat. Though it may seem to be about horse training it is really about life though Buck's life in particular. It will appeal to a far wider audience. I hope this movie goes in wide distribution because I think this movie would be enjoyed by many more than might see it in the limited distribution theater network. This would be a good parenting movie. I plan on buying the DVDs for my kids who are in their 30s, and maybe a few friends. See this movie.

I have known Buck for over twenty years and had horses in my life for over 40 years. I work with horses and use them to help humans who have survived trauma, who have physical challenges, or those who simply want to learn to be around a powerful, gentle, sensitive creature. Horses are the mirror for the human condition. If you are unbalanced they will not choose to approach you. If you have good, calm, welcoming energy they will be drawn to that. If you are angry - forget it, they will have nothing to do with you. I am delighted with the accurate portrayal of Buck. Kudos to Cindy Meehl and crew on a documentary well done!
If you are not a horse person, you will gain insight into how people can overcome. That old adage that, 'abusers grow up to become abusers' is simply not true. I have several friends that are in the mental health field and they love the film.

If you are a horse person you may find a new path to getting more done with your horse by doing LESS sooner.... ah, that old gem: prepare for the transition and the transition will take care of itself...
Buck is holding the bar high and hoping we can all aspire to finding softness and harmony; in ourselves, with our horses, and in life.

This film is a treasure, we have been invited into the lives of some very special people. Watch it, look in your "mirror" assess what is reflected there, change where you need to then go share. Pay it forward and the world will be a better place.

FYI - I've seen this twice now with friends and would go again if asked while it's still up on the "big screen" every time I watch it I get something new.

Enjoy & happy trails

You walk away with a better understanding of people, and hopefully more respect and understanding for living things than before you saw this film. And that is worth a lot.

So, don't think it's just all cowboys and horses, it isn't really that at all, only on the surface.

I've been going to Buck clinics for about 13 years now, and his wise words, matter of fact attitude and superb understanding of horses have repaired a huge hole in my life. I knew he was making this movie, and was so excited about it. I was not disappointed. The movie captures exactly who Buck is. So many can relate to his violent childhood to some extent, and you know he perceives this in people with similar backgrounds. While he understands where they are coming from, he doesn't let them have excuses for bad behavior, and that gives such a fantastic tool for relating to horses. The movie brings this all out - the terrible fear a small child lived with in the face of a cruel parent, and the whole, mature adult man who had the courage to face his demons and rise above them. Horses go through the same thing - I can see my sensitive little mare gathering courage and stepping out into a scary situation. This movie shows how Buck understands this in a horse. Horses can also be bratty and resistant, and it shows Buck dealing with that behavior in ways a horse can understand -- without hurting them or losing his temper. Somehow, this man received a profound gift of understanding horses, was able to transfer this understanding to people and all other creatures, and have the generosity to use it to help the world. Making this movie and exposing his private life to the public is just another example of this generosity of spirit.

This is one of the few movies of any kind I've ever seen that the audience applauded at the end. I wanted to cheer!!! I drove 50 miles from home to see it, and was not dissappointed in any way. It is not just for horse people, though they may appreciate it more. Buck told us not just how to treat our horses, but each other in a moving and often very funny way. I was impressed with his sense of humor after his cruel childhood. The movie was beautiful, graffic, poetic, and made me laugh and cry. I need to go ride my horse now!

Buck has a powerful story and lesson to tell, and you will be drawn into it! Those of us that are "horse people" have drug along "nonhorse" friends to see this movie. And they have enjoyed it as much as we have! Buck is perhaps, one of the best horsemen alive. That is a bonus to horse people. The story of Buck's life is so powerful a lesson that it will stay with you forever. It is Buck's wish others will become aware of how powerful it is for "someone" to come into abused children's life and turn it around. May that be the biggest lesson you learn from this movie. It is a rare view of a Master Horseman at his clinics. A private man, who the producer somehow captured in this magnificent movie. Get the DVD or go see the movie. Get Buck's book the Faraway Horses. And be there for the horses. Be there for the children who need you (including your own.)

A wonderful film that deserves all of the accolades that it is receiving. I went to Sundance because I couldn't wait to see it in wide release. I was not disappointed. Cindy and her whole team did a great job of portraying the man that we respect and love. It will no doubt continue to do well and hopefully will garner an Oscar nomination!

While this movie was not the one I thought or hoped it would be, it was an exceptional movie all the same. This movie is about Buck Brannaman, a student of Ray Hunt, who travels 40 weeks of the year to further the Natural Horsemanship movement. What propells this film into movie greatness is the fact that this is an ordinary person who lived through a terrifying brutal childhood and rather than becoming a violent, angry person has dedicated his adult life to becoming an exceptional horse trainer in order to do good for horses and horse keepers of the world. In that sense Buck Brannaman is an exceptional man.

What the film was not about, as I had initially hoped, was a film about a born "horse whisperer" who from early childhood has a natural repoire, intimate understanding, and passionate love for the horse and creates a new way of human-horse interaction by truely listening to the animal.

I'm looking forward to watching the film based on my favorite non-fiction horse book, "The Man who Listens to Horses"/Monty Roberts (the next movie on my list) and seeing how it compares to the "Horse Whisperer" and "Buck".

This is an awesome movie. And you can't see it just once. I think it takes a least 3 or 4 viewings before it really starts to sink in and make perfect sense.
There are two sides to this movie. The man part, and the horse part, and they all come together once you finally understand how this is related in the grand scheme of things.
First, Buck Brannaman is immensely likeable. Even before you know what crap he went through as a kid you want to like him. He's laid back, he feels safe, he talks in a reassuring tone of voice, he has a quiet demeanor that make you want hang around. Exactly like the "passive leader" Mark Rashid (another horse guru) describes. He also has a cracking sense of humor and seems a genuinely caring and good person. He just makes you feel like having him as a friend.
Second, he's one fine horseman. Among the very finest I'd have to guess. Seeing him work with either innocent but clueless baby colts, or with troubled and even deadly horses, you can see the man has almost an eerie talent for this. He can make decisions too. He can be totally forgiving and he can sentence a horse to death. When he does that though (at the end of the movie in the case of a particularly dangerous horse that just can't be helped) you can see how angry he feels at mankind at this moment for failing this horse and turning him into a beast that just cannot be saved. I bet this horse has haunted a few of Buck's nights ever since...
All in all, after immersing myself in horse litterature, training DVD's, conversation on forums (all that along with actually riding) for a long time, it finally started falling into place for me after seeing this movie. What Buck does is offering deals. To horses, to people, to life. He offers every one the opportunity to make a choice, take a good deal and get better, of leave it and live with the consequences. But in case of the bad choice, he'll offer again. And, as Mark Rashid repeatedly points out, when offered a good deal, horses often become incredibly willing to cooperate and follow a fair human.
I can't say I was having many issues in my relationships before seeing this movie, but I sure know it's helped me applying this philosophy (everybody should be offered their own choices, then take responsability for them) to horses, and grow more confident and better around them. I also loved the part when Buck stressed out the importance of our responsability towards horses, how we must not fail them and give them the best possible education and life so they become worthy individuals, just like with our children. Having 2 3 yrs old at home, my daughter and my filly, it resonated with me very much. I don't think we should get angry at any young child, or young horse. Strict yes, fair always, but angry, never. Buck sure gets down to business as firm as necessary with anyone (horse or human, he can deliver some tough love) but he's always fair, and concerned with being so. After he tells the deadly horse's owner some hard to hear truth and he has her weeping he immediately softens up and asks "am I fair". And yes, she agrees that he is.
Cindy Mheel has done a wonderful job of building this movie, the images are beautiful, the soundtrack is suprinsingly good and everything is put together in a very professional and brilliant way.
Either you like horses or not don't let this gem of a movie pass you by. Sure, if you're not a horsey person you'll watch it once, and if you're hoping to become a horseman one day you'll want to watch it over and over again, like I do.

A lot of times instead of helping people with horse problem, I help horses with people problem... Well, Buck certainly got that one right. For an individual whose dad calls up on him to help him out by shooting his pet right between the eyes and then having Buck to clean it up so they can have a meal together, what Buck has achieved in humanity is not astonishing, it is a miracle. The criminal system may learn a thing or two from Buck. Double Bravo.