Buck (2011)

For all the hype it got I was expecting a lot more!

An Exercise In Nonsense

It's not great by any means, but it's a pretty good movie that didn't leave me filled with regret for investing time in it.

I didn’t really have many expectations going into the movie (good or bad), but I actually really enjoyed it. I really liked the characters and the banter between them.

Set in various parts of the United States in the wake of the release of the film THE HORSE WHISPERER (1998), Cindy Meehl's documentary profiles Bob Brannaman, a real-life "horse whisperer" who makes his living during each summer by giving "clinics" designed to help owners real with recalcitrant horses - not through whispering to the animals, as the title implies, but by training them carefully and treating them as one might one's own child.This is the main thrust of the documentary: through a series of interviews Brannaman makes a convincing case for rethinking the relationships between human beings and animals. Whatever the person might be in terms of character, this will invariably rub off on the animal. A stressful person will lead to a stressful horse. Conversely someone who keeps their emotions under control, and trains by using discipline fairly, combined with lots of praise, will end up having responsive horses.BUCK: THE REAL HORSE WHISPERER contains a coherent moral message for every viewer about the importance of reflecting on one's actions and learning from one's mistakes. Even if we are not dealing with animals, we could do worse than follow Brannaman's example and take life not too seriously, focusing on the moment rather than the past. This has been especially important in Brannaman's own life; born into a performing family, who dealt with ropes and rope-tricks, he had an abusive father who regularly beat both Brannaman and his older brother for no apparent reason. The experience left both sons scarred; and one of the ways Brannaman came to terms with it was through his work with horses.The documentary is not just a celebratory piece; in one sequence we see Brannaman trying to deal with a particularly aggressive young horse. While he manages to establish some sort of control over it, the animal is so violent that she ends up kicking her owner in the head. The only solution is to put her down. While Brannaman is sorry for the decision, he makes it clear that the owners' negligence had a lot to do with the animal's aberrant behavior; if they had been more careful when she was young, then she might not have been so aggressive.Such advice not only applies to humankind's relationship with animals; it also applies to children as well. Brannaman has a happy relationship with his teenage daughter Reata; but makes it clear that he consciously made the effort to do so in light of his own abusive upbringing. There is a moral lesson for all of us in his experiences.

Remarkably raw, thought-provoking, and engaging, Buck sheds a new light on the long-standing relationship between man and horse. Never before, have I seen any fault in the ignorant and generalized view of horses. For most of my life horses have just been animals that are utilized for transportation and sport. But I've never considered how wrong I have been.Buck Brannanam, "the Horse Whisperer", brings a new perspective to the table. Rather than continuing the tradition of beating horses into compliance, he recognized at a young age that horses must be treated with more respect and empathy. Unfortunately, the idea was to "break down the horse" (Brannanam). However, Buck inquires, "why let an animal live in fear?" (Brannanam). He understands that there needs to be mutual understanding between horse and man, since they are also sensitive creatures.This genuine empathy that Buck has for horses almost appears to be a reflection of Buck's escape from his traumatic childhood of horrific abuse. He suggests that how one handles their horse reflects how they handle their loved ones. He further ads that, "People's horses are a mirror into their soul" (Brannanam). Similar to how one must have control over their temper with a child, one must also control their emotions when training their horse. Likewise, this philosophy reflects how Buck interacts with the horse owners at the clinics. As much as his job is to train the seemingly difficult horses, it's also to train the people how to respect the horse. He believes that when horses seem to fail at learning and becoming compliant, the human is generally the one at fault, failing the horse.All in all, I found this documentary entertaining and enlightening, and would most certainly recommend this movie.

Buck excellently demonstrates the empathy needed to have a positive and intimate relationship with a horse. This documentary demolishes the idea of men "breaking horses" during training using a brutal form of communication because it is seen as an untamed beast. Buck's philosophy is about engaging with a soft, comforting manner with horses. "Everything is a dance," meaning like a dance, training a horse should not be choppy but fluid, not hard but firm. Although they call him the horse whisperer, there's almost no verbal communication, but rather quiet physical exchanges, like soft pats on its mane, so it realizes that it is indeed safe and loved. By teaching this method at his clinics, Buck is certainly "helping horses with people problems" as he calls it. "Respect isn't fear. It's acceptance." Buck continues to teach that like children, horses do not learn through anger or bribery, but through their mistakes. They cannot fear making mistakes because of any possible repercussion. In other words, horses should not fear their owners but view them as equals.

"Buck" is glimpse into the life of the often enigmatic horse-trainer Buck Brannaman. The film explores the former child star's dark past and the horse training genius he has become. Despite the darker themes of Buck's past, the film is pretty lighthearted. Director Cindy Meehl manages to tell a fantastic story, and though the film runs a bit lengthy at 88 minutes it never fails to keep the audience entertained as Meehl paints a near-masterful picture of a man and his troubled past. Buck's no nonsense attitude shines through and he truly steals the show (though I guess it is his show). The only gripe I have is that I didn't get to see more of Buck; an hour and a half left me wanting to learn more about Buck. I guess that's a product of a job well done.