Š-DR- DE SI JOLIS CHEVAUX de Billy Bob Thornton (2000) p18

01/11/2013 14:09 par tellurikwaves

by Andy (film-critic) (Bookseller of the Blue Ridge) – (fin)

Speaking of Billy Bob, could we not agree that these actors wouldn't have been half as good if it were not for the amazing direction behind the camera. I wish that I could have seen his version of the film instead of the choppy Miramax version. He has a very gifted eye, and while sometimes he takes roles that I think blur that eye, he always seems to rebound with a very riveting performance.He is constantly experimenting with genres and styles, and this film shows that he can break traditional boundaries. The images that he captured on film help create this darkness that surrounded our main characters. The scene with the thunderstorm I thought was beautiful, as was the rolling Mexican landscape. He places us into the film as more than just observers, and that is a sign of a great director.

Finally, I would like to pose the question of why Grady was so infatuated with Blevins? There were several moments during the film where he could have simply walked away from the boy, and Lacey even suggested it continually, but they always stayed with him. I realize that a main reason may be to develop the plot, but I think there was a more symbolic meaning. I feel that Damon connected with the boy because they had a kindred spirit. Damon was this passive, controlled character that never really understood himself until later on in the film, while Blevins was this wild-hair that never controlled himself or thought about his decisions.

It was as if they were polar opposites, but yet they were perfectly matched. I think Damon liked him because it was what he aspired to be. I sometimes felt that the secondary characters were not real, and sometimes they were just imaginary images of what Damon wanted himself to be more like. This thought created a much darker picture for me that forced this film to go deeper into my mind and be more enjoyable than I thought. Overall, I really liked this film. While others will definitely disagree, I thought that the acting, story, and especially the direction deserved more attention that what was handed to it. Grade: ***** out of *****

Š-DR- DE SI JOLIS CHEVAUX de Billy Bob Thornton (2000) p17

01/11/2013 13:53 par tellurikwaves

by Andy (film-critic) (Bookseller of the Blue Ridge) – (2)

I have read several reviews that just completely dismantle Damon's acting in this film. While his accent does fade in and out randomly, it is the way that he carries himself and reacts to the situations that unfold before him that really showcase the true acting ability of this star. While I do not think that Bennifer has made the best choices to challenge his career, Damon continually proves that he has the ability to be a force in Hollywood. This film alone proves it. He built this beautiful chemistry between him and Cruz that teetered on fear and sorrow. He showed his compassion towards Blevins and Lacey continually throughout the film showing that his idea of friendship was stronger than anyone expected.

His strength and will shined brightly when he was ultimately faced with death. These are all moments where other actors would have cheapened it up and tried to fake the audience instead of showing the truth. I thought Damon showed us honesty, he showed us a part of him that I was not expecting. If you couldn't tell already, he really impressed me. But yet so did everyone else in this film. I honestly thought that the kid from Sling Blade, Lucas Black, would never work again, and I was skeptical of him in this film, but he was exceptional. He took us away from his character in Sling Blade and built a whole new name for himself. He took the challenges of this character and pushed them out of the television. The same can be said for Henry Thomas that continues to impress me with his ability to capture his moments and make them so real Finally, Billy Bob did a great job of casting the rest of this film to bring the images and feelings of the time period to light. I could feel the dusty world of Texas and Mexico through the smaller characters that he cast.

Š-DR- DE SI JOLIS CHEVAUX de Billy Bob Thornton (2000) p16

01/11/2013 13:36 par tellurikwaves

You ain't never been struck by lightning. You don't know what it's like.

2 March 2005 | by Andy (film-critic) (Bookseller of the Blue Ridge) –(part1)

I don't think I will ever understand the disappointing backlash against this film. What I witnessed was not your typical "western" film full of passionate love and implausible events. Instead, what I saw was beautifully captured images, powerful acting by Damon and Thomas, a story that twisted further down a darkened rabbit hole than I was expecting, and this challenging character study that gave us a brief insight to a world that will never be seen by our eyes again. This was not the romantic film that it was marketed as, this was not the adventure that it was marketed as, but instead it was the story of one character and the tribulations that effect him on his journey into the real world. It is the story of a very compassionate man that sees the honest darkness of those around him and must face the consequences of his actions.

It showcases amazing acting that may be a bit disturbing for the unfamiliar eye, but to me was nothing short of brilliant. Billy Bob successfully adapted the story from the page, but it was not the film that he wanted. Miramax butchered this film in the marketing aspect, which ultimately hurt it overall. I will never understand why this did not receive the praise it should have, but will never be ashamed to bring it out for friends and family to enjoy. This film was like finding a dollar in the couch, an unexpected surprise that keeps a smile on your face the rest of the day.

Š-DR- DE SI JOLIS CHEVAUX de Billy Bob Thornton (2000) p15

01/11/2013 03:37 par tellurikwaves

Š-DR- DE SI JOLIS CHEVAUX de Billy Bob Thornton (2000) p14

01/11/2013 03:23 par tellurikwaves

La critique de James Berardinelli (fin)
All the Pretty Horses is technically proficient. The cinematography, with its glorious landscape shots, offers everything visually that one expects from a Western. The story moves quickly enough that it's unlikely to bore anyone. But a critical element is missing. The characters don't seem real, and their lack of depth makes the entire picture seem more like an exercise than an experience.

With All the Pretty Horses,Thornton takes us on a long, looping trail across borders and through various traditional Western plot elements(such as the shootout) but, by the time we reach the end of the journey, we have no more emotional currency invested in the characters than we had at the beginning. And that's not the sign of a motion picture that hits its mark.

© 2000 James Berardinelli

Š-DR- DE SI JOLIS CHEVAUX de Billy Bob Thornton (2000) p13

01/11/2013 03:18 par tellurikwaves

                                                       Matt Damon & Ruben Blades

Š-DR- DE SI JOLIS CHEVAUX de Billy Bob Thornton (2000) p12

01/11/2013 03:03 par tellurikwaves

La critique de James Berardinelli (4)
It's hard to fault the performance of either Matt Damon or Henry Thomas. Their characters aren't very dynamic or interesting, but the actors appear to be playing them the way they're written. Damon isn't a chameleon when it comes to acting, but he's perfectly capable of believably portraying this kind of naïve character, and Thomas is cut from the same mold. Most of the attempts to flesh out these two individuals, as well as their connection to each other, were probably left on the cutting room floor.

Actors Sam Shepard and Robert Patrick are given cameos in important roles; one has a sense that their parts were intended to be more substantial. There's also a curious appearance by Bruce Dern as a judge. On the surface, the character is almost superfluous, but there are hints that his wisdom enables John to reconcile himself with what has happened in the past and to determine which path he should take in the future.

Š-DR- DE SI JOLIS CHEVAUX de Billy Bob Thornton (2000) p11

01/11/2013 02:58 par tellurikwaves

La critique de James Berardinelli (4)
The most intriguing character is neither Joe nor Lacey - both are so bland that fashioning a story around them is a dubious choice. Instead, it's Jimmy, who is plagued by a troubled past and an even less secure future. He's an intriguing individual with a number of personality quirks (he's deathly afraid of being struck by lightning - so afraid that, when caught out in the middle of a thunderstorm, he strips down to his underwear and crouches down in the best shelter he can find), but he isn't accorded much screen time. Certainly, a lot more could have been done about his relationship with John and Lacey, since they become reluctant big brothers to him, but the movie has to rush *on to other things.

*

*

*Budget oblige...C'est pour cette raison que le Cinéma -contrairement à la littérature-est un art de compromis

Š-DR- DE SI JOLIS CHEVAUX de Billy Bob Thornton (2000) p10

01/11/2013 02:51 par tellurikwaves

Š-DR- DE SI JOLIS CHEVAUX de Billy Bob Thornton (2000) p9

01/11/2013 02:45 par tellurikwaves

La critique de James Berardinelli (3)
At the emotional core of All the Pretty Horses is the relationship between John and Alejandra. As written, they are tragic lovers driven apart by prejudice and cultural taboos. Their enduring passion is supposed to provide the glue that holds the film together. Unfortunately, that glue is brittle and partially disintegrated. The love affair is handled in the same perfunctory fashion as everything else in the film - related in a bare bones manner that resists emotional involvement. In order for All the Pretty Horses to really work, we must have an investment in this relationship, but it is developed (and, ultimately, disposed of) so quickly and with so little romantic heat that it's difficult to care about these two star-crossed, doomed lovers.