You’d think that a film directed by Billy Bob Thornton (Sling Blade, One False Move) and starring Matt Damon (Good Will Hunting, Dogma, Saving Private Ryan) might have some bite but All The Pretty Horses can only seem to gum at sour grass, like an old old horse.

Apparently the original cut was four hours long, presumably some oats were strewn in the paddock, but heaven forbid sitting out this sort of stuff for four hours. Talk about saddle sore. Two hours was plenty. But there are notable, panoramic vistas and there is one memorable character.

Trouble is that he only flits in and out of the film. Two cow poke pals in 1949 set out for Mexico on their horses looking for fenceless ranges and lots of cows. Along the way they’re joined by a racy, drawling ne’er do well 16 year old called Jimmy Blevins (Lucas Black) who’s riding what’s obviously a stolen horse.

And when Blevins isn’t on show All The Pretty Horses devolves into a much less interesting dusty, horse opera, meander through Mexico. He doesn’t last long.

Damon plays John the central character. He’s carted off to jail, has an affair with the boss’s daughter (Penelope Cruz) and works as a horse breaker with his mate Lacey (Henry Thomas). Damon is a formidable actor but All The Pretty Horses fails to engage us with him or with any of the others beside Lucas Black.

There’s a lack of incisiveness which can perhaps be attributed to the cuts. Thornton’s One False Move and Sling Blade were anything but indecisive! All The Pretty Horses is full of stereotypical characters, not the least of which are the dirty Mexican peasants and corrupt Mexican police.

A film as seemingly empty of intent (and content) as All The Pretty Horses won’t help their cause either.

2 Lucas Black Flys