Robert Redford’s 1998 Western with 73% on Rotten Tomatoes would have been a classic if not for the disappointing ending

In 1998, Robert Redford starred The Horse Whisperer, one Western which had the potential to be a huge hit, but the film’s shocking ending put it at a serious disadvantage. Since the 1960s, Redford has been a significant presence in Hollywood. He quickly rose to fame after starring in films such as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Sting, and All the president’s men. Redford later turned to directing and won several awards and Oscar nominations. That’s why, in 1998, Redford established himself as an actor and directorputting The horse whisperer in a good place for success.

The horse whisperer follows a young woman named Grace who suffers a traumatic accident with her horse. Determined to heal her daughter and the horse, Grace’s mother, Annie decides to move them to the ranch of a “horse whisperer” named Tom.. Over time, Grace begins to recover while Annie and Tom grow closer. It seems like Annie could leave behind her workaholic lifestyle and boring husband for Tom. Still, The horse whisperer ends with Annie returning to town, just as Tom’s previous wife did, cutting the novel terribly short.

The Horse Whisperer’s downbeat ending undermines the film’s story

How The Horse Whisperer Should Have Ended

Although The horse whisperer It’s a solid filmwith a strong 73% in Rotten tomatoesthe film loses some of its grandeur because of its ending. The horse whisperer is an inspiring and moving film. Watching Grace and her horse recover from the accident is a beautiful thing and leaves viewers with a comforting feeling. The same can be said about the love story between Tom and Annie. Although they come from two different worlds, they are undeniably attracted to each other. The door opens for Annie to take on a completely different (and possibly better) life.

However, Annie does not take advantage of this opportunity. Grace improves and Annie’s husband gives her the option of staying with Tom, but Annie goes home anyway. After seeing so much positive growth in the film it’s hard for the audience to accept that Annie and Tom won’t be together. This completely negates all the good feelings the rest of the film built up to. If Tom and Annie had a happy ending, the movie would end on a high note. However, because Annie leaves Tom at the end of The horse whispererthe audience is saddened by what could have been.

The Horse Whisperer is a different kind of Western, but it could have become a classic of the genre

The Horse Whisperer is a more thoughtful Western

Ultimately, The Horse Whisperer the ending kept it from becoming a staple of the Western genre. The film It’s not necessarily what many would imagine when they think of the best Westerns, but that’s exactly what makes it so good. Redford’s film isn’t concerned with gunslinging cowboys or violent crime. Instead of, The horse whisperer draws on the more emotional and thoughtful side of the Western genre. It centers on a cowboy who has the power to affect the world around him, be it horses or people, and argues that the cowboy way of life is something to look forward to.

In general, Westerns like The horse whisperer deserves much more praise. While it’s exciting to see classic Western and horse racing showdowns, audiences may feel much more affected by a cowboy’s emotional turmoil. Arguably, this makes the films even more relatable. Viewers probably never got into a fight in a bar, but they certainly mourned the loss of something they loved and felt hope for new romance. However, The horse whisperer messed up with the ending, but it’s still worth it Western.