"God had him in mind when he made the cowboy." A documentary following the real life "Horse Whisperer" Buck Brannaman. Talking a little about the movie, but mainly focused on how he starts the horses and how and why he does what he does. I've ridden a horse once in my life, and it was on a Yellowstone led ride so I don't think that counts, so I was watching this just because I saw Buck on Letterman and because he lives out here. This is one of the most fascinating documentaries I have ever seen, and this is a movie that appeals to all people, not just horse people. It's hard not to like Buck after hearing his story and listening to him talk. This is a definite must see. Overall, there is a line in the movie that sums it up best..."I went in convinced I wasn't gonna appreciate anything I saw." We were both wrong. Very good film. I give this an A.

Would I watch again? - I think I would *Also try - Horse Whisperer

Saw "Buck" today. Most memorable lines: "A horse can feel a mosquito land on its butt..." "You can move a horse with your energy. It's a dance." "I live in the moment." "I haven't grown up yet." In the film, Robert Redford says that Buck is the "real deal" and he is. Of the three men that Nicholas Evans based his popular novel, "The Horse Whisperer" on, Buck Brannaman is the sole surviving one. This biopic shows Buck's "day at the office" as he travels from ranch to farm, teaching groundwork, horsemanship, colt starting, ranch roping and cattle work. He misses his family but when together, it is obvious that it is quality time for all.

It may seem heavy-handed in our politically correct society to take someone's money for a service and then tell them something they may not want to hear. It may not seem like good customer service, but is it better to placate--the easier path--or to help? As someone with a lot of his own baggage, Buck recognizes it in his clients and knows it builds braces, hardness and even shut-down in their horses. He calls it as he sees it. Some can take it and learn. Others pack and leave.

Buck's candor and dry wit are reminiscent of another cowboy, Will Rogers. It gets under your skin and sticks like a burr in a blanket. It has a sense of timelessness, ancient wisdom, mystical, yet somehow, something that is known telepathically to herd creatures. He translates for the human.

"Buck" is a movie about a genuine human being who cares about others and--yes, more importantly--the horses who need an advocate to express their feelings. It shows that instead of letting a hard start in life be a stumbling block, it can be a challenge to a more elevated spiritual level. A win/win for all.

If some get the feeling that Buck prefers horses to humans, understand that horses speak truth. Their reactions reflect the treatment they have received and it can be read like a book. He says, "Your horse is a mirror of you. Some may not like what they see." Some might.

"Buck" barely flips the pages of Buck's life experience in the 88-minute final cut of the 300 minutes filmed, but that 88 minutes is intriguing to many--even those who have never touched nor owned a horse.

Well I have to admit, one of the things that drew me to this film when I noticed it at my local library was that the guy on the cover looked like Robert Duvall in his role as Boss Spearman from the movie "Open Range". I wasn't thinking documentary, but when I read the liner notes I thought it would be an interesting film to watch. It turns out that the real life story of Buck Brannaman could actually have been a Hollywood movie treatment. Raised along with an older brother by an abusive father after his mom passed away, the adult Buck Brannaman strikes you as a soft spoken but tortured soul who finds meaning and compassion in working with horses as his life's work. I can't say I remember the Brannaman Boys, Buckshot and Smokie from their Kellogg's Sugar Pops commercial, but I'm sure there are some who do. The picture makes mention of Brannaman's role as a consultant on Robert Redford's movie "The Horse Whisperer", and once again, it goes to show that sometimes a simple guy with common sense can get a job done after the 'professionals' have exhausted every effort only to end in failure.

The thing that bugged me about the picture was the way it left you hanging about brother Smokie - what happened to him? There was a present day photo of the Brannamans together during the closing credits, and it would have been helpful to learn that he didn't wind up a total wreck because of father Ace. As for Buck, it appears he successfully overcame his past to become a good husband and family man, even though his job keeps him away from home nine months out of the year.

I don't think you need to be a horse lover to watch this movie. It's message of love and compassion toward animals has equal application to that of everyday life with fellow human beings. If you do tune in, stick around for the closing credits for Buck's favorite joke told by his adoptive mother. I had never heard it before, and it's really funny. In fact, I'm still laughing.