All the Pretty Horses
All the Pretty Horses

All the Pretty Horses

2000Movie117 minEnglish

The year is 1949. A young Texan named John Grady finds himself without a home after his mother sells the ranch where he has spent his entire life. Lured south of the border by the romance of cowboy life and the promise of a fresh start, Cole and his pal embark on an adventure that will test their resilience, define their maturity, and change their lives forever.

Read Reviews

Insights

IMDb6.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes44%
Metacritic60/100
Google Users73%
Director: Billy Bob ThorntonGenres: Western, Drama, Romance

Plot Summary

In 1949, two young Texas cowboys, John Grady Cole and his best friend Lacey Rawlins, decide to leave their fading ranch life behind and head to Mexico. Seeking adventure and a more traditional way of life, they find themselves embroiled in a dangerous world of love, betrayal, and violence. John falls deeply in love with Alejandra, the daughter of a wealthy rancher, but their forbidden romance sets off a chain of tragic events.

Critical Reception

All the Pretty Horses received mixed to positive reviews from critics. While many praised Billy Bob Thornton's direction, the film's visual beauty, and the performances of its lead actors, some critics found the adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's novel to be somewhat diluted and the pacing uneven. Audiences generally had a more favorable response, appreciating the romantic storyline and the Western setting.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its visual beauty and atmospheric direction.
  • Performances by Matt Damon and Penélope Cruz were generally well-received.
  • Criticized by some for deviating from the source material and uneven pacing.

Google audience: Google users generally enjoyed the film, appreciating the compelling romance between the main characters and the evocative depiction of the American West and Mexico. Some viewers felt the story was a bit slow, but most found the emotional core and the performances to be satisfying.

Fun Fact

The film's controversial editing, which significantly shortened the original cut, led to director Billy Bob Thornton parting ways with The Weinstein Company, and the film was released with less of his intended vision intact.

AI-generated overview · Verify ratings on official sources

My Review

TMDB Reviews

2 reviews
Wuchak

Wuchak

_**Unique, beautiful Western with excellent score, but gaping holes in the story**_ Released in 2000, "All the Pretty Horses" stars Matt Damon and Henry Thomas as two West Texas cowboys, John Grady Cole and Lacey Rawlins, who are weary o...
John Chard

John Chard

The 35% movie that maybe originally was a minor classic? All the Pretty Horses is directed by Billy Bob Thornton and adapted from Cormac McCarthy's novel of the name name by Ted Tally. It stars Matt Damon, Penélope Cruz, Henry Thomas & L...