Buck Reviews

The result is a portrait that expertly mirrors its subject: Buck is shaped with the same economy, restraint, and unfussiness as the man, to unexpectedly inspiring effect.

Full Review | Original Score: A-

Beautifully photographed..."Buck" shows life at its most simple level.

Full Review | Original Score: 5/5

Following the exploits of real-life cowboy (and inspiration and advisor on The Horse Whisperer) Buck Brannaman, Buck is a warm and sweet-natured, uncomplicated doco tailor made for people who like a) horses and b) being made to smile.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5

The guy's a star: the magic charisma that works on horses, no matter how disturbed, shines out of him in person, too.

Full Review | Original Score: A

Buck Brannaman is so genuine that you'll want to go out and get a horse just to attend one of his clinics.

Full Review | Original Score: 5/5

...you don't have to completely buy into the language and methods of the horse trainer Buck Brannaman to approve of him.

Full Review | Original Score: 87/100

Watching Brannaman wrestling with his own torments and reaching an understanding with horses is both mesmerizing and inspiring.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5

Stirring low-key and no-nonsense documentary on renown horse trainer Buck Brannaman.

Full Review | Original Score: B+

With an elegant simplicity that befits the man at the center of it all, it's a multi-layered, metaphor-rich film with beautiful, hard-to-ignore lessons.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/4

Idyllic, inspirational, uplifting film

Full Review | Original Score: 8/10

It's a serene quality that has the same calming and inspiring effect on a movie audience: After spending 90 minutes with Buck, I'd probably walk into a horse trailer on his say-so, too.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4

Both Buck and 'Buck' endorse sensitive care for the voiceless, whether they be horses or cowed children.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4

It is perhaps a measure of the success of a documentary to be able to interest you in a subject that you'd not normally gravitate toward.

Full Review | Original Score: 4.5/5

... makes you want to be a better person,closer in calmly authoritative spirit to Buck Brannaman. When he strides on screen, there's something mystical about this Wyoming cowboy, whose saddle posture could model for a Frederic Remington sculpture.

Full Review | Original Score: A

Astonishing and moving.

Full Review

... by the time its 90 or so minutes have flown by, we feel like we've made a new friend.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5

In Buck, director Cidy Meehl captures a man who has dignity, a certain grace, and is self-effacing. Meehl makes a wise choice in keeping Buck from being contrived and just a feel-good experience. She keeps it authentic and human.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/5

It's mesmerizing to watch him do his magic with problem horses, but the film becomes a bit of a one-trick pony after a while.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4

Brannaman's story is intriguing enough to survive the rather unimaginative construction of the movie that contains it.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4

Unfortunately, "Buck" follows too closely its hero's example: It is laconic to the point of sleepiness.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/4