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Movie Description
Billy Bob Thornton's ALL THE PRETTY HORSES is about John Grady Cole (Matt Damon), a young rancher growing up just after WWII. After his mother sells the family ranch, John convinces his best friend, Lacey Rawlins (Henry Thomas), to accompany him to Mexico, where ranching is still a big part of life. Along the way they meet Jimmy Blevins (Lucas Black), a winningly enthusiastic boy with a volatile nature. Eventually, John and Lacey end up on a huge ranch south of the border, where John falls for the wealthy rancher's daughter (Penélope Cruz). This leads to deadly trouble for the two young men, but John won't be dissuaded from pursuing his new love. Thornton has made a credible modern Western with this film, which gets strong performances from Damon, Cruz, Thomas, and, in a star-making turn, Black as the fiery Blevins. ALL THE PRETTY HORSES is at its best when focusing on the dusty details of the ranchers' hard existence. Barry Markowitz's cinematography and Ted Tally's script (based on Cormac McCarthy's much-loved novel) capture a sweet and melancholy flavor in depicting a way of life that seemed long since lost even while a hardy few were still living it.
Film Notes
Theatrical release: DECEMBER 25, 2000.
Leonardo Di Caprio was originally offered the role of John Grady Cole but turned it down.
Thornton has said he balked at Miramax's suggestion that he cast Natalie Portman as Alejandra, telling the suits, "Lovely girl. Wonderful actress. She ain't Mexican."
Mike Nichols (THE GRADUATE, PRIMARY COLORS) was originally slated to direct the film.
Thornton's original cut of the film was four hours long.
Ted Tally's screenplay was named the best of 2000 by the National Board of Review.
Director of Photography Barry Markowitz, production designer Clark Hunter, and costume designer Doug Hall also worked on Thornton's SLING BLADE and DADDY AND THEM.
Executive producer and editor Sally Menke edited Quentin Tarantino's RESERVOIR DOGS and PULP FICTION.
Screenwriter Ted Tally also adapted Thomas Harris's SILENCE OF THE LAMBS for director Jonathan Demme.
Lucas Black played Frank Wheatley in Thornton's SLING BLADE.
Henry Thomas is best known for playing Elliott in Steven Spielberg's E.T.
Country star Marty Stuart, who composed the film's score, has won three Grammy awards, the Mississippi Governor's Award, and the Nashville Mayor's Metronome Award.
Ted Tally won Best Screenplay from the National Board of Review.
Marty Stuart, Kristin Wilkinson, and Larry Paxton were nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Original Score--Motion Picture.
Industry Reviews
"...[An] indisputably great component is Lucas Black, who is thoroughly authentic..."
USA Today - p.4D - Mike Clark (12/20/2000)
"...An authenticity that is consistently invigorating thanks to taut, finely-tuned contributions from both cast and crew..."
Box Office - p.67-8 - Wade Major (03/01/2001)
"...It tells the tale in a straightforward, sincere manner....The emotional effect is profound..."
Sight and Sound - p.38 - Edward Buscombe (03/01/2001)
"...The film is handsomely mounted....Damon is well-cast and does solid work..."
Los Angeles Times - p.F1 - Kenneth Turan (12/25/2001)
"...An elegiac Western....It's about the mythical idea of heading south on a good horse....What makes its special is how Thornton modulates the material..."
Chicago Sun-Times - Roger Ebert (12/22/2000)
Quotations
"There ain't but one truth. The truth is what happened. It ain't what come out of somebody's mouth."--John Grady Cole (Matt Damon) lets the Captain (Julio Oscar Mechoso) know he won't cooperate by falsely condemning Jimmy Blevins (Lucas Black)
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