The Electric Horseman

This is a WILDLY under-rated film, no doubt because it wasn't edgy or spectacular enough for critics and audiences at a time when movies like "Star Wars" and "The Godfather" 1&2, were shaping expectations. This was simply a GREAT story, with great actors, both in the Leads and in Supporting roles. It was a smaller movie, with tons of heart and a solid message/communication: Sell-out at your own peril, and that resonates in just about every human being. One of my ALL-TIME favorites, and I'm out of Hollywood production, have studied film extensively, and am no mere Marvel fan. This film isn't meant to blow the theater speakers out, or splash blood onto your popcorn. It's just a simple story, with a ton of charm, and we don't see that enough nowadays.

Saw this at the movie theater when it came out. Liked it alot then & now. Not usually a rom-com lover, but with Fonda & Redford it works for me.

Weird concept for a movie. A RomCom Adventure Road Movie about a cowboy looking to set a corporations horse free with a reporter looking for a story escaping the law and everyone. It's a miracle this doesn't devolve into nonsense. It actually makes perfect sense. The Willie Nelson soundtrack is really good here but I wish it was used a bit more. It goes long stretches where it could be used more after the first few minutes. It's solidly made all aorund. It's got some beautiful scenery that evokes the likes of Jeremiah Johnson. It's also a very suprisngly quiet and low key type of road movie where a lot of crazy stuff doesn't happen. Don't get me wrong there is crazy things but nowhere near as crazy as something like Midnight Run or Planes, Trains & Automobile type antics. It really is focused on the characters motivations, the romance between them, and a few antics here and there. Where this struggles is the romancitc chemistry and the comedy is alright enough. It really never excels at either. Sometimes it can drag on a little too long because there just isn't that spark in the romance or enough laugh out loud moments. Just chuckles and some charm. Redford and Fonda are good in this with great performances but they just don't have hat much chemistry. What really carries this is the original quirky story and the solid direction to make up for that. There also is a bit of a animal rights agenda at times that can be a bit too on the nose sometimes from Redford a little here but it's not that bad, just noticeable. If it excelled better at one of the two it would really help but as it is, it's a Pollack, Fonda, and Redord deep cut classic. Anyone who is a fan of Pollack, any actors in this, or a very quirky low key romcom or road movie should check this out. Suprised it was solidly good.

Stupid vanity project for Redford; where he gets to be adorned with all this publicity; as this new Hollywood-celebrity cowboy pitchman; (a real life cowboy plucked from obscurity to be this pitchman)... and then he gets to shuck it all off to prove how much better he is than all that. Yawn. Talk about having your cake and eating it too. No one connected with this movie actually thinks celebrity is shallow and evil; if they did they would have left that scene a long time ago. A shallow movie with a phony message. Not recommended.

An ok movie where a cowboy tries to get his life back from being a soulless drunk showman to saving a horse and escaping into the wild while being chased by the Police and his future love interest in Jane Fonda.

First part is great, loved Sonny and his pals palling around, Willie Nelson was a hoot. When Fonda enters the scene, it just all felt awkward. Sure, she was entering into unfamiliar territory for a 'big-city' reporter. But she just made it seems all awkward all the time. The romance / chemistry between them just was't there. More fun as a nostalgic trip - old Vegas, old St. George and hari styles... plus, you don't have to endure gratuitous sex scenes or DEI efforts that bog most modern movies down..

Like watching a made-for-tv movie. Very little character development. In the first half of the movie, Robert Redford plays a washed up drunk rodeo star -- though no explanation is ever given as to what happened. Then suddenly in the second half of the movie, he's sober and practically never touches stuff -- again, no explanation. He's even given a jar a alcohol to take with him on his long journey into the mountains, but only takes a sip of it once and only because Jane Fonda takes one first. Ug.

A fun movie with anti-corporate stint. The best parts were seeing old St George and Vegas. It's a shame they didn't show more of it. Regardless, it's a fun movie with a decent Willie Nelson soundtrack. Redford and Fonda do a good job too. Then to have the Quaker Oats guy made it real fun. It was on Netflix. My friend Rich P recommended.

Ride Slow. Ride Long. The Electric Horseman Pollack's take on cowboy and their lifestyle is fascinating as much as it should be, there is no effort beyond that, there is no layer beneath it. There are few moments were Sydney Pollack; the director, does steal the thunder but even at those moments, you would feel that the makers could have done a lot better. For instance, the one big chase scene, probably the only exhilarating antic in the entire film where all the adrenaline is supposed to be poured in, but the way it is shot could have been much more cleaner and crispier than it is. And this is what is left at the end of the film, that inadequacy on everything that makes you wonder the bourgeois strategy of the filmmaker. Maybe, it's some new adapted technique that didn't work or was just meant to be accordingly. The adapted screenplay too, is another limitation to leap over, as much as standard it is, there is no crux in the game, no relation between these characters whatsoever. And the romance or the spark that you see between our lead characters is all driven from their performance. Robert Redford playing a star past his fame and youth, broods as much as he should and oozes sexual charisma more than he should. This is where the film gets easy. Making Jane Fonda; an uptight skillful player in the show business, fall for the carefree natured cowboy. As much as stereotypical it is, it just works. Their isolated electrifying journey is the only reason you would want to take this ride. From silent still pitches on screen to their "slave to their behavior" nature where all the bickerings is drawn from, helps them immensely to walk on some solid ground where The Electric Horseman is the ultimate saviour.

If these two are in it, it's good.