PLEASE NOTE: Michael D's is currently in READ ONLY MODE. Anything submitted will simply not be written to the database.
Lots of stuff is still broken, but at least reviews can now be looked up and read.
PLEASE NOTE: Michael D's is currently in READ ONLY MODE. Anything submitted will simply not be written to the database.
Lots of stuff is still broken, but at least reviews can now be looked up and read.
Buck (2011)

Buck (2011)

If you create a user account, you can add your own review of this DVD

Released 6-Jun-2012

Cover Art

This review is sponsored by
BUY IT

Details At A Glance

General Extras
Category Documentary Audio Commentary-Buck Brannaman and filmmakers Cindy Meehl and Julie Goldman
Deleted Scenes
Interviews-Cast
Theatrical Trailer
Rating Rated PG
Year Of Production 2011
Running Time 85:00
RSDL / Flipper Dual Layered Cast & Crew
Start Up Menu
Region Coding 4 Directed By Cindy Meehl
Studio
Distributor

Madman Entertainment
Starring Buck Brannaman
Gary Myers
Bibb Frazier
Betty Staley
Gwynn Turnbull Weaver
Shayne Jackson
Annette Venteicher
Robert Redford
Reata Brannaman
Nevada Watt
Mary Brannaman
Case Amaray-Transparent
RPI $29.95 Music David Robbins


Video Audio
Pan & Scan/Full Frame None English Dolby Digital 5.1 (448Kb/s)
Widescreen Aspect Ratio 1.78:1
16x9 Enhancement
16x9 Enhanced
Video Format 576i (PAL)
Original Aspect Ratio 1.78:1 Miscellaneous
Jacket Pictures No
Subtitles English for the Hearing Impaired Smoking No
Annoying Product Placement No
Action In or After Credits No

NOTE: The Profanity Filter is ON. Turn it off here.

Plot Synopsis

     You don't have to be a horse lover to enjoy Buck a documentary film about the life of "horse whisperer" Buck Brannaman but obviously those with a deep love for four-legged animals of the equine variety will get a deeper experience from watching their hero at work. However, even those who would prefer to eat a horse than ride one will get something from this insightful, enjoyable documentary.

     Although he is often referred to by the shorthand description of "horse whisperer" Buck makes it perfectly clear that he is but one in a long line of horse trainers who use patience and understanding instead of the whip to form a deeper bond between people and their horses. To an outsider who barely knows one end of a horse from the other the logic seems inescapable - if you want to work with an animal you should treat it with love and respect rather than trying to beat it into submission. Yet clearly the training espoused by Buck is not standard issue, such that his four-day training sessions with young horses and their riders still carry a sense of mysticism as if he is a shaman connecting with the soul of the horse. Buck comes in half way between New Age and old-age. His straightforward, earnest logic may seem simplistic at first and a little trite but as the documentary develops it is clear that Buck has learnt, through tough experience, to believe what he preaches.

     Raised by a father who he remembers, less than fondly, as a violent drunk Buck was, with his brother, a childhood roping sensation who even featured in a TV cereal commercial. Each night, however, he knew that his father would be drinking and delivering another beating. Remarkably, emerging from this background, with the love of his foster parents, Buck has turned to nurturing as a profession and for the last 30 or so years has been training horses, and just as often training people. His mantra is often a simple one - that problems between a horse and its owner often reveal more about the owner’s issues than the horses. Buck himself spends most of the year travelling around rural America taking classes and getting owners and their horses to understand one another.

     This is a simple documentary and some may find it a little light for their tastes. Yet there is much to be enjoyed particularly in the personality of Buck whose calm, persuasive voice seems to work equally on humans and animals. Within minutes it seems he can bring an unruly horse to a gentle understanding.

     It is not all success. In one of the key scenes in the film Buck tries to train a horse which was deprived of oxygen at birth and has suffered mental retardation. The horse is extremely violent and owned by a woman who has 19 stud horses. According to Buck that is 19 more than anyone needs to have! Despite best efforts the horse returns to its home with its aggression intact.

     Buck was the winner of the audience award at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival. It is no surprise that the film was invited to be presented. After all, Buck was the consultant to Robert Redford for his film The Horse Whisperer and Redford is on hand to provide his own comments and insights into the character of Buck.

    An interesting watch.

Don't wish to see plot synopses in the future? Change your configuration.

Transfer Quality

Video

     Buck comes to DVD in a 1.78:1 aspect ratio consistent with its original aspect ratio. It is 16x9 enhanced.

     Buck was shot on high-definition digital video. The image quality throughout is crisp and clear without being spectacular. The flesh tones are accurate and the colours are strong and vibrant.

     There are no technical problems with the transfer.

     There are subtitles in English for the hearing impaired.

Video Ratings Summary
Sharpness
Shadow Detail
Colour
Grain/Pixelization
Film-To-Video Artefacts
Film Artefacts
Overall

Audio

     Buck features a Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound track running at 448 Kb/s.

     The film does not make any particular demands sonically speaking. Most of the sound comes from the centre channels. Dialogue is clear and easy to understand. The surround sound really just helps to give some ambience to the film.

     The sub-woofer is rarely engaged except when the pounding hoof beats gather.

    Original music for the film is by David Robbins and provides a good accompaniment to the film.

Audio Ratings Summary
Dialogue
Audio Sync
Clicks/Pops/Dropouts
Surround Channel Use
Subwoofer
Overall

Extras

     This DVD includes a number of extras.

Audio commentary with Buck Brannaman and filmmakers Cindy Meehl and Julie Goldman

     As you might expect this is a fairly laid-back commentary track. Buck doesn't like to do things in too much of a hurry. Nothing good can come from rushing. The result is a very easy listening track that fans of Brannaman and his wisdom will relish. Given that the film itself is quite short the commentary track also seems to pass swiftly. Buck supplies more of the back story behind each of the scenes and the people who appear in the film. The filmmakers are on hand really to lead the discussion.

Australian exclusive interview with Buck Brannaman

     whilst in Australia Buck sits down for 10 minutes or so to talk about his philosophies and his love of the job.

Deleted Scenes

     There are 25 minutes of deleted scenes on offer. None of these is superfluous and they give a bit more background to the character. No doubt they were cut for time purposes but they should not be seen as mere fluff. Some of the scenes are extensions of moments in the film and others helped to explain a little more about Buck's early life and his brother Smokie.

Theatrical Trailer

     An excellent trailer for the film which made me, someone indifferent to horses want to see this movie.

R4 vs R1

NOTE: To view non-R4 releases, your equipment needs to be multi-zone compatible and usually also NTSC compatible.

 

      The version in Region 1 is identical to our Region. Buy local.

Summary

     Buck is a thoroughly enjoyable experience. If the man portrayed in the film is an accurate reflection of Buck himself then he is an exemplary human being who is just as much a counsellor to humans as horses.

     The film comes to DVD in a perfectly good transfer both in sound and vision terms.

    The extras are comprehensive and interesting.

Ratings (out of 5)

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall

© Trevor Darge (read my bio)
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Review Equipment
DVDCambridge 650BD (All Regions), using HDMI output
DisplaySony VPL-VW80 Projector on 110" Screen. Calibrated with Video Essentials. This display device is 16x9 capable. This display device has a maximum native resolution of 1080p.
Audio DecoderBuilt in to amplifier/receiver. Calibrated with Ultimate DVD Platinum.
AmplificationPioneer SC-LX 81 7.1
SpeakersAaron ATS-5 7.1

Other Reviews NONE