The Mustang

Focus Features | Release Date: March 15, 2019

6.7	USER SCORE Generally favorable reviews based on 38 Ratings

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GreatMartinApr 2, 2019

"The Mustang" is not "Black Stallion", "Black Beauty" or "National Velvet" but it really tries to be a good movie and there are some very effective scenes but it fails. (There was a movie last year about a horse and trainer that was excellent"The Mustang" is not "Black Stallion", "Black Beauty" or "National Velvet" but it really tries to be a good movie and there are some very effective scenes but it fails. (There was a movie last year about a horse and trainer that was excellent but as much as I tried to remember and search I couldn't find it--anyone remember it? A true story with mostly non-actors.)

I thought it was me but I asked a few people if they understood what, if any, they understood what the cell mate was saying and/or the daughter's voice over but they agreed with me that they didn't.

Getting to the movie, there is no faulting Matthias Schoenaerts as the 12 year prisoner who gets into a training program involved with training the wild mustangs gathered by helicopters to be auctioned in 4 weeks. He is in prison for almost killing the mother of his daughter with the latter forced to taking care of the former. This is just one instance where the screenwriters Laure De Clermont-Tonnerre, who also directed, Mona Fastvold and Brook Norman Brock. I am willing to suspend logic in movies but Gideon Adlon in no way looks old enough to be left alone to take care of the mother starting 12 years ago and there is no mention of anyone else involved.

The screenwriters also let the audience down in what should have been a powerful scene between father and daughter. There is a group therapy session lead by a favorite of mine, Connie Britton, which is a waste of time and talent while Bruce Den is effective as an old time trainer.

The film feels both rushed and extra scenes put in to expand it to 96 minutes while more time should have been spent with why Ramon (Schoenaerts) is the way he is but the scenes between him and the supposedly crazy mustang make up for the many mistakes made in other aspects of the film.

I question the so fast training of the horse but then this city boy wouldn't know about such things!

Aside from what could be seen as inhumane treatment of the mustangs there really isn't any obvious harm or violent scenes against the horses.

"The Mustang" is worth seeing if only to learn about the government p[rogram regarding the prisoners and horses but it leeft me feeling empty. Summary: Roman (Matthias Schoenaerts), a convict in a rural Nevada prison who struggles to escape his violent past, is required to participate in an “outdoor maintenance” program as part of his state-mandated social rehabilitation. Spotted by a no-nonsense veteran trainer (Bruce Dern) and helped by an outgoing fellow inmate and trick rider (Jason Mitchell), Roman is accepted into the selective wild horse training section of the program, where he finds his own humanity in gentling an especially unbreakable mustang.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

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netflicMar 25, 2019

Several states in our country have convict rehabilitation programs that involve animals.

This movie is about one of such programs where inmates tame wild horses that later are being sold on auctions. The protagonist Roman is a buffed-up guySeveral states in our country have convict rehabilitation programs that involve animals.

This movie is about one of such programs where inmates tame wild horses that later are being sold on auctions.

The protagonist Roman is a buffed-up guy who has problems dealing with people. In a way he is as wild as the horse that the program management paired him with. Neither of them are free while being free-spirited; both of them have temper problem. Each one of them is a “mustang”. But who is taming who?

Roman is played by Matthias Schoenaerts, the actor who I really like. He does not have much to say in this role but his acting is still magnificent. Many other inmates are not by actors but prisoners who play themselves. Needless to say, the movie feels quite authentic.

The film is slow and atmospheric, even though as most prison movies do, it has an ample dose of violence. I did like the movie, mostly because of my favorite actor’s performance. Your mileage might vary.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

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TheWaffleMay 8, 2019

The Mustang has an awful lot of heart, and some very convincing performances. But it doesn't quite get off the ground as several scenes boil down to the protagonist angrily arguing with a horse. It's not always clear what he wants out of theThe Mustang has an awful lot of heart, and some very convincing performances. But it doesn't quite get off the ground as several scenes boil down to the protagonist angrily arguing with a horse. It's not always clear what he wants out of the creature. Other threads are left dangling, with both his relationship with his inmate friend and his daughter come to unsatisfying conclusions.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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amheretojudgeJun 2, 2019

Laure has a daunting task, to lighten up this prison, she is aware of her arena and hence won't waste her time on the firecrackers.

The Mustang Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre, the director, has a robust attitude. Not towards her film but herLaure has a daunting task, to lighten up this prison, she is aware of her arena and hence won't waste her time on the firecrackers.

The Mustang

Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre, the director, has a robust attitude. Not towards her film but her characters. Brimmed with empathy, the pull back of these characters from our lobby where we root for them, is perpetually poetic. For, set in a prison, the characters are often questionable. They come under the "everyone deserves a second chance" category, which Laure does make it clear as each of them confesses about the duration of their crime and the bitter aftermath that they have been tasting since then. Now, these characters, as anyone would do, blend in with us. As all of them gets to show a softer, a more adaptable, side of theirs. But this is what's fascinating about Laure's film.

As soon as you are ready to accept them, she pushes them away from you by either revealing another inedible information about them, or ordering them to walk on some horrible passage. And she does it brilliantly. Since, as mentioned before, these characters reap questions on their personalities long before the film even starts, the expression of drawing them to the darker side, isn't loud, but just a little push. So nuanced and warm is her touch on these characters, that the storytelling itself gets lost into them.

As far as plot is concerned, it is basically the same, getting over your past through changing the present for the future generations, sort of thing. But what's captivating along with the cast's performance is the behavior of these characters. As a wild animal, they are portrayed, and hunt and prey, they do. Metaphor for our host Roman's (Matthias Schoenaerts) loved ones, the horse doesn't get that much to do individually and instead walks through the montages of bridging with its master and helping him cross the bridge, with a title The Mustang.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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