8/10 Informativeness 5/10 Cinematography 6/10 Interviews 2/10 Breadth of Info presented 9/10 Depth of Info presented 5/10 Replay Value
Buck proves to be as enlightening and disarmingly satisfying a documentary as you will find. In regards to the cinematography, there is certainly a lack of any nostalgic, sentimental or tonal quality. There are many straight-up, "man on the street"-esque shots. A more creative or dynamic approach would have been appreciated—think National Geographic or NFL Films.
However, despite the disappointing cinematography, one cannot overlook the searing humanity of Buck and his journey. Many of the events seen in the documentary speak for themselves and require little extra pomp or dressing to make their impact known. Take, for example, a brain damaged horse that Buck encounters during one of his exhibits.
The score isn't imposing, allowing for the raw, passionate and intimate moments to stand free of what would otherwise be spin (Several documentaries are rife with things like this.) or melodrama.
If I could give two major complaints, though, they would be:
A: A lack of other, more in-depth moments with people around buck, notably his students.
B: The redundant hearkening back to Buck's troubled past.
The documentary's strength isn't Buck's personal journey or biography, but his remarkable gifts, which he uses to help other people find out who, beneath the fleshly incompatibilities, their horses really are. In turn, many of his pupils either begin on or progress in their own paths to self-actualization. With an open mind, one begins to understand the immense symbioticism that man shares with animals and the world as a whole, and the empathy, respect, and admiration that they deserve.
Overall it was a solid, informative documentary that really snatches the viewer into a world that, if one happens to not be familiar with would be happy to learn about. I gained perspective from viewing this documentary and certainly consider myself more educated and enlightened after viewing it.
Buck proves to be as enlightening and disarmingly satisfying a documentary as you will find. In regards to the cinematography, there is certainly a lack of any nostalgic, sentimental or tonal quality. There are many straight-up, "man on the street"-esque shots. A more creative or dynamic approach would have been appreciated—think National Geographic or NFL Films.
However, despite the disappointing cinematography, one cannot overlook the searing humanity of Buck and his journey. Many of the events seen in the documentary speak for themselves and require little extra pomp or dressing to make their impact known. Take, for example, a brain damaged horse that Buck encounters during one of his exhibits.
The score isn't imposing, allowing for the raw, passionate and intimate moments to stand free of what would otherwise be spin (Several documentaries are rife with things like this.) or melodrama.
If I could give two major complaints, though, they would be:
A: A lack of other, more in-depth moments with people around buck, notably his students.
B: The redundant hearkening back to Buck's troubled past.
The documentary's strength isn't Buck's personal journey or biography, but his remarkable gifts, which he uses to help other people find out who, beneath the fleshly incompatibilities, their horses really are. In turn, many of his pupils either begin on or progress in their own paths to self-actualization. With an open mind, one begins to understand the immense symbioticism that man shares with animals and the world as a whole, and the empathy, respect, and admiration that they deserve.
Overall it was a solid, informative documentary that really snatches the viewer into a world that, if one happens to not be familiar with would be happy to learn about. I gained perspective from viewing this documentary and certainly consider myself more educated and enlightened after viewing it.