Scarlett Johansson

HORSE WHISPERER Reviews

• There is an Oscar-caliber performance in THE HORSE WHISPERER, but it isn't given by Redford, Scott-Thomas, or Neill. Instead, it's the work of young Scarlett Johansson, who has already proven her talent with a remarkable debut in MANNY & LO. As Grace, Johansson makes a case to be placed alongside Christina Ricci and Natalie Portman as one of the best actresses of her generation. She does everything necessary to make Grace a living and vital character, and, like all good performers, much of her acting comes through subtle expression changes and body language. Johansson is so effective, in fact, that Grace's story becomes THE HORSE WHISPERER's emotional core, not just a plot device whereby Tom and Annie find themselves and one another. (ReelViews - James Berardinelli)

• Johansson's cruelly challenged teenager unfalteringly holds the screen with Scott Thomas and Redford, matching the strength and complexity of the adult characters - ultimate testament to Redford's on-target direction. (Boston Globe - Jay Carr)

• The real revelation here is Scarlett Johansson. So marvelous in MANNY & LO, she fills one of two emotional centers of this film with such empathy that you actually can relate to her crisis... (Nitrate Online - Carrie Gorringe)

• Kudos to Johansson, who avoids becoming shrill or whiny in what is a very difficult role. (Deseret News - Jeff Vice)

• Johansson, previously seen in the indie MANNY & LO, convincingly conveys the awkwardness of her age and the inner pain of a carefree girl suddenly laid low by horrible happenstance. (Variety - Todd McCarthy)

• Johansson is terrific, creating the sole character that makes any connection with the audience. (Michael Dequina)

• The best scenes in THE HORSE WHISPERER tend to involve ... the healing process of Grace and her horse. At some point, I wished the movie would drop the whole romance angle and focus on Grace more. (James Kendrick)

• But the real magic in this film is from young Scarlett Johansson. Her transformation in personality from a bitter traumatized accident victim to a spirited youth, as she was at the beginning of the film, before the accident, is truly great screen acting which I hope brings her an Oscar nomination. (Walter Frith)

  But more importantly is Scarlett Johansson, the most complex character in the film...Johansson gives an Oscar-caliber performance that deserves recognition. This is one of the best performances you will likely see this year... (Respect!)

• Johansson, only 12 when the weather-plagued movie was shot, is a terrific find. She strikes just the right rebellious tone in Grace, a blossoming teen battling insecurity. (Indianapolis Star & News - Bonnie Britton)

• Also lovely is Johansson's naturalistic performance as Grace; she outshines the hackneyed romance between the adults whenever she takes the screen. (Boxoffice - Cathy Thompson-Georges)

• As Grace, Johansson delivers a soulful, wise performance. The young actress, best known for her stunning work in the independent feature MANNY & LO, is able to convey buckets of emotion without resorting to labored histrionics or cheap sentimentality. When her character's love for both life and horses is threatened, Johansson's pain feels authentic and heartbreaking. (Calgary Herald - Mike Boon)

• Special mention goes to Johansson, whose portrayal of an emotionally devastated young girl is excellent. On top of the normal adolescent snottiness and angst, she deftly shows the pain of being a young attractive girl who sees herself as hideously disformed by her amputation. The scene in which she breaks down crying and asks her mother, "Who's ever going to want me?" is a wrenching remarkable scene. (St Louis Post Dispatch - Joe Holleman)

• Of the many impresive things about Robert Redford's The Horse Whisperer, one of the best is the performance of fourteen-year-old (sic) Scarlett Johansson who plays Kristin Scott Thomas's emotionally scarred, physically damaged daughter. (Flicks)

• The name Scarlett Johansson hardly trips off the tongue but it's one likely to stick in the mind thanks to her powerful performance in Robert Redford's directorial latest. (Empire)

• One bright spot in the film is Scarlett Johansson who blows every body off the screen, which is pretty difficult when surrounded by the likes of Redford and Thomas. (Scott's Reviews)

• The ultimate prize goes to the touching performance by Scarlett Johansson (a definite star in the making) as she displays perfectly the difficulties of coming to terms with such a tragedy. (Civic Home Entertainment Magazine - Australia) {For the complete review see The Horse Whisperer page.

Look back on time with kindly eyes...
(Emily Dickinson)

Many more reviews were read, but only some of those specifically mentioning the acting abilities of Miss Johansson are shown above. For additional reviews go to IMDb, Telerama, or Bomis:The Horse Whisperer Ring.

Return to The Horse Whisperer page.

---

bio - films - movie pix - magazines - links - poems - updates

---

Last updated January 25, 2001.

© 1997 Areteless

This page hosted by Get your own Free Home Page