User Reviews

Montana Story is an indie film that seems conventional in every way from the start and that's a good and bad thing at the same time. It has quality craftsmanship. I can't say anything negative about it. The film is pretty well made overall. However, to what extent can we appreciate a recycling of ideas that risks absolutely nothing? Montana Story is a movie made to show off the actors work. Especially Haley Lu Richardson, who delivers a strong performance. The problem is that her good work is inside a film that goes nowhere. Yes, I repeat, the quality is good, but its entire course since its beginning has been more than defined. It's so predictable that it doesn't provoke any real emotion and therefore leaves no memorable impression. The only conclusion the film's plot offers is redemption and you know after the first 10 minutes and I'm telling you, this film doesn't try anything new. What would have been truly interesting and challenging is if it had tried something else. I can tell anyone that it's worth a look, but also understanding that this sort of drama has been seen too many times before.

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

This movie is one of my favorites in a long time. It starts out slow, and builds one little bit at a time. And each piece lays on top of the last so delicately, but all the while you have this uneasy feeling, like tension building. It is so cleverly done, and feels very confident in the way it sets things up. In some ways, it can feel old-fashioned, like movies used to be. It's built on character and relationships and history and unspoken secrets. And it all plays out in a Montana landscape that is just breathtaking, and beautifully captured by the cinematographer. The side characters are all very interesting and strong, not throw-away characters, but people who have interesting stories, too. And I LOVE movies about horses. I definitely recommend this movie to anyone who loves movies, or horses, or Montana or the American West. And Haley Lu Richardson should win awards for her performance. I think she steals the show.