2000, PG-13, 116 minutes

When it comes to the adaptation of a novel into a film, there are simply some stories that were best left on paper. Cormac McCarthy's award-winning novel is one of them, or at least it is when it's being funded by a major studio. While the film version of All the Pretty Horses may have the same plot, characters and theme, it lacks the depth and emotional intimacy that made the book so enjoyable.

John Grady Cole (Matt Damon) wants nothing more from life than a spread where he can breed horses and herd cattle, which many people would say is behind the times in 1950. After being booted off the Texas ranch that had been in his family for years, he and his buddy Lacey Rawlins (Henry Thomas) climb on their horses and head south of the border. On the way they get mixed up with a kid named Blevins (Lucas Black) and eventually get settled working with horses on an enormous ranch, owned by a wealthy Mexican man named Don Hector Rocha (Ruben Blades). Things take a turn for the worse, however, when John takes an interest in the one thing the man values most: his daughter, Alejandra (Penelope Cruz).

Given All the Pretty Horses' long-delayed and much talked about post-production, it would hardly seem fair to place the blame on Billy Bob Thornton, who was forced to make numerous cuts in the editing room. The unfortunate result is the film places more of an emphasis on the story than the theme, and the story itself isn't sufficient to entertain an audience. While the very beginning is clearly in-tune with the book -- filled with sweeping panoramic shots and a philosophical conversation to boot -- about twenty minutes into it a lot of the scenes don't last as long as they should and the story feels choppy and incomplete. Most of the events are immediately crammed in our face and we never get the chance to settle in and get comfortable, which undermines the emotional impact of what occurs. Also, the strong bond of friendship between John and Lacey is almost non-existent, as well as John's connection with nature and the feeling that he tries to live by his own moral code, regardless of what other people say or do. The sad part is there are traces of all those things that are missing, and you can't help but wonder what Thornton's original three-hour cut was like. When are those Hollywood bean-counters going to realize that there's no point in adapting a novel if you're going to tear the guts out of it?

On the upside, Matt Damon gives yet another excellent performance. His Texan accent is absolutely flawless, and the way he carries himself is perfect for the character of John Grady Cole. I can only imagine what kind of acclaim Damon would've received if this film had turned out the way it was intended. The casting of Henry Thomas as Lacey Rawlins was somewhat clever, the former child star of E.T. portraying a man who talks tougher than he actually is, and Lucas Black is decent, although he would've been better had the best moments of his character been included. As for Penelope Cruz, she simply doesn't provide enough of a presence to make up for a severe lack of screen time, and as a result many viewers won't buy the love story.

When it comes down to it, All the Pretty Horses is a real disappointment, both to those who've read the book and those who haven't. Damon gives a top-notch performance and the scenery that we actually get to see is superb, but it isn't enough to surpass the misfortune of excessive cutting.