Geronimo

This underrated Western (in Germany Hills picture disappears after one week from the cinema) convinces with an excellent script (I realize again, John Milius is much better in writing as directing), a stunning photography and outstanding performances of the lead characters. Studi is great, a wonderful study of pride and his understanding that he never can win his war against white men. Especially this poetic and realistic movie is by comparison with other Indian sagas not a fairy tale from far west. Hill tells the truth and so we see only desperate people and no heroes - on both sides. Great - a must see for fans. I give 8 out of 10 stars.

Wow, where to start, I loved this movie, it's portrayal of Geronimo is complex and gives the viewer a different portrait than most westerns do. It's showing at the box office is regrettable, because it is probably one of the most honest portrayals of the travesty that was the Indian wars. This film showed how men of conscious we're asked to round up a tribe of people's who only wanted to remain free on lands they had held for over a thousand years, soldiers had to follow orders but for many the cost must have been terrible, especially when their words we're repeatedly broken by others under whom they served. But it was a different time and place with politics that few today would embrace. So much tragedy but at least this movie showed the military genius of Geronimo and allowed his name to shine for the future generations to see.

As others have said, this is an excellent example of a revisionist Western, successful both as a 'quest' film and as history. Despite minor examples of the invariable desire of film-makers to embellish events (Al Sieber in fact died years later when a rock rolled on him while he was clearing a road) this is as close as you'll get to a historically and visually accurate movie account of the pursuit of Geronimo.

Geronimo: An American Legend is truly an underrated gem, an epic historical western directed by Walter Hill and written by John Milius. Great direction and a fairly good script, it does a great job at giving us a good narrative and the fictional liberties the creators took are there for dramatic use. But its representation of the Native Americans and the Apache is one thing they got right. It is a fictionalized account of the Apache Wars and how First Lieutenant Charles B. Gatewood convinced Apache leader Geronimo to surrender in 1886. It's a well told story that engages you and makes you want to learn more about the historical figures and events, I'm alright with it being a fictionalized account of what happened, it's a film after all and not a documentary.

The lead actors of the movie are Wes Studi, Jason Patric, Gene Hackman, Robert Duvall and Matt Damon. That's just a few names, the roles that the actors I mentioned is historical figures and I'm certain that everything isn't historically accurate but I think they did a phenomenal job with their performances. Wes Studi, Jason Patric, Gene Hackman and Robert Duvall had the best performances, very memorable. They got the accents and mannerisms right for an authentic portrayal in that time period. Wes Studi who portrays the title character did a phenomenal job, probably one of the best performances of his career.

Walter Hill is a director that really knows how to make a film that's visually stunning, his contribution to the film is a huge point in why it's so good. He got a extremely talented cinematographer working beside him, and just wow, the movie looks amazing and also sounds amazing. Incredible musical score and sound design. The whole production is impressive and are filled with scenes full of detail, I'm glad they cared about the film and wanted so much authenticity as possible.

Geronimo: An American Legend is a memorable western film that I will re-watch in the future, it's a great film that has amazing acting and writing. The people who worked cared and that makes us care for the movie.

Brig. Gen. George Crook (Gene Hackman) leads a war on the Chiricahua to bring them to their reservation. Geronimo (Wes Studi) agrees to go in peace. Lt. Britton Davis (Matt Damon) is new from Texas. He accompanies Lt. Charles Gatewood (Jason Patric) to go bring Geronimo in. Gatewood befriends Geronimo. Al Sieber (Robert Duvall) is a scout with a proper hatred and respect for the enemy Apache. The army tries to stop a medicine man dancing and a violent incident results. Geronimo escapes the reservation with a group of Apache. That's when the Geronimo Campaign begins.

It's a historical drama without the overdramatization that normally accompanies westerns. There are no easy villains in this. The circumstances keep conspiring to force the groups to clash. There are great actors in this. Most impressive is Wes Studi. His presence makes Geronimo come alive.