Older Than America

This film tells the story of a native American woman who discovers that her schizophrenic mother is actually a victim of a scheme of widespread abuse, torture and a massive cover up at an institutional level.

Even after reading the synopsis of the plot, I was still unprepared for the atrocities portrayed in the film. I have little knowledge in native American history, and the events portrayed truly shocks me. I'm sadly reminded of a similar film but set in a different country, "Rabbit Proof Fence". I'm glad to see justice is portrayed, and healing occurs. The plot itself is quite good, it's engaging because it mixes romance with drama and supernatural elements. I enjoyed it.

Bradley Cooper's character is a bit redundant and out of place with the plot. It feels as if his character is added to the plot after the plot is written. Anyway, despite the apparently low budget, " Older Than America " is a good film and deserves to be watched.

I saw this movie because it was rated 9.5 at this site on April 9, 2010. Minutes into the film, I could tell that this was rating was due only to the subject matter and not the quality of the film itself. The script and acting are mediocre to poor, and the story is predictable from start to finish. If you don't know Native American history, this film should be an eye-opener. If you do, as I did before watching the movie, you will be pleased to see that this important aspect of Native American history was made into a movie. If only it had been made into a movie worth seeing. I could see that everyone involved with the making of the film tried their best, but it didn't work. Very disappointed. 9.5? No, it's just a 5.

In Minnesota, modernized Native American couple Georgina Lightning (as Rain) and Adam Beach (as John "Johnny" Goodfeather) are troubled by her nightmarish visions. With help from visiting geologist Bradley Cooper (as Luke Patterson), they uncover some mysterious events. "Older Than America" is an issue-oriented film, it explores / exposes the United States government's policy of taking Native American children away from families and reservations in order to assimilate.

The emphasis is on making these children Christian (using abominable force). Writer/director Lightning's topic is commendable, but the use of the supernatural does not work; that even Mr. Cooper, in town to investigate an earthquake, has visions perpetuates myths of different color. This can work well in drama, just not this time. The song played over the end credits, "Someone Call an Angel Down" written and performed by Derek Miller, provides a haunting coda.

***** Older Than America (3/8/08) Georgina Lightning ~ Georgina Lightning, Adam Beach, Bradley Cooper, Tantoo Cardinal

This movie really is not a view of life in boarding schools, per se. I don't believe it was intended to be. It is a metaphor for the effects still felt today by nearly all Native Americans here in the U.S. The movie "is" a period place. All of the issues that the story touches base on are those that Natives all over Indian Country are dealing with today. It is not the direct reflection of one single reason why Natives today face the afflictions of poverty, alcoholism, abuse, unemployment, illiteracy, and loss of identity as a culture, but the culmination of many. Forced attendance into an institution specifically designed to strip away everything it means to be "Indian" just so happens to be the primary area of focus in this film. The sub-plots add depth to the characters as well as much needed comic relief. Even though this film is classified as a drama, it should be shown in every history class across the United States, right after the lesson on the first "Thanksgiving".

I watched this going in with high hopes with Adam Beach and Bradley cooper. What i really got was a alright story made into a pretty poor movie. I was trying to figure out what Coopers part really had to do with the movie. Will bring in a Earthquake expert too take a look at an area where supposedly an earthquake took place. Adam Beach was alright but he looked bored playing his part like it was a paycheck probably because he knew this movie would get lost or go directly to DVD. Not only was this movie lost it didn't get released until 2012 over 5 years after it was made.

Well this would be the moment to start releasing older Bradley Cooper movies after his Hangover flicks. I have to be honest the lead female role in this movie was hard to look at and her acting was not much better. This tries to be a superstitious ghost type movie and turns into an unbelievable movie with zero suspense. Its amazing how 1 priest can try to cover up such a big mess you would think he would have help and he all by himself had that much power to keep it hidden. They turned a based on a true story into a suspense movie where only the past was the truth everything else was LIFETIME for TV. Bradley probably wishes he didn't except the part!