Crazy Horse

Though entertaining and well acted, the script doesn't follow Sandoz's biography. Sandoz who traveled more than any other researcher in Ogalala country compiled much of her biography from descendants and other community members who carry stories of Crazy Horse. According to Sandoz The Strange Crazy Horse a political critic - opposing three primary features of Ogalala society: 1) the idea of paying for brides with horses (dowry); 2) the idea that community acknowledgment and recognition are synonymous with an individuals' spiritual or metaphysical (for lack of better words) standing 3) the idea that there are a fixed number of formal ways in which to seek knowledge and understanding. Crazy Horse according to Sandoz felt that the influx of Horses had corrupted Oglala society somewhat and made it more (in contemporary terms) - wealth bound and greed ridden. He also she suggests felt that there were in some respects formalized aspects of the society that were too rigid and so conflicted with (in contemporary terms) basic human rights. Sandoz's Crazy Horse in essence supported Oglala culture and society strongly only as a reformer he, by example suggested several small adjustments to the culture so as to make it better.

Rather than being unique in this I imagine, he showed up at a time when the West was interested in Native people much like they are interested in Middle Eastern peoples today. War seems to create a sensationalist fascination with the other and so some attention was given his life in the popular media. Many of the biographies seem to contain details that conflict strongly with Sandoz, but no other researcher seems to have spent the same amount of time both in archives and in the communities. She has a pointed, detailed yet equivocal touch and so I trust her account better than any I have seen. This book (as is common) puts the film to shame.

I thought this to be one of Mr. Greyeyes' better films since he was perfectly suited for the role of Crazy Horse. Of course, the supporting cast was very well picked as Native people themselves played the Native roles like the way its supposed to be. I read some of the comments that other members put for this film and I tend to disagree with what these pessimists say. Personally I think this film should have made it to the big screen.. too bad it didn't make it to the big screen.

But........ anyways...... I cannot recall how Crazy Horse died in the film since its been a while when I last saw it. In real life, he was only 35 when he was murdered by 3 white policemen who came to arrest him for no known reason. Apparently he was bayoneted in the back by one of these policemen while the other 2 held him so he couldn't free himself. It was truly a sad day in Lakota history when he died. It was also the way he died too that makes this situation even more sad.

Well..... however..... this is why I gave this film a 7 out of 10.

'Crazy Horse' is a well acted, beautifully shot film that should have gone to big screen.

While this movie may deviate from the finest research points of one author, Sandoz, it plays well, overall, to the spirit of Native American experience, as well as to the nature of Crazy Horse. Keep in mind it is not listed as a docudrama. I grew up all my life on the Rez, my family is Native American and our minds and hearts were moved by this film. Although we are Nez Perce, all tribes unite in their admiration of Crazy Horse and the ability he had to be 'invisible' in the face of an army when necessary. So, when I use the euphemism "the devil's in the details" my message is "don't let the devil distract you from something great by tying you up with trivia." It is great to see a movie that is true to form in showing the nature of war. I grew up believing Indians were bad. My twin sisters came home crying one day from first grade because one of their friends told them that they were Indians. To my sisters, that meant they had to ride horses to white peoples' houses and scalp them. That's what they had learned from TV shows. Our mother had some reassuring to do and 'Coyote' tales to tell, like how humans came to be - http://www.ilhawaii.net/~stony/lore59.html

If you love Westerns, history, and have a heart for all peoples, you will love this film!

A must see movie Outstanding movie, Great Direction by John Irvin. The visuals are superb, great cast. A story that tells it like it is with out the usual bias and in a form that keeps your interest. I wood highly recommend people see other movies directed by John Irvin.

This is history? It's one of those revisionist epics where the indians are depicted as goodie-goodies on a weekend scouting trip, have a beauty parlor and a gym in the camp somewhere, don't commit anything that could be viewed as offensive to modern viewers, all whites are evil brutes to a man and Custer is made personally responsible to all things bad that ever happened to the poor indians.

Furthermore it's doubtful that any indian tribe ever discussed matters military in terms of front lines and troops or whatever.

It's not even good as a old fashioned shoot-'em up adventure movie - it's too dull for that. If you want to see anything serious on the subject, watch "Dances With Wolves" or "Son of the Morning Star" instead.