Geronimo

The valiant, if doomed, Chiricahua Apache tried (as did so many other tribes) to be accommodating after being hounded to the breaking point. Their famous chief, Geronimo, gave himself up voluntarily and tried to lead his people onto the reservation. But, as happened so many times, even after capitulation they were attacked in unwarranted fashion and reacted by leaving the reservation whereupon they were hunted, and hunted, and harried. Some people don't like this film because it tells history more like it was than most movies do about the "conquering" of the American west ... it shows both sides of the story, not just one. With this movie, you can't identify with the hero on one side and the villain or the other. Both are sympathetic, both are reprehensible (isn't that the way a historical drama really ought to be played? In my book, this is a plus). As a native of Arizona, where much of the historical action took place, I find it disturbing that the countryside in which the movie was made is either in some other state or in the wrong part of Arizona, that characters seem to be able to get from Tombstone to San Carlos in one day on horseback (either they had multiple horses, or one dead one), and that there is a bit of overstatement about the honor among the various Apache bands (with reference to the reason that members of some Apache groups served as scouts against other groups). All in all, though, I vote for this one over all the other "Geronimo" movies that have been made.

This film was part of the revival the western genre had in the beginning of the 90's in the wake of Dances With Wolves. Not all of the westerns from this period are worth seeing (Bad Girls is a good example of that) but there are gems among them. This film, Geronimo: An American Legend being one. It makes an intelligent comment regarding the frankly despicable treatment the Apaches, among other American Indian tribes, recieved at the hands of the American government. In this lies the films strength and the presentation of this theme is the focus of the film's plot. It plays like a historical thesis or argument. This being terrific for people who are looking to know exactly what happened to the Apaches.

However, people who search for great dramaturgical nerve in films should avoid this film. Because there is none. The plot faithfully depicts the historical progress of events and refuses to completely demonize the Whites (although they clearly are being portrayed as the expansionist aggressors)in order to build a protagonist-antagonist plot-structure. This makes the movie slow, and for non-buffs a tedious experience.

Finally, the film has a terrific soundtrack by Ry Cooder and a knock-out performance by Wes Studi as Geronimo!

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.

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.

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.