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The Western genre has produced some of the greatest movies of all time, thanks to the work of Hollywood legends like John Ford, Howard Hawks, Kurt Russell, and John Wayne. With some of the best-written stories in the film industry, the genre is known for its combination of compelling character studies, explorations of the American landscape, and brilliant gunfights.

While some Western movies stay confined to a small town and a handful of characters, others explore journeys across the vast American frontier and focus on a variety of characters. While the more subdued movies in the genre, like High Noon, often get the best critical acclaim, many viewers show up to enjoy the epic side of the Old West. From perilous journeys to years-long tales of revenge, these movies have helped usher in the modern era of compelling and epic Westerns.

Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee Explores the Plight...

Representation-wise, 2024 is already a pretty big year for the Emmys. The morning of July 17 marked the second time in the award show's history that an Indigenous performer has been nominated for an acting prize. Actually, scratch that: simultaneously, three performers became the second Indigenous acting nominees in the award's history. Lily Gladstone and Kali Reis became the very first Indigenous actresses to receive a nod from the Television Academy, for Under the Bridge and True Detective: Night Country, respectively. Both are in the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie category. Meanwhile, Reservation Dogs' D'Pharaoh Woon-a-Tai was nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series, becoming the de facto second male Indigenous performer to run for an Emmy ever since August Schellenberg's 2007 nod for the HBO film Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee.

Shōgun leads the pack with 25 Emmy nominations with The Bear close behind with 23 nominations.

We may have just left this year’s awards season behind but there’s another major awards ceremony looming in the near future. The Emmy nominations were announced last night and they reflect a great year of TV.

Shōgun, Rachel Kondo and Justin Marks’ ambitious epic based on James Clavell’s novel, received a whopping 25 nominations across all categories. With more seasons of the acclaimed series now planned, Shōgun qualified for the Outstanding Drama category instead of a Limited or Anthology Series.

Shōgun is up for Oustanding Drama Series and Hiroyuki Sanada and Anna Sawai are both nominated for Lead Actor and Actress respectively.

The Bear, which just aired its third season, is nominated for 23 Emmys across the board. Controversially, the series is up for Outstanding Comedy Series. The Bear has always toed the line between...

Under the Bridge, the limited true crime drama series starring Lily Gladstone, has earned the actress a historic feat at the 2024 Emmy Awards. With a nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series, Movie or Anthology, Gladstone has become one of two Indigenous women ever to be nominated in an acting category at the prestigious awards show.

Gladstone shared the accomplishment with fellow Indigenous actress Kali Reis, who is nominated in the came category for her role in True Detective: Night Country.

In addition to becoming the first two...

The Emmy Award nominations on Wednesday morning made history across various categories including Best Supporting Actress in a Limited Series which recognized Lily Gladstone and Kali Reis for their work in Hulu’s Under The Bridge and Max’s True Detective: Night Country, respectively.

The nods—both Gladstone and Reis’ first— make the pair the first Indigenous women to receive Emmy acting nominations.

Until today, August Schellenberg was the only Native American actor to be nominated for an acting Emmy. He was recognized for his portrayal of Sitting Bull in HBO’s Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee in 2007 under the “Outstanding Actor in a Miniseries or Move” category.

Additionally, FX’s Reservation Dogs finally earned some Emmy love for its final season including Best Comedy Series and Lead Actor in a Comedy for D’Pharaoh Woon-a-Tai.

Related: 76th Emmy Nominations: Deadline’s Full Coverage

Coming off a busy Oscar...

Indigenous actresses Lily Gladstone and Kali Reis have made history with their first Primetime Emmy nominations.

On Wednesday, Gladstone and Reis received nominations in the supporting actress in a limited series category for their roles in Hulu’s “Under the Bridge” and HBO/Max’s “True Detective: Night Country.” This major recognition marks the first time Indigenous women have been nominated for acting Emmys, and they are only the second and third Indigenous actors ever to be recognized in the 76-year history of the television awards.

The only other Native American person nominated in any acting category was August Schellenberg, who received an Emmy nomination in 2007 for his performance as Sitting Bull in the HBO television movie “Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee.”

Nominated alongside Gladstone and Reis are Dakota Fanning (“Ripley”), Jessica Gunning (“Baby Reindeer”), Aja Naomi King (“Lessons in Chemistry”), Diane Lane (“Feud: Capote vs. The Swans”) and...

Variety Awards Circuit section is the home for all awards news and related content throughout the year, featuring the following: the official predictions for the upcoming Oscars, Emmys, Grammys and Tony Awards ceremonies, curated by Variety senior awards editor Clayton Davis. The prediction pages reflect the current standings in the race and do not reflect personal preferences for any individual contender. As other formal (and informal) polls suggest, competitions are fluid and subject to change based on buzz and events. Predictions are updated every Thursday.

Visit the prediction pages for the respective ceremonies via the links below:

Oscars | Emmys | Grammys | Tonys

2023 Emmy Predictions:

Outstanding Television Movie

Weekly Commentary: It’s a “weird” season, but there have been pleasant surprises.

“Prey,” the Predator prequel, which was filmed in the Stoney Nakoda First Nation west of Calgary nabbed six inspired nominations including outstanding television movie, directing and writing. And while Indigenous Peoples...

The glass is half-full in the Emmy diversity landscape. At least that’s what we can tell ourselves with this year’s Primetime nominations.

Quinta Brunson’s historic showing as the first Black woman to score three noms for comedy series, lead actress and writing for ABC’s “Abbott Elementary” is one of the brightest spots of the lot.

An undeniable force in the industry, Zendaya became the youngest producer ever to be nominated for drama series for “Euphoria,” which she executive produces. In addition, at 25, she also became the youngest person ever to land two lead acting noms at the Emmys.

And how can we not mention “Squid Game,” the first non-English series to be recognized in TV Academy history? Not only did it rack up an impressive 14 noms overall, but also four acting mentions for Lee Jung-jae in lead actor, Jung Hoyeon in supporting actress and two supporting...

Zahn McClarnon suddenly became “Westworld’s” season two Mvp in the span of an hour thanks to his role as Akecheta, leader of Ghost Nation in the eighth episode, “Kiksuya.” A nomination for Best Drama Supporting Actor would be a groundbreaking moment as the television academy has never nominated a Native American actor for a continuing series.

“Westworld” was nominated for Best Drama Supporting Actor last year for Jeffrey Wright, but he got a promotion this year to the lead category, which could open the door for McClarnon to make history: not only would he be the first Native American actor to receive a nomination for a series, he would also be only the second Native American actor ever nominated in any category, after August Schellenberg contended for Best Movie/Mini Supporting Actor for his performance as Sitting Bull in the HBO telefilm “Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee” in...

“Westworld” delivered what many are considering a series best episode Sunday night with the Ghost Nation-focused installment “Kiksuya” led by character actor Zahn McClarnon. Because McClarnon appears in at least five episodes of the show, he joins co-star Anthony Hopkins in the fiercely competitive Drama Supporting Actor race with a shot of earning an Emmy nomination. Can the critical buzz of an emotionally packed episode and the momentum of a looming season finale catapult McClarnon into Emmy history? It should!

SEEAnthony Hopkins (‘Westworld’) enters supporting Emmy race, but can he take down frontrunner David Harbour (‘Stranger Things’)?

To say that a nomination for McClarnon would be a breakthrough is an understatement. It would be nothing short of historic. Voters should already know McClarnon’s name from his turns on A&E’s “Longmire” as well as the critically acclaimed and Emmy-nominated second season of FX’s “Fargo,” but a nomination for...

Misty Upham found dead in Seattle suburb (photo: Misty Upham and Juliette Lewis) Actress Misty Upham, who had gone missing since October 6, 2014, was found dead on Thursday, October 16, in a wooded area along the White River in suburban Seattle. The cause and time of death remain unclear. Best known for her roles in Frozen River, which earned her an Independent Spirit Award nomination, and August: Osage County, Upham was 32. According to a statement her father, Charles Upham, sent to media outlets, Misty Upham was last seen on October 5, walking from her sister's apartment in Muckleshoot, Washington. Her father added that she suffered from bipolar disorder and had bouts of depression and anxiety — she had gone missing in the past — but said he didn't believe she was suicidal. "The truth is Misty is not stressed over money or career. Her career is going great," he wrote last Sunday, October 12. "As her...

Paul Walker and Cory Monteith were two of many honored at the 2014 SAG Awards on Jan. 18 during the memoriam segment.

Cory Monteith and Paul Walker were just two of young actors the world lost in 2013, and were remembered at the 2014 Screen Actors Guild Award. It made us really look back at their beautiful lives.

Cory Monteith, Paul Walker Remembered At SAG Awards

James Avery of Fresh Prince of Bel Air, August Schellenberg of Free Willy and Lee Thompson Young of The Famous Jett Jackson were all honored during the Memoriam segment of the SAG Awards.

One of the youngest star to pass this year was Glee‘s Cory Monteith, who they showed closing his locker at McKinley and hugging his on-screen and off-screen girlfriend Lea Michele in Glee. Cory passed away from heroine at the young age of 31 on July 13 and was found in his Vancouver hotel.

His girlfriend Lea...

Free Willy actor August Schellenberg has sadly passed away at age 77. The Canadian actor had been fighting a longtime battle with cancer and died peacefully surrounded by loved ones, his family told reporters. While most may remember him for his role as Jesse's Native American mentor in all three of the whale flicks, Schellenberg actually has had a long and colorful career in Hollywood. In fact, he was nominated for an Emmy for Best Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or movie for his performance as Chief Sitting Bull in the 2007 hit Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee. Schellenberg also appeared in The New World alongside Christian Bale and Colin Farrell in 2005. He also played Clay Bedonie in the...

Free Willy actor August Schellenberg has died at the age of 77.

Schellenberg passed away in Dallas, Texas on Thursday (August 15) after losing his battle with cancer.

The Canadian actor's agent Jamie Levitt confirmed the news of his passing.

Schellenberg starred in the first three Free Willy movies, playing a Native American mentor.

His other roles included Chief Powhatan in Terrence Malick's The New World (2005), and in 2007 he received an Emmy nomination for his portrayal of Sitting Bull in HBO's Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee.

Levitt described him as a loving family man and an iconic Canadian actor.

Watch Schellenberg in a scene from Free Willy 2 below:...

After a long battle with cancer, August Schellenberg, the actor who played Jesse's Native American mentor in "Free Willy" has died, according to TMZ. His family told the site that Schellenberg died peacefully surrounded by loved ones.

The 77-year-old actor's career included all three "Free Willy" movies and he was nominated for an Emmy for Best Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie for his role as Chief Sitting Bull in "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee."

For more information on Schellenberg's death, click over to TMZ.

Veteran Native American actor August Schellenberg died yesterday at the age of 77 after a long battle with cancer.

Schellenberg, a Canadian Mohawk, was best known for playing Jesse's mentor in "Free Willy," but he boasted a long, storied career that spanned four decades. He was nominated for an Emmy for playing Sitting Bull in the HBO miniseries "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee."

Born to a Swiss father and Canadian mother, Schellenberg trained at the National Theatre School of Canada before moving on to the stage, television, and film. His first role was in the 1971 movie "Rip-Off," and he acted steadily in various TV shows and movies ever since.

In 1993, Schellenberg took on his most famous role -- as mentor Randolph Johnson in "Free Willy." He went on to appear in both of the hit movie's sequels.

Schellenberg often played Native Americans; in 2005, he starred as Chief Powhatan in Terrence Malick's "The New World.

August Schellenberg -- who played Jesse's Native American mentor in "Free Willy" -- has died Thursday in Texas after a long battle with cancer ... TMZ has learned. Schellenberg's family tells TMZ ... August died peacefully surrounded by loved ones.77-year-old Schellenberg had a long and storied career in Hollywood -- often playing Native American characters. In fact, he was nominated for an Emmy for Best Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie for his role as...

Hollywood has lost a legend. After a four-decade career on both the small and big screens, August Schellenberg died surrounded by his family and loved ones in Dallas on Thursday, Aug. 15, according to TMZ. He was 77. The Canadian Mohawk actor, perhaps best known for his portrayal of Native American mentor Randolph Johnson in the Free Willy trilogy, had suffered from a long battle with cancer, his family told TMZ. Schellenberg was born in Montreal to a Swiss father and a Mohawk mother, and had a prolific [...]...

Rank the week of June 14th’s Blu-ray and DVD new releases against the best films of all-time:new Releasesbattle:los Angeles

(DVD and Blu-ray | PG13 | 2011)

Flickchart Ranking: #3294

Times Ranked: 3631

Win Percentage: 42%

Top-20 Rankings: 9

Directed By: Jonathan Liebesman

Starring: Aaron Eckhart • Ramon Rodriguez

Cory Hardrict • Gino Anthony Pesi • Ne-Yo

Genres: Action • Action Thriller • Alien Invasion Films • Apocalyptic Film • Science Fiction • Sci-Fi Action • Thriller

Rank This Movie

Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son

(DVD and Blu-ray | PG13 | 2011)

Flickchart Ranking: #19020

Times Ranked: 83

Win Percentage: 31%

Top-20 Rankings: 1

Directed By: John Whitesell

Starring: Martin Lawrence • Brandon T. Jackson

Jessica Lucas • Michelle Ang • Portia Doubleday

Genres: Comedy • Police Comedy

Rank This Movie

Hall Pass

(DVD and Blu-ray | R | 2011)

Flickchart Ranking: #5878

Times Ranked: 1164

Win Percentage: 40%

Top-20 Rankings: 4

Directed By: Bobby & Peter Farrelly

Starring: Owen Wilson • Jason Sudeikis • Jenna Fischer • Christina Applegate • Nicky Whelan

Genres: Comedy • Romantic Comedy

Rank This Movie

Kill The Irishman

(DVD and Blu-ray | R | 2011)

Flickchart...

While we think about it, 45 R.P.M. might be a very touching teenager film about life in a small town. After all, scriptwriter/director David Schultz manages to create so much unspoken depth in the relation between the characters. However, despite being good, the film obviously comes with its flaws, which are a few plot holes here and there.

Parry Tender (Jordan Gavaris), a fifteen years old teenager, lives in a small town from the Canadian Prairies. Besides, life in a small town makes him sick and "Luke" (Justine Banszky), a girl who looks and acts like boy, wants to be his girlfriend. Of course, Parry wants to be just a friend with "Luke", since he's got his eyes on Debbie Baxter (MacKenzie Porter), the "new girl" at his school. Besides, Parry sees an opportunity to get out of his small town. In fact, by listening to his radio,...

If you are a fan of Syfy's Battlestar Galactica, you probably know that some scenes of the series were filmed in and around the extensive forests of western British Columbia. What you may not realise, however, is that two of the show's stars - Tricia Helfer (Number Six) and Tahmoh Penikett ('Helo') - have lent their talents to a new indie docu-drama that is intended to raise awareness of issues associated with cutting down some of these forests.

The film, called The Green Chain, was written, directed and co-produced by Vancouver-born Mark Leiren-Young. His previous credits include scripts for episodes of the series The Collector, Blood Ties and Psi Factor. He has also written a book, 'Never Shoot a Stampede Queen', articles for 'Time Magazine', 'Maclean's' and 'The Utne Reader', and stage plays.

True to his roots, Leiren-Young focuses The Green Chain on the debate in British Columbia, but it...

Dick Wolf was happy for Law & Order: SVU co-star Mariska Hargitay's nomination for lead actress in a drama series. "It's wonderful to think that people are starting to recognize the consistent level of acting that takes place on all three ('Law & Order') series," he said. "It's hard for procedurals to get Emmy nominations because they're not showy; they're more about the story." NBC's "SVU" also garnered noms for guest stars Marcia Gay Harden and Leslie Caron.

Sally Field initially found out about her Emmy nomination for lead actress in a drama series from her teenage son. "He ran into the house yelling, 'Mom, you were nominated, ' " said Field, who garnered her seventh Emmy nomination for her role as Nora Walker on ABC's freshman series "Brothers & Sisters." Field, who would follow the news by going about the day in her normal fashion -- commuting to work from Malibu to Burbank -- said it's the devotion to her family that her character has, despite everything that she thinks she has, that resonated with audiences. "It's about a mother who has gone through some changes and loves her children more than anything. It's about love, hate and all that's involved with these people you are bound to for your entire life." Field added that she hasn't really tapped into what it is about playing this particular character that stands out from the myriad others she has played. "I really won't know that 'til I'm sitting on the porch some day," she said. But when asked how she'd celebrate her Emmy win, Field replied with one word: "Work". "I'm glad to be working", she said.

The prolific Nigel Lythgoe, executive producer of Fox's American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance, both of which scored nominations Thursday, said the news of his nomination was "delightful, isn't it? I'm really happy with it. The live finale of 'So You Think You Can Dance' is tonight, so it's a tough day!" Idol, nominated 29 times since its 2003 start and with no wins to date, is a team effort, he said. "The worst thing is when you're not nominated. It's sort of a ritual and it's terrific and fantastic to be nominated and we don't think, 'We're going to win!' Each year, we say it can't be 'The Amazing Race' again and then we go congratulate 'The Amazing Race.' It's a shame we all start with the same 'A' vowel. My ass is always half off of the seat when they start to read the winner and you hear the 'Aaaa' sound." Remarking on the previous season of Idol, Lythgoe said, "With 'Idol Gives Back, ' we really went to town and had some good mentors: the editors, the camera teams, the director, Bruce Gowers, who doesn't know what's going to hit him every week." Shooting for four days in Africa and locations in the U.S. like New Orleans he said, "was like two finales and we were continuing to do the show and a lot of hard work went into it." Next up, Fox's "The Search for the Next Great American Band."

After receiving a nomination for supporting actor in a comedy series, Neil Patrick Harris has decided it is time to start acting like a star. "I've decided to be an absolute monster on-set," he said. "Or at least, now, my monstrous behavior is well justified." The co-star of CBS' How I Met Your Mother said he is still numb to the good news. "It's such a communal experience working on a show," he said. "We're all big fans of each other. We have great writers, and there are a lot of people that made it happen. To get a nomination reflects the show's worth." The former child actor is thrilled to be acknowledged for his work in an adult role. "It's a different chapter. It's nice to commit to a part and take a big strong stab at it and take recognition for it." Next up, Harris will appear as himself in New Line Cinema's Harold & Kumar 2 and participate in reading of The Marriage of Bette and Boo, which he hopes will lead to more theater work. "I love doing stage, and it complements the sitcom well," he said. "It's a nice way to keep flexing your muscles."

There are a lot of perks that come with an Emmy nomination, but The Office co-star Rainn Wilson said he is most excited about the title. "Now anytime anyone mentions my name they're going to say 'Emmy-nominated Rainn Wilson ... table for two.' " Wilson, who is shooting Fox Atomic's The Rocker, a film about a heavy metal drummer who gets a second shot at fame with his nephew's high school band, said he felt stunned and grateful when everyone from producers to publicists called to tell him about his nomination for supporting actor in a comedy series for the NBC show. Wilson said it's only a matter of time before his character, Dwight, has his unmistakable face on Mount Rushmore. "I was at an airport, and a baggage handler showed me a text on his phone that said, 'I can and do cut my own hair, ' which is a Dwight quote. He said, 'My daughter and I send Dwight quotes back and forth.' I'm iconic!" Until he returns to The Office set Aug. 6, Wilson is writing a film for Jason Reitman (Thank You for Smoking), in which he will star as a down-and-out ninja.

Mary-Louise Parker said that she was just glad it wasn't an emergency when the phone rang at 5:45 a.m. Thursday at her Los Angeles home. Instead, it was her publicist notifying her of her new status as a double Emmy nominee -- for lead actress in a comedy series for her role as the pot-dealing mom Nancy Botwin on Showtime's Weeds and for lead actress in a miniseries or movie as Zenia Arden on Oxygen's The Robber Bride. "It was really early here", Parker said. "Honestly, I was completely surprised -- I'm always surprised." Parker said she's also amazed that her Weeds character has gone over so well with audiences. "I'm not really sure why -- I really thought people were going to object to the ('Weeds') character and find her controversial," Parker said. "A lot of people must smoke pot or something because nobody has really objected to it." To celebrate, Parker is taking part in a Southern California summer tradition: "I'm taking my boy to Disneyland tomorrow," she said. "I guess I'll get some extra cotton candy or something."

Tim Daly was driving to work to shoot the first day of ABC's Grey's Anatomy spinoff Private Practice when his publicist called to tell him about his nomination for outstanding guest actor in a drama series as J.T. Dolan on HBO's The Sopranos. "It was a total surprise. I didn't even know the nominations were coming out," Daly said. "I know it's very cliche, but the people with whom I share this nomination are just unbelievable." Daly, who comes from a clan of esteemed actors, chalked up his first nom to the family genes. "My father (James Daly) was nominated for an Emmy, and my sister (Tyne Daly) has won a million, so it's one of the happy side effects of the congenital disease in my family I guess," he said. "It's certainly better than a sharp stick in the eye." He said that he would be looking forward to September's Emmy ceremony. "I don't think of acting as a competition sport. It's just nice for people to be acknowledged and to see people in a nice suit," Daly said. "Beyond that, it's all sort of silliness."

Anna Paquin was lying in bed having her coffee, watching a little TV and checking e-mails when the phone rang early in the morning. "I was curious to why someone was calling," said Paquin, who was nominated for supporting actress in a miniseries or movie for her role in HBO's Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee but didn't even know the Emmy noms were being announced. "After I found out I thought, 'OK, that's really awesome.' That's the best way to find out about something so nice -- for it to be unexpected." Paquin, who recently finished shooting the HBO pilot True Blood, said she was proud to be a part of the docudrama that garnered 17 nominations, including nods for fellow castmembers Aidan Quinn and August Schellenberg. "I'm so glad a story is out there that took the viewpoint of one of the many Native Americans who were influenced by such tragedies," she said.

Aidan Quinn has been tapped to star in HBO's original movie Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee. August Schellenberg also has been cast in the project based on Dee Brown's best-selling book Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the American West. The film, executive produced by Law & Order chief Dick Wolf and Tom Thayer, chronicles how American Indians were displaced as the U.S. expanded west during the latter half of the 19th century. Quinn will play Henry Dawes, a Massachusetts representative and senator who introduced legislation in 1887 that became known as the Dawes Act. It granted land allotments to each American Indian family. Those who received the land also were granted citizenship and full political rights.

Terrence Malick's "The New World" is a visual tone poem orchestrated around the themes of innocence, discovery and loss. The inspiration is the historical legend of the "Indian princess" Pocahontas and English soldier of fortune John Smith. Malick has tried to base much of his vision on the historical record, delving into the writings of explorers and colonialists in early Virginia to create voice-over monologues by Smith and others. But this is resolutely a film of the imagination. As with all films in Malick's slim body of work, its imagery, haunting sounds and pastoral mood trump narrative.

Clearly "The New World" takes an audience into the rarefied atmosphere of an art film made with a studio budget, making its boxoffice impact hard to assess. The 150-minute film opens Christmas Day in Los Angeles and New York, then expands Jan. 13. Its slow, bucolic rhythms and unwillingness to exploit the violence or sex inherent in the story -- the film nevertheless carries a PG-13 rating for its battle scenes -- relegate the film to audiences devoted to Malick's work and film esoterica. In that world, it may become a hit.

The historical record -- especially on the Native American side, where no written language exists -- is skimpy. Nevertheless, Malick and production designer Jack Fisk bring us into a primeval Eden that feels credible. The weirdly painted natives and white-skinned, armor-clad intruders eye one another suspiciously. Their worlds, goals and beliefs could not be more antithetical.

The natives have little sense of possessions or greed but do have a strong social order. The settlers, most unprepared to deal with a wilderness, seek riches, regard each other with envy and mutiny at a moment's notice. A violent clash is inevitable.

John Smith (Colin Farrell) is first seen in shackles on one of three English ships that reach the James River in 1607. He has been insubordinate but is too valuable a soldier and survivalist to lose to a hanging. So Capt. Newport (Christopher Plummer) frees him upon arrival in the New World. He even gives Smith a key assignment before the captain returns to England for supplies.

Smith leads an expedition upriver to contact a native chief in hopes of establishing trade. Instead his men are killed, and he is taken prisoner. His life is spared by the chief (August Schellenberg) when his favorite daughter, Pocahontas (Q'Orianka Kilcher), begs for mercy. The chief releases Smith to this teenager so the two can learn each other's language and he might gain insight into the newcomers' intentions.

What they do, of course, is fall in love. Here the movie enters a dreamlike state, a nearly dialogue-free, lengthy montage composed of the physical world of the Virginia circa 1607. (The film actually was shot in that state.) As a strong bond is formed by two absolute strangers, they take in the richness of landscape and sounds of wind and birds in the forest. What would be unspeakably corny in the hands of a less masterly filmmaker works here because of Malick's absolute fidelity to the underlying emotions.

Smith returns to a crude fort with provisions supplied by the Indians. But his homecoming is like awaking from a dream into the ugliness and pettiness of the coarse settlers. When the settlers plant corn and thereby tip off the native chef that they intend to stay, he prepares to attack. But his daughter warns her lover, and the assault is thwarted.

The natives' heartbroken leader banishes his daughter, who then falls into the hands of another tribe that eventually trades her to the whites as an "insurance policy." Smith vehemently opposes this trade, which causes the ungrateful colonialists to depose him as their leader.

After the return of Capt. Newport, Smith is called back to England to lead other expeditions while the Indian girl adopts to living among the whites. Believing Smith to be dead, she marries newly arrived aristocrat John Rolfe (Christian Bale) and has a child. Much later, the couple travels to England, where this "princess" is introduced to the British monarch. Here she sees Smith for one last time.

While the name Pocahontas is never mentioned -- the settlers ridiculously name her Rebecca -- the film is essentially a love letter to the idealized myth of this historic woman, who is viewed here as both forest naif and earth mother. Malick and cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki cover Kilcher with more loving poses and angles than a photographer doing a fashion spread. Kilcher is a striking young woman, and the camera -- and perhaps Malick himself? -- falls in love with her.

The movie has a restlessness as it moves through this story with a meandering camera, inner monologues and shifting points of view. James Horner's sumptuous musical score, incorporating bits of Wagner, Mozart and others, emulates the steadiness of the wind while its repetitive refrains remind one of Philip Glass. The camera lingers on details of frontier life, but the exploration here is less scientific and historical than a spiritual quest for what was lost and what was gained in this clash of civilizations. Certainly, the Westernization of this native woman presages the fate of North American natives and the despoiling of their paradise.

Farrell looks uncomfortable in the role, seldom changing expression and shifting his body aimlessly. Kilcher is quick-witted, full of 15-year-old life and possesses fine instincts despite being a newcomer to acting. Bale underplays his role, letting his innate goodness seep slowly out. In the native roles, Schellenberg and Wes Studi capture the dignity and ferocity of warriors fighting to retain a way of life. David Thewlis, Yorick Van Wageningen and others ably portray the avarice and aggressiveness of the newcomers.

THE NEW WORLD

New Line Cinema

New Line Cinema

Credits:

Screenwriter-director: Terrence Malick

Producer: Sarah Green

Executive producers: Toby Emmerich, Mark Ordesky, Trish Hofmann, Bill Mechanic, Rolf Mittweg

Director of photography: Emmanuel Lubezki

Production designer: Jack Fisk

Music: James Horner

Costumes: Jacqueline West

Editors: Richard Chew, Hank Corwin, Saar Klein, Mark Yoshikawa

Cast:

Capt. Smith: Colin Farrell

Pocahontas: Q'Orianka Kilcher

Capt. Newport: Christopher Plummer

John Rolfe: Christian Bale

Powhatan: August Schellenberg

Opechancanough: Wes Studi

Wingfield: David Thewlis

Captain Argall: Yorick Van Wageningen

MPAA rating PG-13

Running time -- 150 minutes...

Christian Bale, David Thewlis, Noah Taylor and Q'orianka Kilcher are boarding Terrence Malick's epic The New World for New Line Cinema. The quartet join Colin Farrell, Christopher Plummer, August Schellenberg and Wes Studi in the project. New World is described as an epic adventure set amid the encounter of European and Native American cultures following the founding of the Jamestown settlement in 1607 and inspired by the legend of John Smith and Pocahontas.

Native American actors Wes Studi and August Schellenberg are on their way to The New World, director Terrence Malick's take on the Pocahontas tale for New Line Cinema. Joining the two are Raoul Trujillo and Michael Greyeyes. The project is set against the backdrop of 17th century America in the nascent Jamestown, Va., settlement where the culture of European explorers collided with that of Native Americans. It focuses on the relationship between explorer John Smith and young Indian princess Pocahontas. Colin Farrell already has been cast as Smith, and Christopher Plummer is set as English officer Capt. Christopher Newport.

With the first two installments in the "Free Willy" saga snagging almost $108 million in North America alone, Warner Bros. is understandably taking another dip in the ocean with "Free Willy 3: The Rescue".

Handsomely crafted and smartly scripted with solid performances, the latest adventure about a boy and his whale is certainly see-worthy, although it could have used an occasional kick-start in the pacing department.

Given this summer's performance record of family-oriented features, the third "Willy" is unlikely to emerge as much of a catch at the boxoffice, but should make a bigger splash on home video. Greenpeace, meanwhile, should seriously consider adopting it as its official recruitment film.

Back again as Willy's best buddy Jesse is Jason James Richter, who has landed a nifty summer job tracking whales with his trusty mentor, Randolph (August Schellenberg). Both have been brought aboard by Drew (Annie Corley), a research scientist who's investigating a decline in the local orca population off the Pacific Northwest coast.

Their search leads them to a purported salmon-fishing boat actually belonging to an illegal whaling operation headed up by John Wesley (Patrick Kilpatrick), who has invited his 10-year-old son, Max Vincent Berry), on the expedition as sort of a rite of passage. When Max discovers his dad has more than sockeye on his mind -- namely a $200-a-pound trade in harvested whale meat -- he receives a jolt of consciousness-raising that puts a serious strain on their father-son relationship.

Richter, filled out from his last "Free Willy" outing and looking like a baby Ray Liotta, once again delivers a committed performance with a conviction that nicely plays off Schellenberg's easy amiability.

But Berry is the big find this time around as the tousle-haired, conflicted Max. A young man with an old soul, he conveys his character's dilemma with a wide-eyed honesty and sensitivity that bodes well for his big-screen future.

The director, New Zealand's Sam Pillsbury ("The Quiet Earth"), has a nice affinity for the naturalistic, British Columbia setting, while John Mattson's tidy, poetic script (incorporating characters created by the late Keith Walker) is a considerable improvement over the 1994 misfire "Milk Money". Still, the fundamental problem remains that there's only about an hour's worth of plot here that has been stretched and padded with unnecessarily lingering underwater images that may look pretty but do the pacing no favors.

Speaking of visuals, Canada-based cinematographer Tobias Schliessler certainly makes good use of the moody Pacific coastline and its challenging mix of light, shadow and fog. As for those Keiko stand-ins, the usual combination of animatronic and digitally composed creatures along with wildlife footage again makes for passable but not exactly groundbreaking effects work.

FREE WILLY 3: THE RESCUE

Warner Bros.

Warner Bros. presents

in association with Regency Enterprises

a Shuler Donner/Donner production

Director Sam Pillsbury

Producer Jennie Lew Tugend

Screenwriter John Mattson

Executive producers Lauren Shuler Donner, Richard Donner and Arnon Milchan

Director of photography Tobias Schliessler

Production designer Brent Thomas

Editor Margie Goodspeed

Music Cliff Eidelman

Costume designer Maya Mani

Casting Judy Taylor, Lynne Carrow

Color/stereo

Cast:

Jesse Jason James Richter

Randolph August Schellenberg

Drew Annie Corley

Max Vincent Berry

Wesley Patrick Kilpatrick

Mary Tasha Simms

Running time -- 85 minutes

MPAA rating: PG...