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The Only Good Indian
Set in Kansas during the early 1900s, a teen-aged Native American boy is taken from his family and forced to attend a distant Indian "training" school to assimilate into White society. When he escapes to return to his family, Sam Franklin, a bounty hunter of Cherokee descent, is hired to find and return him to the institution. Franklin, a former Indian scout for the U.S. Army, has renounced his Native heritage and has adopted the White Man's way of life, believing it's the only way for Indians to survive. Along the way, a tragic incident spurs Franklin's longtime nemesis, the famous "Indian Fighter" Sheriff Henry McCoy, to pursue both Franklin and the boy.
| Release : | 2009 |
| Rating : | 6.6 |
| Studio : | |
| Crew : | Director of Photography, Director of Photography, |
| Cast : | Wes Studi J. Kenneth Campbell Paul Butler Thirza Defoe Laura Kirk |
| Genre : | Drama Action Western |
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Reviews
best movie i've ever seen.
This is a coming of age storyline that you've seen in one form or another for decades. It takes a truly unique voice to make yet another one worth watching.
The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.
It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,
As films go, this one is excellent. How many would think DRACULA could be applied to a story about American Indians being tricked and massacred by Europeans. This film gives part of the story. And, I'm not "White" or Indian--half of both, English and Cherokee/Creek, but I understand trespass (sin) and how to escape (via the Sacrifice of the Wisdom of God come in human form). Too trippy for you? Then don't watch this film, which is almost as trippy. If David Lynch made a film about Indians... you get the picture.
Only a young Native American child, rounded up, captured and imprisoned within the confines of a religious institution, can truly understand the many torturous indignities of the past. Viewing this unfortunate punishment inflicted on children of Canadian ancestry, brings back horrors long dormant in history. Now, director Kevin Willmott, takes the story written by Thomas L. Carmody and imprints it on the silver screen. Incredibly talented, Wes Studi gives an impressive Academy Award performance in this film called " The only Good Indian ". He plays 'Sam' an indoctrinated Indian who has come to believe the only way to succeed in the modern White Man's world is to think and act like one. To that end, he plays an American tracker and survivor of the infamous Sand Creek massacre. J. Kenneth Campbell plays McCoy, an aging, crusty face survivor of the same incident, except that he, despite his murderous participation emerged a frontier hero. Winter Fox Frank plays 'Charlie' a reluctant Indian boy who was kidnapped and taken to a religious school to transform him into a 'civilized' Indian. Along for the journey is Sally (Thirza Defoe), a young Cherokee girl who killed a white man who was assaulting her. The trio are making their way across the land, all the while being pursued and discovering the ever-changing world of the twentieth century. With the exceptional performances of the cast, this movie is filled with eye-opening scenes which explain to anyone who has a heart, the difficulties of adapting to an alien world. The end result is that it should have garnered more awards and praise, in fact it should have been released in the main-stream theaters. It is this writer's opinion that, in time, it will become a Classic. Superior acting. ****
I read James Boyd's review and almost didn't watch this movie. I am glad I decided to watch the movie. James missed a lot of the major points in this movie, betrayal, love, hate, greed, deception. All these things are what make a good Drama. I understand that most people now days don't want to hear about the way the American Indians faced genocide, humiliation and reprogramming. It is a part of the history of this nation, and movies like this, addressing the past aren't just about revenge. People can be greedy and cruel, but it takes a real man to own up to his past and do what is right. I believe this movie shows that courage and honor.
What I have to say may be considered a "spoiler" if it deters anyone from watching this film. As a long time western movie fan, I always am first in line to view those films which attempt to give an honest (non-Hokeywood) portrayal of the Native American, and their struggle to survive the ruthless wanton destruction of their culture. I wanted to see this movie after viewing the promos, and also because I am a longtime fan of Wes Studi, who has brought a strong integrity to every performance. This film is certainly no "Dances With Wolves", and did NOT, IMHO, live up to its potential, or my expectations, because it couldn't make up its mind what it wanted to be - a cutting edge film about the way Native American children were brutally treated at the white man's "schools", - or just another hokey, cartoonish "Chase and Shoot-em-up", with a dime novel lawman played over the top by J. Kenneth Campbell. Unfortunately it tried to be both, with the "dime novel" side dominating, and in the process seriously diluted the impact it could've had. I will say that Winter Fox Frank was excellent in his part as the runaway boy, and Wes Studi did the best he could with a part, and a script, that was NOT up to his level of talent. Watch it if you must, but know it's 115 minutes of your life you will never get back!!
