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Geronimo (1993)
RRP: £5.99
Our Price: £4.59 (subject to change)
"No guns, No bullets could ever kill me. That was my power... Now my time is over."
Review date: 2008-11-01 Rating: 10 out of 10
There's a lot wrong with Walter Hill's Geronimo: An American Legend. For a start, there's far too little of the magnificent Wes Studi and far too much of the unconvincingly one-note (and an off-key note at that) Jason Patric and a milquetoast Matt Damon when we want to spend more time with Geronimo. As John Milius said, "I wrote a script about a mighty warrior chief. They made a film about a ***king white male model." Not to mention film critic Larry Gross' rewrite is overly partial to other movies, particularly The Magnificent Seven and Alan Sharp's script for Ulzana's Raid. And, like all historical manhunt movies, it winds down as attrition wins over courage. Yet despite its flaws it's still one of the most impressive American Westerns of the past few decades.
Geronimo may be sidelined for much of the picture, but when Wes Studi is allowed centerstage, he burns with the intensity of a supernova in a performance at once ferocious yet controlled, giving a sense not just of the rage and calculated violence but of the sadness that drives it. He's a proud man, but also a constantly disappointed one. When he's on screen, everyone else might as well not be there. When he isn't, Gene Hackman's General Crook and Robert Duvall's tracker Al Sieber provide enough believable old-school professionalism to compensate for Patric and Damon.
Then there's the film's extraordinary visual sense. Unlike most modern films (including Hill's own subsequent Western, Wild Bill) it really embraces the landscape and isn't afraid of strikingly composed extreme long shots to give a real sense of scale to the picture. Ry Cooder's score, a mixture of sparse and plaintiff Native American airs and lightly ragged American hymnals, is another major feather in its cap: on paper it sounds like cliché, but put to picture it's absolutely right.
It's perhaps easy to see why it flopped: it's a tragic story without any winners, only losers and the action scenes are often more brutal lightening strikes than enjoyable action setpieces. But it's certainly a film well worth rediscovering even if it's better seen on the big screen than the small one.
Columbia's DVD has a decent 2.35:1 widescreen transfer with a trailer the only extra.
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Reviews
A lesser known gem?
Review date: 2008-02-21 Rating: 10 out of 10
At the time of writing this review this DVD was going for around £3.99 - an absolute bargain. This is, in my opinion, one of Walter Hill's best movies. It has everything - superb cinematography, a good score, great characterisation and acting and is, of course, based on truth - albeit an unpleasant one that lends the feature an extra edge. Studi gives a great performance as Geronimo; Hackman plays his role with great realism, as does Jason Patric who also delivers a noteworthy performance, more than ably assisted by Matt Damon and Robert Duval. The widescreen DVD transfer on this release is excellent (both picture and sound). Hill's later entries in this genre, the made for television `Broken Trail' and `Deadwood' may be better known to some viewers, but make no mistake - this is equally as good.
A historically accurate film of the last Apache
Review date: 2008-01-28 Rating: 8 out of 10
I have discovered this film very lately. The cast is very powerful and the Apache legend Geronimo is played by Wes Studi who acts brilliantly. The life of the Apaches is pictured in a realistic way. The US Government's Indian policy towards the real landowners is shocking. The Apache can not understand why he has to move elsewhere leaving his territory to the White men. Then he takes up arms against Government. Of course the historical development of capitalism stops at no barrier getting away with local cultures, destroying their livelihood, committing incredible crimes aganist humanity. Gene Hackman portrays a general caught between his feelings and the duties placed upon him by the Army.A sad end awaits Geronimo and his friends as they lay their arms after years of fighting. The most devatated ones are the Apaches who betrayed their own people to help the US Army. The Army no longer needs them and they are forced to join their Apache people in the open air prisons.We need to mention the local civilian cowboys who massacre the helpless Indian women and children for the killing's sake. Robert Duvall portrays a famous Apache hunter whose name has to be forgotten.All in all a good film worth watching.
Product Details/Specifications
Artist(s):
Gene Hackman
Robert Duvall
Matt Damon
Jason Patric
Wes Studi
Recording label: 4front
Manufacturer: 4front
EAN: 5050582350050
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2005-06-06
Audience rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 110 minutes