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Amazon.co.uk Review
Geronimo, Walter Hill's revisionist take on the American cavalry's campaign to capture the eponymous renegade Chiricahua Apache warrior (Wes Studi) is, like Clint Eastwood's Unforgiven, a dark tale that both celebrates and critiques myths of the American West. Despite its title, Geronimo is really about the American cavalry officers who undertake the responsibility of recapturing the warrior, in particular the young Lt Charles Gatewood (Jason Patric), a Civil War hero who respects the great Geronimo and brokers a treaty with the Chiricahua, only to see it collapse when the army kills the tribal medicine man. Gene Hackman plays General George Crook, the proud but sympathetic officer charged with bringing in the renegades who take to hills after the killing. Robert Duvall, the tough, racist army scout and Indian fighter Charlie Sieber, practically steals the picture with his cagey, underplayed performance. More complex and complicated than most Westerns, this is a Walter Hill film through and through: lean, ironic, beautiful to look at (it was shot on location against the astounding landscape of Southeast Utah), and driven by a wonderful Ry Cooder score.--Sean Axmaker, Amazon.com
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
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.
Unlike their panned-and-scanned region 1 NTSC release, Columbia's DVD has a decent 2.35:1 widescreen transfer with a trailer the only extra.
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.
Unlike their panned-and-scanned region 1 NTSC release, Columbia's DVD has a decent 2.35:1 widescreen transfer with a trailer the only extra.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
This could have been a great film but, for a number of reasons, it falls just short of greatness, being a good rather than a classic western.
It certainly seems extremely authentic in costume, weaponry etc and the countryside is well filmed with the long sweeping shots that remind me of many previous, well loved westerns. The action is also well handled and fairly realistic.
Wes Studi makes a very impressive and credible Geronimo. It's about the best depiction of him that I've ever seen. The only trouble is, we don't see enough of him, getting more of Patric and Damon instead. Their stories are interesting but this is supposed to be a film about Geronimo after all.
We have some good performances here in supporting roles with Robert Duval and Gene Hackman as reliable as ever. It was good to see characters who couldn't make their minds up about the Apache as well as the hardline extremists in this film. Robert Duval's character is a good example of this, half hating and half admiring his long term adversaries.
The Apaches are represented fairly well but Wes Studi gives the most memorable performance by far as you'd expect. I am glad that this film doesn't shy away from depicting atrocities committed by both sides and, while the Apache are certainly depicted as the main victims, this film is reasonably even handed in its approach. That said, the Mexicans don't get much of a look in and the majority of the fighting Geronimo was involved with was against them. After all, Geronimo is his Spanish name as this film reveals.
As another reviewer pointed out, I noticed a few homages to the Magnificent Seven and Ulzana's Raid. This is a shame in many ways as a film ought to be able to stand on its own and not 'borrow' from others.
Overall this is an enjoyable film and even thought provoking in places. I couldn't fault its historical accuracy either. If the script had stayed with the Apaches a little longer, it might have been even better.
It certainly seems extremely authentic in costume, weaponry etc and the countryside is well filmed with the long sweeping shots that remind me of many previous, well loved westerns. The action is also well handled and fairly realistic.
Wes Studi makes a very impressive and credible Geronimo. It's about the best depiction of him that I've ever seen. The only trouble is, we don't see enough of him, getting more of Patric and Damon instead. Their stories are interesting but this is supposed to be a film about Geronimo after all.
We have some good performances here in supporting roles with Robert Duval and Gene Hackman as reliable as ever. It was good to see characters who couldn't make their minds up about the Apache as well as the hardline extremists in this film. Robert Duval's character is a good example of this, half hating and half admiring his long term adversaries.
The Apaches are represented fairly well but Wes Studi gives the most memorable performance by far as you'd expect. I am glad that this film doesn't shy away from depicting atrocities committed by both sides and, while the Apache are certainly depicted as the main victims, this film is reasonably even handed in its approach. That said, the Mexicans don't get much of a look in and the majority of the fighting Geronimo was involved with was against them. After all, Geronimo is his Spanish name as this film reveals.
As another reviewer pointed out, I noticed a few homages to the Magnificent Seven and Ulzana's Raid. This is a shame in many ways as a film ought to be able to stand on its own and not 'borrow' from others.
Overall this is an enjoyable film and even thought provoking in places. I couldn't fault its historical accuracy either. If the script had stayed with the Apaches a little longer, it might have been even better.
18 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
A western for grown-ups. By that I mean it treats the Native Americans with respect and honour, but doesn't demonise all of the white Americans as rapacious, mercenary fools. Sure, there are plenty of those in the film, but they're not stereotypes - rather they are there to explain the motivation for the US Government and the settlers, miners and (appallingly) the bounty hunters. The performances - to my naive eyes at least - were convincing and honest. In particular, Robert Duvall portrays his character very well with all the ambivalent attitude towards the Native Americans one would expect of a jaundiced old "Indian fighter". Wes Studi has an intensity in the role of Geronimo that conveys his character's humanity, self-belief and intelligence. Jason Patric is believable as the honourable army officer and Gene Hackman, as always, is 100% value-for-money as the (enlightened for his time) general.
If you want a shoot-them-up, gung-ho western, forget it, but if you want an interesting, intelligent and sincere perspective on the end of an era, then have a look at this movie.
If you want a shoot-them-up, gung-ho western, forget it, but if you want an interesting, intelligent and sincere perspective on the end of an era, then have a look at this movie.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
The Geronimo Solemnity
Geronimo: An American Legend is directed by Walter Hill and written by John Milius. It stars Wes Studi, Jason Patric, Robert Duvall, Gene Hackman, Matt Damon and Pato Hoffman. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Spike Owen
Not convinced
I think it's probably because its quite old but I wasn't as keen on this as I'd thought I would be. I love native american history, its my passion, but this film was.. well.. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Becci
An enjoyable Western
Overall, this is a good and enjoyable western, with some admirable performances. It depicts a sad and dramatic period in America's history and although some scenes are fictional,... Read more
Published 20 months ago by G. Dodds
Geronimo
One of the finest Westerns ever made,the dialogue is taken from actual recorded conversations and the characters actually took part in Geronimo's surrender. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Mose
A surprisingly good and thought-provoking western.
Based on a true story, Geronimo revolves around the character of Lieutenant Britton Davis, a young rookie officer who is sent along with another officer and an old army scout to... Read more
Published 23 months ago by Ernie
cracking story
A very good film, interesting casting and gives a brilliant idea of what happened to the Southern Native Americans, a little like Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee.
Published on 3 Feb 2010 by Betty L. Gibbons
Wonderful Wes
Walter Hill strikes me as the modern day equivalent of Robert Aldrich - his films are tough, unsentimental and usually pretty violent. Read more
Published on 20 Dec 2009 by A. Willard
Wrong Cast
Unfortunately before you buy this DVD and are expecting another
Cast then check out the fact that this DVD does NOT star Joseph Runningfox, or Michael Greyeyes. Read more
Cast then check out the fact that this DVD does NOT star Joseph Runningfox, or Michael Greyeyes. Read more
Published on 4 July 2008 by Annette Mozdzanowski
A historically accurate film of the last Apache
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. Read more
Published on 28 Jan 2008 by Ogun Eratalay
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