Geronimo: An American Leged (1993)

Directed by Walter Hill. Starring Jason Patric, Robert Duvall, Wes Studi, Matt Damon, Gene Hackman, Steve Reevis, Kevin Tighe, Pato Hoffman, Rodney A. Grant, Rino Thunder, Carlos Palomino. [PG-13]

The Apache Wars are winding down and the legendary American Indian known as Geronimo (Studi) has reluctantly agreed to surrender and settle on a reservation, but after the U.S. Cavalry murder a medicine man practicing his “heathen” religion, Geronimo annuls the deal and takes off to practice armed resistance in the form of raids on both sides of the border while American officers try to track and capture him. Although many liberties are taken, the script (by John Milius and Larry Goss) clarifies the conflict and provides moral complexities on both sides—Geronimo is noble and proud, but flawed, while his pursuers have pockets of idealism and empathy to counteract the racial intolerance, layered deceit, and inhuman acts of genocidal violence. Walter Hill uses spacious landscapes to dwarf the fragility of egos and the pettiness of hatred passed between men, and brings muscle and grit to the stand-offs and battles. But—and this is a big “but”—the story is sorely lacking in focus, resulting in indistinct support for its central message and diffuse dramatic interest. It’s a movie in search of a protagonist; the audience is in the company of the cavalry far more often than Geronimo, and while the movie initially appears to be setting up Damon’s inexperienced young officer as the epic conflict’s eyes and ears (he narrates action and philosophy throughout), the character all but disappears for about an hour in the middle. Studi is very good in one of the richest roles of his film career, and seasoned veterans Duvall and Hackman are easy to watch as an aging Indian fighter and a brigadier general, respectively. Sad, lonely music by Ry Cooder; Hill also co-produced.

65/100