Tecumseh: The Last Warrior (1995)

A lot more amusing than I thought it would be.

Tells a fascinating and unsettling true story, and does so well, without pretending to have all the answers.

The acting in this movie is really good.

It is neither dumb nor smart enough to be fun, and spends way too much time with its boring human characters.

The tone of the movie is set at the very beginning – "Seven times in my life the armies of the long knives have destroyed our homes, burnt our crops and driven us further and further from our homelands...." The focus throughout the movie, as it was in reality, remains on this relentless pressure to succumb to the ever encroaching and advancing American colonists and army, to surrender and live out the rest of your life like a beggar in a reservation that is no better than a prison. Tecumseh knows that even signing a treaty will at best only be a very temporary respite before the inevitable happens. He chooses to fight to the death, and exhorts every other Indian tribe who listens to him to join him in a unified army so that they have a chance to defeat the American army. In spite of being a great orator, he is only partially successful in uniting the Indian tribes, simply because the Indian by nature and instinct was an 'individualist in war as well as religion' (Eastman).The basic plot of the movie is historical, so the question is: how good is the portrayal of the main character and whether the art gives us insights into Tecumseh's intense personality. For me it definitely does, and Jesse Borrego's expressions and body language reflect the intensity and passion of Tecumseh's character, oratory and actions. Even the supporting actors provide nearly the same intensity – notably Gregory Cruz and Tantoo Cardinal, even David Clennon. The credit also goes to the director for bringing out the best in all the cast.The other important thing for me in any movie is the script – and that too is as good as it could be – the dialogs (very close to the historical) are also focused and powerful throughout. "Every treaty you have ever made, you promised to be the last, and every time you invaded us again." "When Jesus Christ came upon the earth, you killed him. The son of your own God. And only after he was dead did you worship him, and start killing those who would not. Who could trust the word of such people?""Shall we give up everything, all sacred and dear to us, without a struggle?" Overall this movie is for those seriously interested in culture, psychology, anthropology, history and education and is not for entertainment buffs.

Tecumseh was the last great Eastern Indian leader. He tried to establish a pan-Indian confederation from the Gulf of Mexico to Canada. He witnessed the destruction of an entire American army in 1793, the destruction of an Indian army in 1794, and died aiding the British during the War of 1812. Without him, Canada probably wouldn't exist today.So why aren't there any movies about him? This film, and a German(!) one from 1972, are the only ones on IMDb. You'd think a life like that would be the stuff big movies are made of. Anyway, this film is a decent attempt at telling the story that doesn't fall into the Indian-movie clichés. People don't stand around mouthing Deep Sentiments. The battles (especially Fallen Timbers, the big Indian defeat)are very well staged. Jesse Orego,Lorne Cardinal, and Gregory Cruz are three lively lads. My favourite moment in the film is when they spy on "Mad" Anthony Wayne, the American general. "MAAAD Anthony", one of them calls him - like he's a total wacko! Tantoo Cardinal has another thankless role as Tecumseh's mother. (She always has to play long-suffering native types. She needs to do an urban comedy!) The only real problem with this film is... you know it's going to be a downer at the end. The good guys ain't gonna win, folks. For it's attempt to at least tell a great story, though, this is worth a try for any history lover.

I believed this to be a real inspiring film since it tries to give viewers the most accurate depiction possible on what Tecumseh did in his remarkable life by wanting to unite all the Native Nations from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico. Although he didn't quite succeed in his goals, it was the fact that he came ever so close in succeeding; and IF he did, every white settler living east of the Mississippi River would have been pretty much driven out since they would not have been able to survive the constant barrage of raids, attacks, etc.

Some of the greatest American leaders never lived in the White House; some never lived in any house; and many fought against the US. Tecumseh would have founded the Indian nation that the English wanted as a buffer state between the expansionist, aggressive United States and British territories remaining loyal to the crown.Tecumseh is the Machevelian leader par excellence. He preys on the Indian's superstitions; yet uses the White Man's medicine to predict eclipses and cement his sway over the Indians restive over US encroachments.America needs leaders like you says Wm Henry Harrison (David Clennon) Tecumseh has no use for the arriviste American nation. He wants to preserve the old ways: hunting and fishing.Yet as much of a rationalist as Tecumseh is he lives in the shadow of a deadly prophesy: he will fall in battle but if not raised by an Indian he and the indian nation he would found will down for the count -- for good. And this dire prophesy comes true at the Battle of the thames.Not recommended for the timorous US - er who believes in flowery (meaningless) speeches and empty oratory. Highly recommended for those who would like a study of leadership and objective history. Excellent performance by the cast especially David Clennon as the future president Wm Henry Harrison.