The Only Good Indian (2009)
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.
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It is a performances centric movie
The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one
The acting is good, and the firecracker script has some excellent ideas.
Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.
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.
GREAT movie. Well done, and though names are fictitious, there is the awful truth in the events.How can it be that we have not recognized the error of our actions, and made some restitution? The black Americans are calling for restitution for the slavery of their ancestors, have we not done worse by the Indians?Those of us who live near Indian reservations, can on a daily basis, the plight of the Indians, who are still, in this day and age, treated with scorn and distaste. Why, when our neighbor to the north, has recognized the injustice in the removal of children from their families, and made restitution, and formally apologized for their actions, can we do less.
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!!
If you know your history, this story does a great job encompassing the issues of the late 19th- early 20th century. Dramatizing the changes of the dying "Wild" frontier to industrialization. The late 19th century was a crazy time for the USA. Land expansion, Civil War, Spanish American War and Native American Resettlement. Cowboys were NOT really Cowboys but more often outliers and Bounty Hunters, flip flopping between enforcing government law vs. the laws of the wild west. The Wild west as it was, was winding down. Many people thought they were doing right, the Missionaries who were coming in in droves to "civilize" thought they were doing right, the Bounty Hunters (Sam and McCoy) thought they were doing right. People like McCoy really were Lost because they realized they were becoming "Obsolete" (Turned into legends like Wild Bill being written about in mini-books and Silent Movies). The ongoing analogy between the Main Characters and VAMPIRES was SO COOL! Great writing. By focusing on the inner turmoil of those that truly believed they were doing right, (scene where McCoy kills the Indian Trafficer who felt he was "ENFORCING THE LAW"...and burning him)...(When Sam throws down his Pinkerton letter) realized they were doing wrong... were the true Vampires who preyed on innocents...(Native Americans)Eventually, they too would die out from "overhunting" each time losing more and more of their humanity along the way...the humans they needed to exist were diminishing. Thus these "Men" (or Vampires) eventually had to prey on themselves (final shootout). Who was the real Vampire? Sam or McCoy.(Hmmn, McCoy gave up on his humanity, had a breakdown when he saw the movie, he could no longer carry all the evil he inflicted). He felt he had to kill Sam for he believed Sam was the culprit who was sucking the life from him... an Indian.The true Vampire, or Devil had to die...One HAS to accept who they are...by killing the demon within (the knife embedded in the body) and relinquish the lies a person tells himself (Sam attempting to "live as a white man). When Sam beat the knife thru McCoy he regained his humanity. One must live in peace and honesty in ones own mind and heart. Sam regained his while traveling, and "teaching" the boy to be White, eventually noticing the true beauty and innocence of Sally...His People. This movie BLOWS away AVATAR on so many levels...AVATAR is HYPE, this story hits home on so many levels. My family came here 100 years ago. My grandparents forced my parents to speak only English, to "Blend into "Society" or white man's ways...We have done so. My children's history is not as vivid as mine. We have sacrificed our traditions for this Countries. We are now Lawyers, and Doctors...I imagine this is the sacrifice our ancestors agreed to make upon coming to this country to give us a better life. I feel deeply for the Native Americans as Well as the African Americans who were forced into servitude against their will. This movie demonstrates with excellent historical accuracy, that people AT THE TIME thought they had good intentions, but many were just as cruel as the other. As time dictates in retrospect, the movie demonstrates how truly ignorant and intolerant man can be and still is towards one another. But if he truly sees himself for what he is...and repels evil...Man CAN CHANGE. Great historical flick.