Geronimo: An American Legend (1993) Online

With its superb acting, writing and directing, this masterpiece by Walter Hill is unique, not only in the way it maintains its epic quality in the span of two hours, but in the strong chemistry between the two main characters. The majestic music and scenic photography combine perfectly to compliment the stunning performances of Wes Studi as Geronimo and the breath-taking Jason Patric as Lt. Charles Gatewood. The special friendship shared between the two grand, thoughtful men is the main interest that holds this film together, with Patric's performance being the most exceptional, amid a talented supporting cast of big names.

As a righteous officer and gentleman who remains loyal but unpoisoned by excessive patriotism, Gatewood is a tough but calming influence in the face of great danger, while displaying a maturity that bewilders his more primitive companion Al Sieber (Robert Duvall) who exclaims, "You don't love who you're fighting for and you don't hate who you're fighting against!" In this way, Gatewood is just as complex as he is likable, immediately gaining the trust and admiration of both his friends and enemies.

Whether he assumes the role of an ambassador with his deep eyes and charismatic presence or that of a soldier with his masterful horsemanship (performed by the actor himself), Jason Patric brings a special depth and beauty to Gatewood, making him one of the most impressive and under rated heroes ever captured on film. His presence alone makes this film a great classic, as well as a thought provoking treasure!

'Let's start with this: All written history is revisionist. The actual events are revisited and revised in the perspective of the "re-visitor." That said, this remarkably well written, well acted, and generally well executed movie is likely the best account of the "Geronimo Campaign" out there. Head and shoulders above much of the other junk out there about this important American figure. It is, to boot, beautifully filmed and deftly directed. And the narrative approach worked perfectly with this subject. Well worth a couple of viewing hours by anyone who sincerely wants to know what was up with all that.'

This film was part of the revival the western genre had in the beginning of the 90's in the wake of Dances With Wolves. Not all of the westerns from this period are worth seeing (Bad Girls is a good example of that) but there are gems among them. This film, Geronimo: An American Legend being one. It makes an intelligent comment regarding the frankly despicable treatment the Apaches, among other American Indian tribes, recieved at the hands of the American government. In this lies the films strength and the presentation of this theme is the focus of the film's plot. It plays like a historical thesis or argument. This being terrific for people who are looking to know exactly what happened to the Apaches.

However, people who search for great dramaturgical nerve in films should avoid this film. Because there is none. The plot faithfully depicts the historical progress of events and refuses to completely demonize the Whites (although they clearly are being portrayed as the expansionist aggressors)in order to build a protagonist-antagonist plot-structure. This makes the movie slow, and for non-buffs a tedious experience.

Finally, the film has a terrific soundtrack by Ry Cooder and a knock-out performance by Wes Studi as Geronimo!

IN I993 I had my first viewing of this great film. I was proud to see how the story of the apache was displayed and the harsh treatment they suffered and all they lost.I feel the truth was shown in this film.I am part native American myself.I was especially interested.My friends and I saw the film together and I must say at the end when they are on the train to Florida after Geronimo's final surrender all of us were stunned.It was one of the most powerfully emotional scenes I have ever viewed.some people cried,and the emotions in the theatre were so sad.Geronimo's final words moved me and I remember "No one knows why the One God let the white eye take our land."this is to never be answered and gone forever.I was haunted for years after this film.

This underrated Western (in Germany Hills picture disappears after one week from the cinema) convinces with an excellent script (I realize again, John Milius is much better in writing as directing), a stunning photography and outstanding performances of the lead characters. Studi is great, a wonderful study of pride and his understanding that he never can win his war against white men. Especially this poetic and realistic movie is by comparison with other Indian sagas not a fairy tale from far west. Hill tells the truth and so we see only desperate people and no heroes - on both sides. Great - a must see for fans. I give 8 out of 10 stars.

How much of this is true, I cannot say. Perhaps I should do some research on it knowing how "accurate" most Hollywood historical films tend to be. For years, the white man was always the good guy; the Indian, the bad guy. Then came, the present day "political correctness" era where the Indian is the good guy and the white man is the bad guy. Frankly, I don't care in this case because this movie is simply a very entertaining film that is enjoyable to watch....and that's what movies are supposed to be: entertaining.

What makes it so entertaining?

1) a very interesting saga of the famous Apache Geronimo, fighting for his people and also living a life dedicated to revenge; 2) A great portrayal of him by actor Wes Studi, who has the perfect face and voice for the role; 3) a very solid all-male cast, with memorable leads played by Jason Patric, Robert Duvall, Gene Hackman and Matt Damon; 4) wonderful golden-hued cinematography, filmed in the mountainous area of Moab, Utah; 5) Not excessive violence nor a lot of profanity, rare for a Walter Hill directed movie. This is one of the stylish Hill's classier efforts. 6) Good sound if you have the DVD and a surround sound system.

Yes, this leans in the PC class with big-time leanings toward the Indian cause, but the Apache people apparently had a good case for their cause, at least with Geronimo's convincing question near the end of the movie: "There is plenty of land. Why do you want it all?"

The valiant, if doomed, Chiricahua Apache tried (as did so many other tribes) to be accommodating after being hounded to the breaking point. Their famous chief, Geronimo, gave himself up voluntarily and tried to lead his people onto the reservation. But, as happened so many times, even after capitulation they were attacked in unwarranted fashion and reacted by leaving the reservation whereupon they were hunted, and hunted, and harried. Some people don't like this film because it tells history more like it was than most movies do about the "conquering" of the American west ... it shows both sides of the story, not just one. With this movie, you can't identify with the hero on one side and the villain or the other. Both are sympathetic, both are reprehensible (isn't that the way a historical drama really ought to be played? In my book, this is a plus). As a native of Arizona, where much of the historical action took place, I find it disturbing that the countryside in which the movie was made is either in some other state or in the wrong part of Arizona, that characters seem to be able to get from Tombstone to San Carlos in one day on horseback (either they had multiple horses, or one dead one), and that there is a bit of overstatement about the honor among the various Apache bands (with reference to the reason that members of some Apache groups served as scouts against other groups). All in all, though, I vote for this one over all the other "Geronimo" movies that have been made.

As others have said, this is an excellent example of a revisionist Western, successful both as a 'quest' film and as history. Despite minor examples of the invariable desire of film-makers to embellish events (Al Sieber in fact died years later when a rock rolled on him while he was clearing a road) this is as close as you'll get to a historically and visually accurate movie account of the pursuit of Geronimo.

One of the many films which are overlooked, the stark portrayal of the American Army couldn't have been more refreshing. While we are constantly exposed to the goodness of our forefathers, at least this film proved to be a little diligent to a true portrayal. Anyway, this film was excellent in the scope of its cinematography, scope and powerful script. Sadly, while Jason Patric has done little to enhance his career since this film, at least he shined for a few short moments, particularly in this movie. Wes Studi's performance as Geronimo was superb, adding depth to the legend which few people have only heard about through old wives tales and abridged history books. Robert Duvall and Gene Hackman were both excellent in this film. I also felt Matt Damon was excellent in this film, further giving precedence to the idea of him being a superior actor to his terrible actor-friend in Ben Affleck. A Truly excellent movie.

Echoes of John Ford westerns and 'Lawrence of Arabia' abound, both visually and thematically, in this gripping character study of the relentlessly proud Apache. A career high for Walter Hill and John Milius, this is also an excellent introduction to the ambiguous nature of the Indian Wars, where even the Indian heroes are guilty of killing unarmed men. Wes Studi and Robert Duvall give outstanding performances.

I write about the Apache in the Desert Exposure newspaper, and I hike Apacheria in New Mexico. While there are many other Native American groups in both AZ and NM, the Jicarilla, Mescalero, and Eastern Chiricahua are the dominant of the Apacheans.

This a film represented a tremendous opportunity, with such a fine actor as Wes Studi, to allow the story to be told through Geronimo's eyes. It missed that chance. Studi gives an excellent performance as Geronimo. He certainly best resembles Geronimo among Native actors that I can think of.

Geronimo was likely a sociopath. He killed remorselessly. He was a gas bag,impressed with himself. He was, the most vigilant of all the Apache. Within New Mexico, just west of the Rio Grande, and east of the Arizona line, we had: Chihuahua; Geronimo; Loco; Lozen (the woman warrior); Mangas Coloradas; Nana; Victorio; Ulzana (Jolsany).

The country around Moab isn't New Mexico. Moab represented a view of the West Hollywood wanted to perpetuate. Also,Moab had amenities that no southern New Mexican towns would have offered. Silver City, where I am, has hosted most recently, "North Country." There is plenty of desert, but also, high mountains, to given the most realistic view of where Geronimo was from & where he fought, since he was born & raised in the Gila Wilderness, north of Silver City.

He mostly fought the latter years in the Chiricahuas, & in Chihuahua and Sonora, Mexico. Studi would have given Geronimo the understanding the man had with having lost his entire family to the Mexicans & the intense hatred he had for them from then on. Geronimo isn't universally loved on the Mescalero & Ft. Sill Reservations, because many Chiricahua Apachewanted to give up the struggle before he did.

Gene Hackman plays a superb Gen. Crook, as a no-nonsense general. He'd chased many less truculent Apaches, and put them on reservations. He was a born cavalryman, was unassuming, & was the first to understand that only Apache could find other Apache. Until then, and afterwards, when Gen. Nelson Miles took command of the campaign against Geronimo, failed to find him, and resorted to using Lt. Charles Gatewood and two principle Apaches (Martine and Kayetah), did he find Geronimo.

Gatewood was a very decent man. He was respected by the Apache, since he'd been on reservation with them, & also, been in the Victorio Campaigns, among others. He was so trusted by them that Geronimo asked him, @ Canyon Embudos, in Chihuahua, in March, 1886, "What would you do?"("Would you surrender?"). Gatewood told them he would.

Britton (Braa ton) Davis (played by Matt Damon), by the 1885-1886 period, was no longer centrally involved in the final chase. He was at Ft. Apache when Geronimo left. Al Sieber, played by Robert Duval, was so drunk that when Britton Davis received word that the Apaches were making "tizwin" (tiz ween), acquivalent to 3.2 beer, and asked for advice, Sieber told him to not worry about it.

Geronimo and Sieber both were negatively affected by alcohol. Geronimo, died on a drunk, in 1909, @ Ft. Sill, OK. He made many bad choices because of booze. Sieber may have made more than his share, too. As far as the characters they played, I think Studi, Hackman, the guy who plays Nelson Miles, Damon, Patric, and Duvall are all solid. Patric is weakest as Gatewood. Gatewood was tall, thin,stoic, and taciturn. He was very down to earth, and for some reason, the affected southern drawl displayed by Patric seemed too affected.

Gatewood, Martine and Kayitah were the ones who went in to find Geronimo. They were the last to surrender because as a group, they were hypervigilent and the toughest the Apache had.

Walking and Hiking Apacheria, in temperatures up to 106º just this week, I can attest to the incredible physical prowess the Apache had. I hike with lots of gear, often alone. They lived, rode and walked with a minimum amount of gear, and were confidently self-reliant in this country. To think of even running (as they did) 75 miles, or break it down, to deduct for exaggeration, 25 miles, in that heat, in this country, where one small cañon can be incredibly rugged, steep, full of cacti, severe heights, cliffs, all kinds of problems with rattlesnakes, scorpions, tarantulas, spiders, no water to speak of ... to even go 25 miles is incredible to grasp, once you try it.

They were the Spartans of Native Americans.

Having been many places where they were, I can say: I love NM enough to understand why they didn't want to leave. To roam alone in this country is an awesome experience. If someone had given Wes Studi some opportunity to display even a few minutes of that aloneness in a vast emptiness, they might have gotten a great performance.

This is revisionist history, for sure.

But, the film's worth watching more than once.

I've become far too involved with the details, now, to tolerate the entire film being shot in Utah. It's too bad Millius, Hill, etc., didn't allow the narrative to be from Geronimo's point of view, rather than Davis'.

Put a protractor point on Silver City, NM, scale the device to measure out 150 miles, & draw a circle, you'll see the country where the last couple of years of the Geronimo Wars were fought. Fly over it at 1000 feet, you can grasp how rugged the country is, and how it was such a part of the entire "Legend," of Geronimo.

The film talks upon Geronimo (Wes Studi), chief of Apaches Chiricaguas. The continuous humiliation in reservoir of San Carlos caused the bursting of riots commanded by Geronimo and his group of Indians . They will confront American cavalry in charge of General Crook (Gene Hackman) , but later he'll be replaced by another hardest commander. Two officers (Jason Patrick and Matt Damon) will go out looking for Geronimo to make a peace treatise.

In the film there are wonderful outdoors shot on location in Utah territory , and it displays action , shootouts , violence and though is slow-moving , isn't tiring , neither dreary . The picture is based on historical characters : Geronimo , Cohise and general Crook . At the main and supporting cast are the actors who usually play Indian roles : Wes Studi , Rodney A. Gant , Steve Reeves because being native origin . The motion picture was well directed by Walter Hill , though he never liked the title of the movie "Geronimo: An American Legend" because he never felt the movie was about Geronimo but about the men who had caught Geronimo . He stated there is a longer version to the movie, he was forced to cut it down by 12 minutes ; in his own words, he describes the version as a "damn good" rendition . Director Walter Hill gets too much experience on western genre ,thus : ¨The long riders¨ , ¨Will Bill¨. Besides , he has modern westerns : ¨Streets of fire¨ and ¨Extreme prejudice¨. ¨The Long Riders¨ is deemed to be an excellent movie but ¨Will Bill¨ is considered boring and overlong . ¨Geronimo¨ is similar height to ¨Long Riders¨ . The motion picture didn't obtain success and was a real flop in box office , in spite of the extraordinary sets , glimmer cinematography and atmospheric as well as evocative Ry Cooder's musical score . The movie will appeal to Indian western fans. Rating: good . Well catching.

Geronimo: An American Legend was the last of the fearsome Indians whose very name spread terror to the white settlers of the American West. The film is based on the actual memoirs of the real life character Matt Damon plays. Damon's character Brittain Davis wrote the book in 1929, in the film Damon is a young shave-tail lieutenant newly minted from West Point and assigned to the 6th Cavalry in the Arizona territory. Damon narrates the film and it's through his eyes that we see the action unfold.

Army politics factors big in the hunt for Geronimo, General George Crook who was the Army general best known for subduing the Indians had his policy questioned by the officials in Washington and after he captures Geronimo once and then through some gross stupidity an incident happens on the reservation that sets Geronimo on the warpath again, Crook played by Gene Hackman is replaced by General Nelson Miles who is portrayed by Kevin Tighe.

That's above the heads of army lieutenant Charles Gatewood who actually does the negotiations to bring Geronimo in and is played by Jason Patric. It's also so much nonsense to army chief of scouts Al Sieber who Robert Duvall plays. They're the ones along with Damon who are actually in the trenches so to speak.

The Indian wars of the Arizona Territory are played even handedly in this film showing the courage and brutality on both sides. Geronimo: An American Legend is a fact based tale told from the perspective of one who was actually there. It's a most worthwhile film.

Despite the creative presence of Walter Hill and John Milius behind it, the movie gets a lot of things wrong. Matt Damon's grating voice-over is handled with little care and is nothing more than the grappling hook that drags the movie from one episode to the next as though we're reading an encyclopedic entry rather than watching a fully fleshed movie. The point-of-view is never allowed to remain within one side or group of characters long enough for them to come alive as anything than cutouts from a history page. We don't stay long enough to learn the actual problems that plagued the Chiricahua (and other Apache bands) in the San Carlos and White River reservations and we don't stay long enough with General Crook and his cavalry to begin to understand the tightrope the sympathetic General (who no less came to the Southwest after slaughtering Cheyennes in the North) has to walk in trying to appease an anxious government in the East while doing his best to save what remains of the Apaches from the encroachment of white settlers into their lands. As a piece of history the movie is naturally inadequate because the Indian affairs in the Southwest were more complex than a movie can afford to depict. As a gritty western action movie (the kind which Walter Hill is the expert) it's too sprawling and incoherent to ever get enough steam. We get the occasional slow-motion gunfight and a pretty good saloon standoff but they're not enough to save the movie from rumbling mediocrity.

I don't like this movie at all. I adore and admire the apaches as a people, and for fighting both Mexican and American soldiers for centuries. I am a great fan of Geronimo (indian name Goklayeh), and have read all books written about him (most recommended Forrest Carter's Watch for Me on the Mountain). This film does not show a veracious proclamation of Geronimo and contains many false facts. For example there's one scene where Geronimo killed some new settlers without any reason, something he never did. He was not a barbarian, and had a reason behind every action.

You can't see the genius and the mastermind Geronimo in this movie, neither can you see the greatest guerrilla warrior ever lived. Geronimo is a lost man in the film, fighting in vain. As a matter of fact he never surrendered without a reason, there were always a plan behind every action. He was clever, smart, astute and sluly. If Geronimo not surrendered as a volunteer, the army would never manage to capture him. In the film you see him hide with some warriors on a mountain cliff, before he is forced to surrender for the last time. That was not what happened. He surrendered for the last time in 1886, with the only purpose to make sure the tribe would live. The glorification is to much focused on General Crook, yes indeed he was a good man, but he does not deserve to be remembered as the hero in a movie about Geronimo.

From the 80's onwards, movies and television stories have introduced us to many heroic individuals living during the late 1800s with amazingly modern attitudes towards Native Americans. I'm starting to wonder how the hostiles were designated "hostile" when there were so many of these stand-up-and-be-heard PC types running around. (In the army, no less, which is just the place *I* would go if I wanted to find to a peaceful solution with the native American people.) I do wish that the movies would just show what happened without the characters of Basil Exposition and The Preacher, so we can form our own conclusions.

This movie is no exception, focusing on the Apache War, with Jason Patric playing Lt. Gatewood - speaking the very language of the Apache - pointing out to his commanding officer the errors of Indian policy. Matt Daman trots along in his wake and explains other concerns helpfully. Both look sincere and concerned, with Jason showing religious fervor and Matt looking terribly naive. Robert Duvall is excellent (as always); Wes Studi is solid as Geronimo.

The scenery (if you neglect to note the transportation implications as they race from one lovely monument several hours by car to another while raiding in the space of minutes) is lovely, and the soldiers look suitably tired and scruffy. I did find it dreadfully distracting (sorry to be so obsessive) that each actor had a mouthful of beautiful white teeth in the 1800s when dental care was a mere rumour.

And the facts. Well, so, as one reviewer pointed out, we weren't there, but we do know some details because the people that were there kept diaries and wrote letters, and we can compare what people wrote, and they all agreed on certain things. Unfortunately, Hollywood used what was handy and ignored a few important details.

So now some viewers will probably think they know something about Geronimo's life that isn't true, especially the poor junior high school kid cheating on some report by watching the movie. It's just irresponsible for movie makers to distort basic and important facts for the sake of the story.

This movie was beautifully photographed, well acted, and brings visibility in an highly poignant fashion to the suffering of the Native American to those who may have missed all the other movies. If they'd ridden their horses just a little closer to the facts, they would have had a much tighter story on Geronimo.

In my humble opinion, this film spent a lot of screen time making U.S. Army characters appear honorable. Yet, those officers were carrying out evil orders from an evil regime. They were stealing the land of the Apache, moving those people to barren wasteland and denying them freedom of religion. When the U.S. Army shot the medicine man, how was that any different that a Nazi shooting a rabbi during a service?

I suspect that film makers must insert white heroes into a movie or it will not get distribution.

Nonetheless, this movie is still worth seeing and moved me deeply. It does show the basic facts of the Apache genocide and Geronimo's life.

Jason Patric's performance as Gatewood is outstanding, understated and overlooked. His stunt work/horse skills are impressive; nothing flashy, he looks like so natural and efficient. (Just like a Cavalry officer of that era would be.)

Now on to the heart of the matter: Wes Studi is a great actor and deserved an Oscar for this performance. This movie is worth seeing for him alone. The director gave the final scene (train to Florida) the proper time, editing and pacing. I will not give away any of the words in that final scene. They are too powerful and beautiful coming out of Wes Studi's mouth. It is an appropriate eulogy to the Apache people.

In conclusion, this is a beautiful movie. Please give it the proper attention that it deserves.

This is one of the few movies that you can watch many times. Studi's portrayal of Geronimo shows him as proud, wise and above all, human. The only fault I can find with this movie is the fact that not enough is made of Chato and what ultimately happened to him. Apart from that this is a truly excellent movie, and a brilliant glimpse of America's unsettling history.

"An unfortunate lousy attempt at portraying Geronimo" was the featured review. YET, the reviewer, admittedly was NOT Apache, NOT Cheracowa, NOT even an American and obviously was NOT there in person and has NO MORE STANDING to make this sort of comment AND be believed than, say, a Sudanese dentist in Des Moines would, per se.

Folks, history is tricky. We weren't there. We CAN study REAL accounts, judge etc. BUT simply stating a movie is an unfortunate lousy attempt, etc. seems silly to me.

Yes, the subject matter still hurts many Americans. Yes, some American indigenous OF the the Cheracowa group, should any direct descendants be alive, might know things no one else KNOWS, but who else actually does? Entertainment's first duty IS to entertain. IF this can be done accurately, do any of you think the studios don't have the resources to do a LOT more research than most of us? Even the actors often do their homework.

Anyway, I liked the film, photography, star's, viewpoints etc. I never comment on spoilers or even the point of a film since this itself is pointless and potentially spoiling. IT was a grand scale Western, updated, likely researched well and well worth watching.

My personal preference IN watching a film is to follow actors. My joy in watching them is finding new actors OR new depths in one's I have seen before. Wes Studi, Geronimo, was one of the latter.

Robin,

First off, If you don't have this film on DVD so you can watch the wide screen, uncropped version, get it friend. This is a very well done affair. While I am not knowledgeable enough to know how well the movie sticks to all the truths, I can say that the beautiful panoramic shots, and attention to authenticity for the era, such as dress and firearms, for example, is real good. Nothings perfect, but its definitely one you can watch more then once. In fact, I'm posting this on at 8pm Sept 4th Alaska time, which is 12:00am Sept 5th, EST which is the anniversary of Geronimos surrender. Good enough reason to pull it out for me. Watching it as I type this....Enjoy......

History books which depict the truth are gradually being destroyed, burned, and censored. This movie is an example of what happens when society does that.

The film tries to be fair to the cavalry. However, Geronimo was never an American legend. He was hated and despised even by the Apache. His following was exactly like that of Charles Manson. His deeds and actions were exactly that, too. In fact, he was the Charles Manson of the West. He would butcher people for no reason-women, children, Native Americans, Mexicans, anyone. He was just a monster. His followers were many, but so were Manson's. They, too, were wackos.

This movie depicts Geronimo as an honorable chief. All chiefs of the old West were more than willing to work with John Clum to send the Apache police to arrest him.

There is a problem with rewriting History. Movies that paint Billy the Kid and Jesse James as heroes are the same, but minor since they were just outlaws who killed. Geronimo was just a mass murderer for sport and fun. Those are the facts.

This is identical to a movie being made in the future in which Charles Manson will be depicted as an honorable American governor who suffers wrongs and indignation, and is in the right in his noble actions. That is the trouble with America's love of rewriting History.

A superior western in every respect. It is deserving of classic status, a must see film as history lived by it's participants. Like "The Killing Fields", it only touches the reality. The film reality is awesome. See it. Learn from it.

First of all I'm not US Citizen, have Indian Origin or studied the so called Apache Wars in detail. But I enjoy western and when a western have at least some historical accuracy I like it even more. I have to say I was really surprised of this movie. If you expect to see a Western about heroic Indians and evil soldiers or an action loaded cowboys versus apache film don't watch it. In my opinion it's a decent portray of a great historian figure. Wes Studi did a fantastic job and is very believable as Geronimo. A strong acting from his side. It's a wonderful cast of actors in thismovie: Gene Hackman as General George Crook, Robert Duvall as Scout AlSieber, Jason Patric as 1.Lt. Charles Gatewood and a young Matt Damonas 2nd Lt. Britton Davis. Damon is doing such a fine acting as he showsin so many movies after. He is also the narrator voice of this sad story in American history too. Robert Duvall seems to play the only John Wayne like Character in this movie. He also has some wonderful Action Scenes and is good and motivated as ever. Same goes to Gene Hackman and Jason Patric. As mentioned before there are Action Scenes, mostly shootouts, battles and horse riding scenes. All of these aregreat cinematographic work and of course the pictures of the landscapesare incredible too. It seems that Director Walter Hill wanted to do hisown Homage to legends like John Ford. The Music is bit melancholic pretty decent, sometimes slow but never over the top or too much of all. The choice was excellent for this movie.

Walter Hill impressed me with this beautiful and sad movie. It's a decent Western but not too slow or too boring. Walter Hill shows a fantastic picture about the people in this infamous and tragic story of a brave warrior and his tribe.

Whatever one thinks of Gernoimo (valiant warrior trying to save his people or serial murderer), it is obvious that the U.S. was shameless in their dealings and "treaties" with the American Indian. I think this movie does a good job of portraying how ruthless the US was in taking Indian land and not following through on any promises made. I do think the treatment of Geronimo was a little on the sympathetic side and I think he was a much harsher man than portrayed.

However, I still liked the movie and found it well made. The photography is breathtaking. The music score is quite haunting and organic in the Indian tradition. I found the stunt work in the clashes between the Calvary & the Apache quite realistic. It's hard to imagine that any horses weren't hurt, but we are assured in the credits that they weren't. But they had some great riders and handlers.

My biggest annoyance was Jason Patric's accent as Lt. Gatewood. I kept trying to figure out where he was form in the beginning - was he English... blue blood Yankee...? And then he says he is from Virginia. I am a Southerner myself and live in northern NC, less than 1 hour from VA. I also spent summers in college working in VA. That is definitely the worst southern accent. But I found Patric's acting to be quite sincere and effective otherwise.

Other notable performances came from Gene Hackman and Robert Duvall. I also think Matt Damon did quite well as this is very early in his career ("Good Will Hunting" is still 4 years away).

This movie should have had a deeper resonance with the American public than say a film such as 'S. List'. The reason being, is that it basically deals with the genocide of it's own original native people. I know historically it's starting to become a very long time ago and most of them died from sickness (introduced from Europe). 'Geronimo' is stunning and morally so 'bang on the money'. Never has a true story ever contained a clearer example of right versus wrong (again you could make a loose comparison to 'S. List'). Living on a reservation was pure hell, to a people like the Plains Indians and many would much rather die in 'Raiding Parties', than to exist as a virtual nonentity. In the movie 'Ulzana's Raid' a scout described the agency as having an "old smell of women, children and dogs". "Apache like new smell of 'fire, bullets and pony riding". The last scene where an Apache scout (who helped the 'Blue Coats'), deeply regrets his actions against Geronimo, is extremely moving. Walter Hill is the finest living western director full-stop and 'Geronimo' simply should have won the 'Best Picture Award' for 1993.