Dad's Movie Lists
 

Dances With Wolves (1990), Director: Kevin Costner, rated PG-13 for frontier violence

Lt. John Dunbar is about to discover the frontier...within himself.

Film ClipStarring: Kevin Costner, Mary McDonnell, Graham Greene, Rodney Grant, Floyd Red Crow Westerman, Tantoo Cardinal, Jimmy Herman

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

DML Top 50 #2 - Dad's Full (Spoiler) Review and Deep Dive of Dances With Wolves

"I've never known a people so eager to laugh, so devoted to family, so dedicated to each other.  And, the only word that came to mind was harmony." - John Dunbar

Why watch this? This "Western" finally depicts Native Peoples with accuracy.

Plot Summary: This epic Western film, starring and directed by Kevin Costner, was adapted from Michael Blake's novel of the same name. It tells the story of a Union Army lieutenant who requests duty on the American frontier and develops a profound connection with a tribe of Sioux Indians. The film explores themes of cultural exchange, prejudice, and the conflict between expanding American civilization and Indigenous ways of life.

Dad's Preview: For five years Costner established himself as a leading man in such films as Silverado (1985) and Bull Durham (1988). Dances changed all that, by proving that he was a also a serious filmmaker. This beautiful work of frontier art strips away many previous notions of the American West as portrayed on film. A lone Northern soldier heads West. There he encounters Native Americans, namely a Lakota Sioux tribe. He learns that all the rumors about these people are false, and he embraces the relationship. However, in America, it's never that simple. The scenery is breath-taking, all set to an incredible musical score. This Oscar-winner is a glorious epic to behold. 


Tig Productions, Majestic Films Int.; Orion Pictures

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