Dances with Wolves (1990, PG-13)

Dances with Wolves is more then just a western.  It's a cinematic vision, seen through the viewpoint of one man, Kevin Costner.  Costner is not one of my favorite actors, nor favorite directors in that case.  And yet, in watching Dances with Wolves, I thought that Costner had actually, for once, made something special.  Dances with Wolves is a very different kind of western.  It's a western that's not made in the traditional western style, but rather a movie that goes into interaction between two vastly different cultures fighting for supremacy over one area of land, and we already know who will come out on top in the end.

The story is set during the American Civil War, and the protagonist is Union Army Lieutenant John Dunbar (Costner), who is wounded during the fighting, and in an act of suicide charges the Confederate lines bravelly on his horse.  Miraculously he survives, and for his act of bravery, is assigned his choice of posting.  Dunbar chooses an abandoned army post in Colorado, to "see the western frontier before it's gone".  While waiting for reinforcements, Dunbar at first must deal with the local Sioux Tribe, but steadily grows closer to them, learning their culture, language and way of life.  It's only a matter of time before Dunbar completely joins their culture completely...and so it's not long before the Army comes after him as a deserter.

Dances with Wolves is one of the greatest movies ever made, though not the greatest, because it's a brilliant cinematic vision that is filmed through with numerous highlights.  We get a few intense encounters between Dunbar and the Sioux, romance between Dunbar and a white Sioux named Stands with a Fist (Mary McDonnell), a Buffalo hunt, a battle between rival Native American tribes, and even a unique friendship between Dunbar and a lone wolf, eventually earning him the name of the film's title.

This is a movie, running in at three hours (the director's cut is four hours), to watch in segments.  I took the privilege in watching it over the course of one night (not to be arrogant), but I can tell you by the time the credits did roll during the film's sad but real ending, I didn't feel exhausted.  I felt like I had watched a truly great movie.  That's because Costner's direction is so great, just as well as his acting (and I did state before that I'm no Costner fan).  The cinematography gives brilliant background shots of the Great Plains and equal, even foreground views of the characters.  Dances with Wolves is a movie that stays thoroughly focused on three things: the story, the characters and the history, all while keeping enough action and drama thoroughly intact.

All in all, Dances with Wolves is stunning, an incredible achievement.  I don't know if I can quite guarantee you that you will change your views on the Native American way of life, but I can guarantee you that this film will deliver a different perspective on that topic then you would ever have, or will ever have, seen or heard of before.

                            *****/5