Dances With Wolves: I had noted that I had referenced Dances with Wolves four separate times in my posts. This epic Kevin Costner film was released to great acclaim and brought him seven Oscars including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Editing, Best Cinematography, Best Sound and Best Original Score. The score, like many films adds so much to the experience. John Barry wrote the score and it enhances so many of the scenes. Released in 1990, I saw at a theatre in Windsor when I was in law school. It holds very well 33 years later. It was one if the first movies that I can recall which had native Indians, indiginous people speaking their own language with subtitles. This was Kevin Costner’s directorial debut and what a first attempt. The film ran over budget, and Costner ended up paying the $3M difference out of his own pocket.
At its heart, the story involves a Union soldier in the mid 1800s, named John Dunbar, who after a dramatic battle in which he was unwittingly a turning point, he decides to go station himself in the frontier “before it disappears”. Dunbar can see the shifting winds and the ever expanding world of white influence. Out to the frontier at a remote outpost, which hasn’t seen people in a long while, Dunbar sets up shop. What he doesn’t expect is some visitors, in the form of a wolf and later some Sioux indians. The story moves forward, and he begins a relationship with his neighbours. There is a language barrier and it is a slow process. He is able to begin to make a positive impression with the Holy Man, named Kicking Bird, played by Graham Greene. Not everyone in the Sioux village is as enthusiastic with his presence, including fierce warrior Wind In His Hair. There is also a white woman among the villagers and she is introduced to Dunbar through unusual circumstances. Her name is Stands With A Fist and for good reason. Dunbar finds ways, some planned and others not, to try to ingratitate himself to the village, and the leaders. Time moves on, and the buffalo become the focal point as they do their annual hunt. Dunbar continues to make an impression as he integrates further into the tribe.
The turning point in the relationship is when Kicking Bird asks Stands With A Fist to become his translator. They are able to communicate better. She has her own backstory and was once part of a white settling family before they were attacked by another tribe of natives and she ran free. The performances across the board in this epic are all solid. Costner is the centre point, but there are quality supporting roles from Greene, and Mary McDonnell as Stands with a Fist. Add in the young people add some good scenes. There is some good humour, along with some more dramatic moments. You learn how the Sioux are worried about the white man, and whether this is a change that will last. The Sioux leader Ten Bears is not convinced that another foreign invader will last. What sets this apart from western from before is the recognition that previous portrayals of the indiginous people were wrong. In this movie, it is the white soldier who is adapting and realizing that his way of life, and outlook on the world is very different than those around him. He is shown time and again how the white man takes without asking, and has no harmony with nature. This is an emotional journey on multiple fronts. It is a story of friendship, of understanding, oppression, cooperation and love of family. These are all timeless, and this is why this is a movie to be remembered fondly. Good stories last. Kevin Costner when approached about this story by his writer friend Michael Blake from acting school, Costner had told him that he needed to write a novel. Only once in the novel form could he look to invest and want to explore making it. The result of all this is one of best films in the 1990s. Well worth the time with the three hour running time, which also is reminiscent of the latest three hour epic Oppenheimer, and also worth your time.
Better Call Saul, Season 3: I am a big fan of Breaking Bad. I really like the character of Saul Goodman from the original, as I think he delivered some of the funniest lines. One memorable line was Saul addressing Jesse and Walter after a crazy event he said “now I know what to call my polyps”. I was eagerly anticipating this show but it got off to a slow start. Seasons 1 and 2 focused on his relationship with his older brother. Both parties contributed to the strained relationship, even though Saul (original name Jimmy McGill) stayed with his brother to help him through his challenges. This season 3 brings those challenges to a head with an excellent episode 5 in the hearing held by the New Mexico Bar on whether Jimmy should keep his law license. Jimmy with his collegaue and personal partner Kim Wexler, look to find a way to cross examine older brother. It’s clever, and memorable while at the same time unfortunate that the result of course is the end of that connection between the brothers.
At the same time there are ongoing parallel stories with Mike, the enforcer and former cop in Breaking Bad as well as Giancarlo Esposito playing Gus Fring who runs his drug operation through the memorable chicken franchise Los Polos Hermanos. This past week Mark Margolis passed away at the age of 83. He played Hector Salamanca who is a driving force in both franchises. He is a mob boss, drug dealer who is working hard to keep his empire which he struggles to do. This season made me realize that the previous hype that I had heard was warranted. I really like the Kim Wexler character. This is another series well worth your time.
Mondays With Robbie 