‘Geronimo’ is more history, less fanaticism
Story of Apache
based on facts
A rarity in mainstream movies,
“Gcroniino” is a historical film based
more on history and less on fantastic
embellishments.
The story is narrated by 2nd Lt.
Britton Davis (Matt Damon), a young
and inexperienced officer whose ide
alistic beliefs are challenged by the
injustices of the army and govern
mem.
Davis serves under 1 st Lt. Charles
Gatewood, played by Jason Patric
(“Rush”). Gatewood befriends
Gcronimo and negotiates his final
surrender after the army is unable to
capture him.
Gatewood and Davis arc aided by
A1 Sicbcr, one of the few “While
Eyes” able to track the Apache. Rob
ert Duvall (“The Godfather”) deliv
ers a strong showing as Sicber, a man
who secs the world as black and white.
Gene Hackman (“Unforgivcn”)
gives a solid performance as Brig.
Gen. George Crook, whom the Indi
ans call Nantan Lupan, “Gray Wolf
Chief.” Crook sees himself as a friend
of the Indians and earns their respect.
Wes Studi as Gcronimo really pulls
the movie together, though he only
received fourth billing. He plays the
rebellious warrior to perfection.
The story begins in 1885 when
Gcronimo surrenders and is placed on
Turkey Creek reservation. He finds
himself unable tosit and farm the land
or take government handouts.
Gcronimo exemplifies the Ameri
can Indian free spirit. He refuses to be
caged in on a tiny reservation, forced
to adapt to the ways of the “White
Eyes.”
- i ■ —> .......■ .. i
Courtesy of Columbia
Wes Studi, left, as Geronimo and Jason Patric as Lt. Charles Gatewood star in “Geronimo: An American Legend.
He rises up and returns to the moun
tains, attacking white settlers to sup
ply his men and to discourage whites
from moving onto Apache land.
The film is more historically au
thentic than most popular films. The
filmmakers used an American Indian
consultant, Sonny Skyhawk, to en
sure a more accurate depiction of the
American Indian people and their
lifestyles.
Geronimo deals with actual Amer
ican Indian-white issues and not just
cowboy and Indian fights, although
the fight scenes are well-choreo
graphed. Geronimo and the other
Apache arc struggling to understand
the ideals of the^White-Eyes.’* But it
is almost impossible for them to com
prehend the greed of Manifest Desti
ny.
Unfortunately, even though the
film is named after an American Indi
an leader, “Geronimo” leans strongly
to a white perspective. It also portrays
Geronimo as the hero of all his peo
ple, when there were many who dis
agreed with him and thought he was
leading them in a suicidal rebellion.
This film does portray Geronimo
and the Apache who followed him as
what they were — the last group of
American Indians to show their dis
content with white domination in the
form of warfare. Even though
Gcronimo may not have been the hero
to all his people, he was an inspiration
to many and a legend to all.
— Joel Strauch
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