FilmJudge - Dances with Wolves

REVIEW

Dances with Wolves
1991
Certificate: 15 | Runtime: 180 | Director: Kevin Costner
Starring: Kevin Costner, Mary McDonnell, Graham Greene

During the American Civil War, Lieutenant John Dunbar (Costner) requests a transfer the western frontier, and finds himself assigned to a deserted outpost. After a few run-ins with a wild wolf, who he names 'Two Socks', Dunbar befriends the animal. Meanwhile, the local Sioux Indian tribe is a source of fascination for Dunbar, and after helping them track down a herd of buffalo, the solider slowly begins to understand their ways and falls in love with 'Stands With A Fist' (McDonnell).

If the only criteria for reviewing a film were that it must demonstrate sincerity and dedication to its subject, then Dances with Wolves would be considered the best film of all time. It's faultless in its reverence and appreciation for the Sioux culture - a culture it clearly mourns the passing of. And yet, this cannot excuse its threadbare plot, its dull lead performance, and a pace so slow it would make a tortoise on Valium seem swift.

While I'd never put Costner in the pantheon of great American actors, over the years he has delivered some fine performances. From his passionate work in JFK, to his honest and friendly efforts in Field of Dreams, there is plenty of evidence that he's capable of creating warm and sympathetic characters. And yet I have absolutely no clue as to why his work here has garnered him his only acting Oscar nomination to date. His line delivery is flat and cold, and he gives Dunbar all the personality of a wigwam. It's so difficult to belive the character is enthralled by the Sioux when he's played so devoid of passion and enthusiasm.

The other performances are generally better. McDonnell is an engaging presence, although at the back of my mind there has always been the thought that her character needed to be a 'white' woman because some audiences might not buy the concept of Dunbar falling in love with a Sioux. Greene also delivers a strong performance as 'Kicking Bird'; a feat all the more impressive considering that close to all of his dialogue is spoken in Lakota (a Sioux language). Rodney A. Grant ('Wind In His Hair') and Jimmy Herman ('Stone Calf') also make the most out of rather underwritten roles.

The film is a triumph when it comes to many cosmetic elements, such as John Barry's soaring musical score and Dean Semler's beautiful photography. These things give the film an epic feel, but they also contribute to the empty feeling it has in places. Costner doesn't seem to have grasped that gorgeous cosmetics alone cannot make scenes powerful and moving, and yet he uses them for exactly that purpose. There's nothing more distracting than a scene that's supposed to be engrossing, but isn't, being accompanied by emotionally charged music, and this happens too much for my linking here. That's not to say the film is without engaging or riveting moments - the thrilling buffalo hunt sequence and the first time Dunbar and 'Stands With A Fist' are truly alone together stand out - but such occurrences are few and far between.

The film also goes too far in demonising the white usurpers of the Sioux land. Their depiction as pillagin', rapin', killin' and spittin' bastards gives them an artificial and strangely unthreatening quality. In many ways it actually undermines the point the film is trying to make because who in their right mind could possibly side with them? Such black and white depictions of good and evil just don't work in a film of this length - especially one where the heart of the story is man choosing between the two, because his choice is so, so obvious. One could argue that plenty of the more standard and non-revisionist westerns have the same problem, only with the Indians shown in this hugely negative light. But then that's probably why I don't like too many of those films either.

It feels wrong to knock Dances with Wolves because it clearly has the best intentions. It's undeniably committed to what it wants to achieve, and it has all the cosmetic elements with which to succeed in its goal. But for me it fails to provide an emotionally stimulating story, when that is the one thing it really needed to do. I know plenty of people disagree, but there you have it.

RECENT REVIEWS

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button