Dances with Wolves

1990.

#75 / Unlisted

Winner of 7 Academy Awards

Lieutenant John J. Dunbar (Kevin Costner), stationed in the Colorado frontier, begins to integrate himself with a Sioux tribe that lives nearby. Taking the name "Dances with Wolves," Dunbar helps defend the tribe against Pawnee and U.S. Army enemies.

Eddie: Just saw this movie for the first time last night, exactly the way a frontier epic should be viewed - on the big screen. I knew almost nothing about the movie, except for its similarities to AVATAR (which I hated). Very quickly, I jumped on board. I thought that the story made smart choices and developed a tenderness that created huge sympathy for the main character, Lieutenant Dunbar. The movie takes place largely through his eyes and in his head, but I never felt trapped or bored. It was an exciting journey to follow a lifelong renegade as he finally found a home.

A few other observations: Who knew that the First Lady (Mary McDonnell) from INDEPENDENCE DAY was so hot?! The performances are solid, all the way around, including the Sioux actors. Major credit belongs to Kevin Costner, who tackled such a colossal movie on a small budget with animals and kids and locations and two languages for his directorial debut! It almost begs the question, "K-Cost, why haven't you directed anything good since then?"

Sarah: I love how patient this movie is. As Kevin Costner slowly befriends the Sioux people, the audience does, too. It's interesting that John Dunbar does not really seem to come alive until he is accepted by the Sioux and becomes Dances With Wolves. I love that Dunbar had his own hero's journey within the larger narrative of the tribe. Very smart storytelling.

What makes this movie, however, is the dynamic characters and their relationships. Kicking Bird (Graham Greene), Stands With A Fist, Wind In His Hair (Rodney A. Grant), Smiles A Lot (Nathan Lee Chasing His Horse), and even Two Socks are all completely lovable and engaging. And how the hell did Costner get all those buffalo shots? Impressive!

Why You Should See It: Tatonka hunt!