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Geronimo: An American Legend

PG-13 Released Dec 10, 1993 1h 55m History Drama List
50% Tomatometer 22 Reviews 52% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
Following the expansion of the United States into the Southwest, the Apache Indians are forced onto a reservation to live out their lives as lowly corn farmers. While many resign themselves to this fate, several Apache, including Geronimo (Wes Studi), refuse to go quietly. Hoping to quell a major rebellion, General Charles Crook (Gene Hackman) dispatches over 5,000 U.S. Cavalry soldiers, led by Lieutenant Charles Gatewood (Jason Patric), to hunt down Geronimo and his men.
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Geronimo: An American Legend

Geronimo: An American Legend

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Critics Consensus

Geronimo: An American Legend fails to stir the soul, though its sweeping visuals and historical ambitions mark an intelligent change of pace for director Walter Hill.

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Critics Reviews

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Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times A film of great beauty and considerable intelligence. Rated: 3.5/4 Jan 1, 2000 Full Review Louis Black Austin Chronicle Rated: 2.5/5 Jan 1, 2000 Full Review Entertainment Weekly Rated: D+ Jan 1, 1993 Full Review Mitchell Beaupre Paste Magazine It’s impressive how Walter Hill’s Westerns consistently come from a place of critical revisionism towards the Hollywood standard of American exceptionalism. Rated: 8/10 Sep 29, 2023 Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy A miscast Jason Patric tackles his role as a combination of a Brando impersonator and a guy who merely needs a nap. Rated: 2/4 Aug 23, 2021 Full Review Brian D. Johnson Maclean's Magazine Gerónimo attempts to combine the classical and the correct-with mixed results. Feb 5, 2020 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Dom How is this a 50% on Rotten when Dances with Wolves is 85%? If anything. this is a more balanced representation of the Natives and the US Army than Dances with Wolves. Shows what society wants to learn instead at the end of the day. The movie's theme of no one winning at the end of a war is miles more Enlightening than another complaint of Matt Damon's acting. This is a pretty decent film. I thought both the Natives and the US Army were portrayed with great nuance. Damon's acting is a little unconvincing but is serviceable for the plot as a whole. The movie's a little slow at points though. The ending is a little contrived, but it is a good film overall. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 07/18/23 Full Review David H As is usually the case the critics are wrong. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 06/01/24 Full Review jelisije j A great bio pic of one of the most famous Native American warriors of all time and the collapse of a culture that should never be forgot. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review aqsw d One of the least known relics of Matt Damon and Robert Duvall. Overall a good movie - worth watching regarding American history. The history of Indians in America is of great importance. The term Indian is not a bad word - it's not politically incorrect. Part Cherokee, I love the word. There is a great respect of all Indians of America. What happened in the history of what is now America was unavoidable, unstoppable, inevitable. To all Indians I offer this small humble encouragement: You are loved by Americans. Your history is rich. You matter. An interesting aspect of America is that most states are Indian names, and Indian names are used throughout America - from states to city names to street names. That is a small bit of evidence of how important all Indians are to America. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member A complex revisionist western without clear heroes or villains. As is typical to a lot of these types of movies from this era, the filmmakers were far enough removed from the past to not lionize it while also not so far ahead that they felt the need to deconstruct everything to pieces. Wes Studi is great here, giving Geronimo a quiet sadness that underscores his resolve. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/13/23 Full Review Audience Member It is sometimes the case that period films suffer through their use of big-name celebrities and contemporary mannerisms, as the Hollywood sensibility comes to mar the organic quality of the historical fabric. Such was the case with this film, which nevertheless touched me with its compassionate depiction of the Native American's heartbreaking struggle for freedom and autonomy. We see Geronimo as a captivating and quietly charismatic figure, dignified and formidable in equal measure. We find ourselves growing slowly immersed in the film's devastatingly inevitable developments, witnessing the tragedy of the frontier in a heightened state of reverence for all who were trapped in the middle of the struggle. Ultimately, I respected the film's intentions as well as its loyalty to its subject, yet found my experience undermined by certain modernistic aspects of the film's aesthetic. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/14/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Geronimo: An American Legend

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Movie Info

Synopsis Following the expansion of the United States into the Southwest, the Apache Indians are forced onto a reservation to live out their lives as lowly corn farmers. While many resign themselves to this fate, several Apache, including Geronimo (Wes Studi), refuse to go quietly. Hoping to quell a major rebellion, General Charles Crook (Gene Hackman) dispatches over 5,000 U.S. Cavalry soldiers, led by Lieutenant Charles Gatewood (Jason Patric), to hunt down Geronimo and his men.
Director
Walter Hill
Producer
Neil Canton, Walter Hill
Screenwriter
John Milius, Larry Gross
Distributor
Columbia Pictures
Production Co
Columbia Pictures Corporation
Rating
PG-13
Genre
History, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 10, 1993, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 16, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA)
$18.4M
Runtime
1h 55m
Sound Mix
Surround
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