The Milagro Beanfield War

R

Released Mar 18, 1988

1h 57m

Comedy

Drama

List

61%

33 Reviews

Tomatometer

74%

2,500+ Ratings

Audience Score

In the tiny town of Milagro, New Mexico, where the local water is a premium resource, shady developer Ladd Devine (Richard Bradford) has conceived a glitzy resort that will ultimately siphon off all the water from the neighboring crop-fields. When handyman and farmer Joe Mondragon (Chick Vennera) accidentally breaks a water valve reserved for major companies, he inadvertently sets off a small-scale water-rights war between the farmers and the developers.

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Critics Consensus

Arguably Robert Redford's most inchoate work, The Milagro Beanfield War has plenty of beautiful moments, but they don't quite add up to a worthwhile whole.

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T D

This scene... every morning for 35+ years I say "Thank you god, for giving me another day". This morning I couldn't visualize it so I checked here. I had the line wrong, as remembered. But in this forgiving universe it has worked anyway to allow me to express my gratitude - through it all. And today. Very special movie to me.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/20/23

Full Review

j f

Great cast. James Gammon rules.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

10/02/23

Full Review

dave s

John Nichols was able to infuse his fabulist novel The Milagro Beanfield War with intriguing mysticism and interesting characters. Sadly, his written words don't translate all that well to the screen, as evidenced in Robert Redford's ambitious but flawed adaptation. The premise is simple – when a greedy land developer starts diverting irrigation water from the fields of local farmers in order to drive them off their properties, trouble is on the horizon. While there are no real problems with the story itself, the movie gets dragged down by the sheer number of characters, many of whom are unnecessary (Melanie Griffith's character, for example) and none of which are sufficiently developed. Despite some great cinematography and a wonderful score, there is simply too much dialogue from too many characters in too many scenes that add nothing to the story.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

One of my favourite movies. Can't believe rotten tomatoes rated it so low. wonderful characters, great story. lovely mystical quality

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/09/23

Full Review

raphael v

It was hilarious, sweet, and absolutely enjoyable

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

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Audience Member

Robert Redford's crowd-pleaser about the titular hostilities between the greedy developers and a Chicano community whose land they are eyeing is crowded with underdeveloped plots overrun with hackneyed morals.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/22/23

Full Review

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Robert Redford

Director

Sonia Braga

Ruby Archuleta, Owner Ruby's Body Shop

Chick Vennera

Joe Mondragon

Rubén Blades

Sheriff Bernabe Montoya

Richard Bradford

Ladd Devine, Owner Ladd Land & Cattle Co.

Julie Carmen

Nancy Mondragon

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Bob Thomas

Associated Press

Magazine articles about its making have outlined the problems: multiple script changes, wholesale reshooting. The tinkering appears to have eroded the film's basic core. It is now a series of audience-pleasing turns, with little sense of unity.

Rated: 2.5/4

Jul 23, 2019

Full Review

Variety Staff

Variety

Redford and company have put a quirky twist on the material, investing it with a quasi-mystical aspect as well as some raw comedy.

Nov 7, 2007

Full Review

Jonathan Rosenbaum

Chicago Reader

Fairly choked with good intentions, whimsy, touches of fantasy, and cardboard liberal stereotypes.

Nov 7, 2007

Full Review

Wesley Lovell

Cinema Sight

“Milagro” is a wonderful film with a nice message that is too overpowering to the story

Rated: 3/4

Nov 26, 2022

Full Review

Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

A charming ensemble piece that sprinkles a dash of magical realism over the familiar tale of underdogs rebelling against a corrupt and capitalist system.

Rated: 3/4

Oct 3, 2020

Full Review

Mark Jackson

Epoch Times

"Milagro" captures the inherent naiveté of the liberal '60s sentiment of power to the people. Hilarious and incredibly warm, it's a tribute to a fading culture, leaving one with an ache, knowing soon nobody will be able to hear the wisdom of Coyote Angel.

Rated: 4.5/5

Apr 2, 2020

Full Review

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Synopsis

In the tiny town of Milagro, New Mexico, where the local water is a premium resource, shady developer Ladd Devine (Richard Bradford) has conceived a glitzy resort that will ultimately siphon off all the water from the neighboring crop-fields. When handyman and farmer Joe Mondragon (Chick Vennera) accidentally breaks a water valve reserved for major companies, he inadvertently sets off a small-scale water-rights war between the farmers and the developers.

Director: Robert Redford
Producer: Gary Hendler
Screenwriter: John Nichols
Distributor: Universal Pictures
Production Co: Universal Pictures
Rating: R
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 18, 1988, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 10, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $12.7M
Runtime: 1h 57m
Sound Mix: Surround

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