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War Pony

Play trailer 1:47 Poster for War Pony R 2023 1h 55m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
93% Tomatometer 55 Reviews 82% Popcornmeter 50+ Ratings
At 23, Bill (Jojo Bapteise Whiting) just wants to make something of himself. Whether it's siphoning gas, delivering goods or breeding Poodles, he is determined to hustle his way to the "American Dream". Meanwhile, 12-year-old Matho (LaDainian Crazy Thunder) can't wait to become a man. Desperate for approval from his young father, a series of impulsive decisions turns Matho's life upside down and he finds himself unequipped to deal with the harsh realities of the adult world.
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War Pony

War Pony

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Critics Consensus

With subtlety and authenticity, War Pony tracks the lives of two young Indigenous men and cements the two women behind the lens, Riley Keough and Gina Gammell, as talents to watch.

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Critics Reviews

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Sergio Burstein Los Angeles Times 10/05/2023
A polished staging of an 'indie' character, but with a careful visual composition that reinforces this impression without leaving aside its artistic sense. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review
Ty Burr Ty Burr's Watch List (Substack) 08/04/2023
3.5/4
Filmed on the traditional homelands of the Oceti Sakowin and Tongva Peoples, “War Pony” feels lived in, and lived hard. Go to Full Review
David Fear Rolling Stone 07/28/2023
The film’s ability to take those genre beats and occasionally tweak them, twist them, and add something regionally specific to them keeps this from being just another tale of desperate decisions and tough times. Go to Full Review
Cameron Ritter Geek Vibes Nation Jul 19
7.5/10
A gut-punching glimpse into parts of life on a Native reservation. On the surface, War Pony could be the story of anyone from small-town America, but the layers of appalling history bring a unique weight that is difficult to ignore. Go to Full Review
David Bax Battleship Pretension 10/24/2024
Like its subjects, War Pony is one of a kind. Go to Full Review
Ross McIndoe The Skinny 07/04/2024
4/5
The result is a film that is both unflinchingly gritty and wistfully dreamlike, mischievously funny and achingly melancholy. A film that feels alive in a full, unfiltered way. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Keith B B @Okbullard 04/20/2024 I thought this was a very worthwhile movie to experience. It's sad how many native Americans are forced to live. It's worth the watch. See more Almendra A 03/15/2024 The soundtrack was lit See more ira m @Montyson 03/14/2024 Very sensitive depiction of life in the Rez but also the coming of age for Matho. I've read it was totally scripted but it feels very natural and seems improvised. Nice going to everyone involved. See more Paul L 03/12/2024 This movie is good, great realisation and we can really see the emotions of the characters through the screen. See more Paige A 12/09/2023 Really stellar. Acting is genuine and wonderful all around. This film somehow manages to merge a slice-of-life style indie with a satisfying, full-circle plot. It's exceptionally skilled at showing, not telling. Tension abounds, comments on society abound, perspectives on masculinity abound, and yet, nary a word on any are ever spoken. Masterful, and on the level with any intellectual indie. See more Damien B 08/17/2023 Sad to see what's happened to indigenous people and people of colour throughout Amerikkka, weather they are First Nations, African Americans, Mexican Hispanics and or Latinos. Sacred Lands have been overrun and desecrated by the white man, indeed ALL of the land belongs and belonged to the First Nations peoples, and its interesting to see how Hip-Hop, RAP, and Munblecore Trap subcultures has filtered into these communities, as well as a certain despair, desperation, and loss of culture while still being embedded within their culture, one can still feel the immense loss and grief the people are burdenned with like a millstone around the necks. What we see in this film feels authentic, modern and up-to-date in showing the current life situations, behaviours and attitudes of families, parents, kids and especially the teenagers who are trying to find themselves in the midst of this confusing, broken down lifestyle that they have unwittingly inherited in the aftermath of a long, virtually silent historical genocide of their peoples, lands, traditionalism, beliefs, customs and lifestyle. Thevancient ways are nearly all lost, and have given way to drugs, alcohol, domestic violence, broken relationships, and lives that seem to drift along meaninglessly until someone either dies or ends up incarcerated, or both. Reservation life is no joke and its no 'American Dream' either. Stick with the film to the end, think on it, oonder over it, discuss it, see it again. Love it or hate it, its not a film to be ignored, regardless of weather you feel drawn to it or repelled by it. Put your personal views, opinions and judgments aside and watch it with an open mind, its guaranteed to stay with you days afterwards. See more Read all reviews
War Pony

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Movie Info

Synopsis At 23, Bill (Jojo Bapteise Whiting) just wants to make something of himself. Whether it's siphoning gas, delivering goods or breeding Poodles, he is determined to hustle his way to the "American Dream". Meanwhile, 12-year-old Matho (LaDainian Crazy Thunder) can't wait to become a man. Desperate for approval from his young father, a series of impulsive decisions turns Matho's life upside down and he finds himself unequipped to deal with the harsh realities of the adult world.
Director
Riley Keough, Gina Gammell
Producer
Ryan Zacarias, Sacha Ben Harroche, Gina Gammell, Riley Keough
Screenwriter
Riley Keough, Gina Gammell, Bill Reddy, Franklin Sioux Bob
Distributor
Momentum Pictures
Production Co
Kaleidoscope Entertainment, Doco Digital, Protagonist Pictures
Rating
R (Some Violence|Pervasive Language|Drug and Alcohol Use)
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jul 28, 2023, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Jul 28, 2023
Runtime
1h 55m
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