MOVIE REVIEWS

Review by John Chard

Some say that his name can be heard when the wind blows. When his family is slaughtered by Mexican troops, an Apache brave chooses a path that would make him known as one of the most feared warriors in history. His name? Geronimo. It's still an annoyance to many that we have yet to get a truly on the money big screen biography film about Geronimo. How ironic, then, that the best film about the man is a TV film, one with an average budget and one filming with largely unknown actors - many of whom are actually Native Americans. This take is more of an origin story, taking us into his life and dealing with the events that would lead to him becoming the most sought after warrior during the Indian Wars. The pic addresses some forgotten facts missed by Hollywood, like involving the Mexican army in how his life was shaped, and how they behaved in the first instance. His rise to mythical - ghost like - status is covered, and covered by 3 different actors during the stages of his life, building up to the pained scenario that would see him give himself up to the American government and all that nasty business that would follow. It's authentically told and portrayed, with the location filming (Tuscon, Arizona) also aiding the earthy appeal of it all. And while it lacks a high quotient of the blood and thunder one might expect from a film with this subject matter, the integrity and all round humanisation of the subjects marks it out as an honest pic worthy of seeking out. 7/10