Thunderheart (1992)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Director:

Michael Apted

Writer (WGA):

John Fusco (written by)

Release Date:

3 April 1992 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Mystery | Thriller | Western

Tagline:

Two men from different worlds. Two cops after the same killer. Together they must uncover the secrets. Together they must discover the truth.

Plot:

An FBI man with Sioux background is sent to a reservation to help with a murder investigation, where he has to come to terms with his heritage...

Plot Keywords:

South Dakota | Native American | Neo Noir | Based On True Story | Independent Film

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Val Kilmer	...	Ray Levoi
Sam Shepard	...	Frank Coutelle
Graham Greene	...	Walter Crow Horse
Fred Ward	...	Jack Milton
Fred Dalton Thompson	...	William Dawes
Sheila Tousey	...	Maggie Eagle Bear
Ted Thin Elk	...	Grandpa Sam Reaches (as Chief Ted Thin Elk)
John Trudell	...	Jimmy Looks Twice
Julius Drum	...	Richard Yellow Hawk
Sarah Brave	...	Maisy Blue Legs
Allan R.J. Joseph	...	Leo Fast Elk
Sylvan Pumpkin Seed	...	Hobart
Patrick Massett	...	Agent Mackey
Rex Linn	...	FBI Agent
Brian A. O'Meara	...	FBI Agent

Runtime:

119 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Sioux

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Canada:14A (Ontario) | Iceland:14 (original rating) | Iceland:16 (video rating) | South Korea:12 | Netherlands:12 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Finland:K-14 | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | USA:R | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Badlands National Park, Interior, South Dakota, USA

Company:

TriStar Pictures

Trivia:

Based on a true story, documented as Incident at Oglala (1992), which was also directed by Michael Apted.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: The events upon which the story is based happened in June 1975. There is a portrait of Richard Nixon in the FBI director's office. Nixon resigned in August 1974. Gerald Ford's picture should have been there. Also, as Val Kilmer is driving in the opening sequence, "Badlands" by Bruce Springsteen is playing on the car radio. The album containing this song was released in June 1978.

Quotes:

Richard Yellow Hawk: You better watch yourself pal, I'm the FBI round here. Full blooded Indian.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Last Action Hero (1993)

Apted's best outing as a director

Michael Apted has had a few indifferent movies, but Thunderheart is in my view his best. Apted spotlights the tribal Indian community in Badlands, South Dakota, exploring the mysticism of the Sioux culture and examining the impact of its forced co-existence with the modern American way of life. This juxtaposed mix of two cultures is best exemplified by Val Kilmer, who plays a young, brash and cocky FBI investigator with Sioux blood sent "back home" to investigate a homicide.

The murder investigation proves to be the tip of the iceberg, revealing a greater conspiracy to steal the land away from the Sioux. There is a surreal edge to the movie throughout, balanced well with an engaging and gripping story line. Kilmer is at his best here, aided well by a great supporting cast. The action was thick and fast, surrounded by an aura of mystical magic that was best supplied by James Horner's thumping soundtrack. For two hours I was enthralled. This is an excellent movie.