Nate and the Colonel (2003) User Reviews

An Epic Adventure

[Maxop · 6/10 · 28 November 2005]

I bought this movie on a sale rack because I like old westerns. I didn't know any of the actors nor the director. The conditions were perfect for viewing it the first time through; was alone in a cabin in the Lincoln National Forest of New Mexico, USA., and I had worked hard all that day, doing things have to be done in the mountains. The heroes (Nate & the Colonel) had grown up together on a plantation in the South and were fast friends. Things happened very quickly at the beginning of the plot, stuff I'll leave out, but crucial are Nate's becoming a free man after the Civil War, and The Colonel being forced to avenge some very serious and personal affronts committed against him by one particular Union officer during the war. Nate (who narrates the story) decides to go along with the Colonel as a gesture of support and because he, as a fee man, could do what he chose to do for the first time in his life. Thus begins an amazing and unusual saga of post war hostilities among ex-Confederate soldiers, Indians, and the U.S. Cavalry.

Nobody in the movie is without sin, but the guys dressed in fancy blues & tall boots were most often the bad guys. Until this movie I hadn't known that the Cavalry was made up of Union soldiers. And that they had pressed right on into the Southwest after the war to get rid of those other rebels living in tepees. Nate & Colonel naturally take up with the Indians and come to enjoy their ways of life, a life more similar to their own than those of Yankee city folks who were causing all their troubles.

That's all the plot I'm willing to reveal. It's a rambling story with odd settings and scenes and it seems to go on forever & ever. However, the after effects of the experience (hours and days later) made me decide the movie was well worth the time I had invested in it.

One star says it all

[solomonswishbone · 1/10 · 11 July 2007]

There is so much WRONG with this movie it's hard to know where to start. What stands out a mile in the first few seconds is the terrible acting. At first I thought it was pretty B-grade. Then after a few minutes I downgraded it to about D or E-grade. No one in this movie can act.

The Civil War scenes are ridiculously unbelievable. Everyone is so clean in their well ironed, perfectly matching blue and gray uniforms. And even after the "Rebs" had shot up a bunch of Yankees, the uniforms were still spotless. Not a drop of blood anywhere to be seen. Which was pretty much the theme throughout. For so many violent deaths there was next to NO blood on anyone. Has Winters not heard of those blood squib things? Or did the obviously low budget not stretch to such things? If you look at Carlos Milano's IMDb profile, it is apparent where he got his acting wings - in B-grade porn movies, apart from his bit part in one episode of Bold and the Beautiful. Much of this talent (none) he brings to the character of Haskell. And you can practically SEE the glue holding his beard onto his face.

I will confess to knowing very little about Indian culture, but I find it very hard to imagine any of these "Indian" scenes are realistic. Or it could be that they are somewhat representative but completely lost amidst the appalling acting. The "pipe smoking" ritual was just silly.

The dialogue is childish and poorly executed. The timing is consistently off.

It was annoying seeing Loftin, supposedly in 1865, using a rifle that wasn't due to be invented for ten or even twenty years.

Sorry, Swanmoon, but I have to disagree with you re the "most excellent job on capturing the spirit of the time, the majestic beauty of the land". On the DVD cover there is a comparison to Dances With Wolves. Sorry but thats an insult to DWW.

I cannot emphasize how terrible I thought this movie was. The story has potential, but the film is terribly put together and so poorly acted. What annoys me most is that it cost me good coffee money to rent this thing.

I wouldn't watch this again if you paid me

[TMoney46 · 1/10 · 13 November 2011]

I really wish I'd read the reviews of Nate and the Colonel before I'd seen it. After reading that it was compared to Dances with Wolves on the front cover of the DVD I thought I'd be in for a treat. How wrong I was. First off, the beard on Carlos Milano is laughable - not as laughable as his acting, but pretty close. Throw in some of the worst dialogue imaginable and the inexplicable fact of the Indians suddenly being able to speak fluent English halfway through and you've got one of the worst movies ever made. The story in itself has something to it. Had there been credible actors with at least an ounce of ability, any idea of how to edit a movie together and perhaps some time taken, I can see this as a half-decent show as the general premise is a worthwhile one. The best part of this movie is when it's over. I will now burn it to ensure nobody else has to sit through it.

Confederate Propaganda

[tonygillespie · 1/10 · 3 May 2023]

Uniformly dreadful acting and directing coupled with a Lost Cause/Maga outlook where freed slaves choose to stay with their masters and the Union Army are the baddies. This film could only have been made with a Trump supporter's money. It gives revisionism a worse name than it already had.

The relationship between the freed slave and ex master is a wish fulfilment fantasy of benevolent relationships between the whipper and the whipped. We are even provided a Minstrel Show caricature dance from the freed slave as he uncovers gold.

This is tone deaf and offensive.

Save your time and read a book about this period.

This stinks to high heaven and beyond.

Quiet Award Winner

[swanmoon · 10/10 · 23 September 2006]

This film received the "Best Feature Film" from the 2004 American Indian L.A. Film & Television Awards. This movie is now on my shelf with many other Native and historical movies. I am surprised that IMDb does not show the awards this movie has won, they are easily found on the internet.

In this day and age we are seeing in the news where run-away slaves became relevant portions of many American Indian villages, thus explaining the Black Cherokee who have just received(2006)recognition from the BIA (Bureau of Indian Affairs). I say American Indian because if we are to change the name to fit political happy faces, then we would have to change the name of the American Indian Movement.

Dealing historically with cultural and social issues surrounding the time frame of the civil war's end; all entwined around one man, a freed slave and a Chippewa Village where these two found healing, home and hearth. Carlos Milano (acted as the Unit Commander) produced this epic piece. Paul Winters (wrote, edited, directed and portrayed Colonel "Bloody" Ben Loftin).

The music is composed and conducted by Terry Plumeri is a journey through time. I own the soundtrack (sold separately)and "Prayer for My People" is one of my favorite native flute pieces. Jay Truesdale, Director of Photography, did a most excellent job on capturing the spirit of the time, the majestic beauty of the land, and the unquestionable faith of the Chippewa people - represented by David Midthunder, Victoria Regina and Billy Day Dodge.

Take off your watch. Give this movie a chance, you will find that you will be telling others about it in no time.