Skins
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Movie Reviews of Skins
Movie Review: Excellent movie . . . but read the book
Summary: 5 Stars
Native American director Chris Eyre has created another excellent film about life on the reservation, told from the Indian point of view. Other reviews here represent the content of the film well, its story line involving two brothers and its social commentary, exposing the impact of poverty and alcoholism on the Lakota Sioux descendants of Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse.
The movie, however, provides only a partial view of the book it's based on by Indian writer, Adrian Louis. His novel, "Skins," has enough material for a 10-part miniseries. It immerses the reader in the deeper complexities of its subject matter, exploring the dimensions of its characters more thoroughly (and with darker humor) and conveying a great deal more about life on the reservation, with its compelling mix of Indian and white cultures and the resulting ambiguities, competing world views, and conflicted values. It is significant that Iktomi, the trickster spirit and shape-shifter, is a central theme in both novel and film, for appearance and reality, wisdom and stupidity, pride and shame, love and rage are all in a continuing dance for dominance.
Rudy, the Indian cop, portrays these confusing conflicts beautifully, representing both the law in his tribal police uniform and vigilante justice in his blackface and pantyhose mask. The author's book explores other dimensions of Rudy's confusion by letting us learn more about his relationships with women. In the novel he is married and estranged from his wife, and we follow the rocky ups and downs of his growing attraction to his cousin's wife, Stella, while he carries on with other men's wives as well. Afflicted with hypertension, he takes meds that affect his sexual performance, and much of the novel traces the rising and falling cycles of his libido, all of which are unpredictable and seemingly under the spell of Iktomi. Finally, while the film makes clear the love that bonds Rudy to his brother Mogie, the depth of that love comes across more strongly in the novel, as well as the demons that haunt Mogie and produce brotherly conflict.
See the movie first, so you can more easily visualize the world that Adrian Louis describes and enjoy the wonderful performances of Eric Schweig and Graham Greene. Then read the book and allow yourself to know this subject and comprehend the Lakota culture more deeply. The ending, involving Mt. Rushmore, which is given an abruptly abbreviated treatment in the movie, will also make a lot more sense.
Movie Review: From Dances with Wolves to Wallowing in Beer!
Summary: 5 Stars
Graham Greene was cast in the role of a Lakota (Sioux) Shaman in "Dances with Wolves" with Kevin Costner. The chemistry between Graham and Kevin made the movie what it was, a classic tale about Native Americans. They were a magnificent culture that was crushed needlessly by the migration of Whites to the west. Hundreds of treaties were made and then broken by greedy Whites, resulting in numerous reservations. Graham plays "Mogie" in the movie "Skins," and once again there is the same chemistry between Graham and the lead role of Rudy Yellow Lodge, played by Eric Schweig. Both roles are played in a compelling manner. It is the type of gutsey, independent, outside of Hollywood films that I love. Mogie is a decorated Viet Nam veteran in process of drinking himself to death on what is called the "rez," the Pine Ridge Reservation next to Mount Rushmore and the Custer Monument. Reservation life involves harsh poverty, high unemployment, substance abuse and .... worse yet, Lakota versus Lakota violence. The uncomfortable question this movie poses to its audience is what do you do to rehabilitate a once noble culture after a crushing history of genocide. Or more to the point, support a culture to rehabilitate itself. Lakota actors and actresses making Lakota theme movies is an important step in the right direction.Despite the lack of "polish" afforded to high budget Hollywood movies, I would give "Skins" five stars on pure guts alone. It is a statement the wider White culture desperately needs to consider. The statement is well worth the five stars also. America would do well to learn from such people of the earth who have lived in oneness with nature without pollution for thousands of years. Whatever Graham wants to dance with or wallow in for future movies will probably be well worth the price, as he is a veteran actor at the top of his game. I am also hoping to see Eric again in similar movies.Movie Review: This is a movie that will stay with me for a long time
Summary: 5 Stars
Graham Greene is an amazing actor, and it was very difficult to remember that he was an actor playing a part, and not the character himself.
This film is set on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, in southern South Dakota near Mt. Rushmore. The Wounded Knee Massacre took place nearby and this reservation is more or less emblematic of the suffering of the American Indians (or Native Americans, if that is what you prefer). The poverty -- discussed in documentary clips and shown in the film's story line -- is mind-boggling. I found myself wondering how could this be and why isn't someone marching on Washington about this? Unable to find jobs in this desolate part of the plains, many turn to alcohol, and the alcohol leads to violence and illness.
And that is the subject of the film. There are two main characters -- brothers. One has become a policeman and more or less has his life together, although he is unmarried and has no children, and he may not be as together as he outwardly seems. The other brother (Graham Greene) is a full-blown non-functioning alcoholic -- a pathetic man in many ways, but also oddly gentle and loved by his family.
Both brothers are reacting, each in his own way, to life on the reservation -- not a terrible place in terms of community, but a place with tremendous social problems rooted in poverty, alcoholism, and cultural issues. Anger is a significant theme throughout the film, but it's a simmering anger, exemplified by caustic comments about Mt. Rushmore -- four white American presidents carved out of the sacred rock of the Black Hills.
The acting is amazing and the film is riveting. Despite the serious subject matter, I wouldn't describe the film as really depressing, in part because of the good humor and the warmth that manages to survive the conditions.
This is a film worth owning.
Movie Review: Because we need to see Native Americans
Summary: 5 Stars
Prior to Columbus, there were 100M Native Americans. Today, there are less than 3M, but their cultures are still alive and thriving.
"Skins" is the first movie filmed on the Pine Ridge Reservation. Pine Ridge is in the shadow of Mount Rushmore and Wounded Knee is part of the preserve. There are no 'set pieces' on this reservation. Yes, it looks like a Third World Country, because that is precisely what it is. Listen to the statistics at the front of this movie.
The story is old as time. Two brothers, Mogie (Greene), the fallen warrior didn't come back quite right from Vietnam. Wounded three times, he spends his time drinking away the memories, but he's still kept his love of family and sense of humor. The younger brother Rudy (Schweig) is a reservation cop and a vigilante. When Rudy tries to help the res by burning a white-owned liquor store on US lands, he ends up accidentally injuring his brother.
The story's told with stark detail and empathy by Chris Eyre (Smoke Signals) who is also a Native American--as are most of the cast and crew. The writer, Adrian C. Lewis, is also a Native American who believed the story needed to be told.
Don't stop watching at the end of the film. Aftward, the cast and crew get together to talk about their roles in the film and their Native American beliefs. One of the things they mentioned is how difficult the filming was, but the cast and crew burned sage and meditated every day. I think the love and effort every person put into this film clearly shows.
In addition to this, see:
The Powwow Highway (Contemporary Fiction, Plume)
Rebecca Kyle, July 2008
Movie Review: powerful!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
I must have seen this film (at least) four years ago. I loved it then, and, upon recalling the plot, still appreciate the power and intensity it presented to us, through its depiction of the turbulence and pain of the Plains Indian experience on the "rez" (reservation). Rudy Yellow Lodge (Eric Schweig), a man employed to uphold honor and accountablity, snaps in the face of his brother, Mogie (Graham Greene)'s alcoholism and the desolate existence of his fellow residents. In defiance, Rudy decides to take part in random acts of violence (beating a white supremacist, destroying a liquor store in a fiery act of arson, fueled by anger). Though, Rudy's original intention is to take a bold (but violent) stand against the multitudes of injustice laid on the heads and hearts of his Native brothers on sisters, his plan backfires on him.
Director Chris Eyre (SMOKE SIGNALS) boldly directs this film and takes us all on a gothic, violent and very disturbing journey down the path of anger, oppression and (attempted) redemption. I really got a sense of the rage blazing behind the camera (in the director's chair) as I did in the eyes of the actors who so masterfully portrayed such powerful and disturbed characters. SKINS challenges the stereotype (and stigma) of alcoholism in the Native American community, as well as everyday racism that occurs as easily as breathing in and out. Eyre's unflinching account of these experiences is beautiful and heartbreaking. Watch SKINS purely for the reason that not enough people have heard of the film (but ought to). What's more, you will walk away with a perspective that you may not have possessed upon initially pressing the "play" button on your DVD player.