Thunderheart (1992)

Tough but moving, Thunderheart is an unusual story about an arrogant FBI agent (Val Kilmer) who participates in a federal investigation of a murder on an Oglala Sioux reservation. Kilmer's character is part Sioux himself, a detail that leaves him cold as he sets about pushing his way through the community to find facts on the case. In time, however, he begins to feel an ethnic tug and grows increasingly sympathetic to the locals and hostile toward his fellow G-men, much to the dismay of his agency mentor (Sam Shepard). The script is based on real events that occurred on the Pine Ridge Reservation in 1975 in South Dakota (involving an armed standoff between Indian activists and the FBI, an event that prompted Thunderheart director Michael Apted to make a companion documentary, Incident at Oglala). The conclusion of Thunderheart feels like politically charged whimsy, but the real strength of the film is Kilmer's outstanding performance as a man in transformation. Apted's clear-eyed depiction of the Sioux's spiritual and cultural continuity with the past has none of the cloying romanticism of other films about Indians. Produced by Robert De Niro. --Tom Keogh Amazon.com

On the rez, FBI means a whole lot different things than it does on the outside

Full Blood Indian, just for one. "Thunderheart" was released in 1992 and based on several incidents on reservations.

FBI Agent Ray Levoi (Kilmer) was called in to the Oglala Sioux Reservation on special assignment because he's part Sioux Indian himself and the Bureau figured he'd fit in. No further from the truth, Ray quickly learns there's a big difference between a city Indian and a rez one -- and the rez is definitely a whole different world.

The issue is civil war on the Sioux Reservation. A fight's been brewing the last 100 years over traditional Indians versus US Government supporting Indians. When Levoi first arrives, he believes the troublemakers are the traditionals who are deemed rebels by his bosses at the FBI, but as he delves deeper into Sioux culture and his own past, he begins to realize the issues are far deeper than he ever imagined.

Along the way, he teams up with rez cop, Walter Crow Horse (Graham Greene) and Grandpa Sam Reaches (Ted Thin Elk) to learn more about his past and his culture.

Overall, the performances on "Thunderheart" are excellent. The story really keeps you on the edge of your seat until the very end. This is one of the best Val Kilmer movies I've ever seen and Graham Greene is always stellar.

"Thunderheart" is a film I keep going back to. I've rented this movie several times to show to friends and I'm getting a Blu-Ray version for myself. It's well worth watching every few years.

Rebecca Kyle, July 2008 July 20, 2008

Thunderheart

Good story
Showed cultral issues as they might be
Some acting very poor

Alot of the Indian movies seemed to be same actors confusing May 25, 2008

Enlightening

Very enlightening regarding the conditions of the indians on the reservations and what is hidden about what the people and government are still doing to take their lands away from them and kill and hurt them and their children. Anything goes for the almighty dollar! February 8, 2008

a hard to find movie.. at a great price

This was a birthday gift for a very picky man.. My father... He Loved it.. it was a lil scary waiting for it to get here.. arrived late.. but still in time for his birthday December 26, 2007

An all star cast, at their best in an important film

I first saw this movie in the theater many years ago and absolutely loved it. Being part Lakota, I was encouraged by a friend to go see it. I really, really loved it on so many levels.

The story is well written and exciting. There's lots of action, but also lots of spiritual stuff. The cast is fantastic. Graham Greene was AWSOME! Val Kilmer was also fantastic, as was everybody else in this film, but the real treat was the performance of Ted Thin Elk as the elder.

The story is very important. Its about stuff that really was happening out there, though names were changed for "dramatic purposes" if you do your research about the second Wounded Knee incident, this film will really make sense to you.

The director did a fantastic job, as did the cast and everyone behind the scenes who I feel did a really good job, even down to showing us a glimpse of life on the reservation. Too many people associate casinos with Native Americans now and assume all Nations live rich and easy, but its not so. This movie is much closer to reality for so many people.

Also, the journey that Val Kilmer's character goes on and the transformations that take place are wonderful. He is such a good actor. He said that being part Native helped him in this role to make it realistic. Part of him really did come to an awareness that he didn't have before and he brings that to his role.

I can't say enough good about this film. December 9, 2007

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