90s Movie Review - Dances with Wolves

Director: Kevin Costner
Genre: Drama/ Adventure/ Western
Runtime: 180 minutes
Year: 1990
Starring: Kevin Costner, Mary McDonnell, Graham Greene, Rodney A. Grant, Floyd ‘Red Crow’ Westerman, Tantoo Cardinal, Robert Pastorelli, Charles Rocket, Maury Chaykin, Jimmy Herman, Michael Spears, Tony Pearce

Description: Lt. John Dunbar (Kevin Costner), exiled to a remote western Civil War outpost, befriends wolves and Indians, making him an intolerable aberration in the military.

Review: “Dances with Wolves” was one of the most remarkable and ambitious debut films, which got both criticized and was successful. Kevin Costner, who was only known for his acting, took on the role of director and producer as well for this project. At the time the movie came out, westerns were practically dead. It’s very courageous to make one that is three hours long.

A passion for the subject is very welcome. Costner always wanted to star in a western and he managed to do that in “Silverado”. With “Dances with Wolves” he could make another dream come true, by making one of his own.

Indians were always portrayed as barbarians the ‘white man’ had to overcome and defeat. “Dances with Wolves” breaks that tradition. It’s a revisionary western, where the role of cowboys and Indians are reversed. Others might say it’s just a milder version of the old western.

Kevin Costner plays the role of John Dunbar, a man we can easily identify with. We don’t know much about him, but together with Dunbar we are trying to find his true identity. Like him we are open to new experiences and all the new impressions are magical. We get a personal and unique connection with Dunbar.

The story isn’t very complicated, but it’s told in the most beautiful way. The visuals of the landscapes and the music by John Barry are just amazing. Director Kevin Costner tells the story in a calm and sometimes poetic way. He makes you care for the characters and keeps you captivated for all the three hours long. A very impressive directorial debut.

Rating: 5/ 5