A REVIEW
Carol Schaye
The visual beauty as well as the musical score (Robbie Robertson’s) are as we would expect from Martin Scorsese, exceptional. Scorsese has spoiled us with works of art, on film for decades now. Gathering together some of the most talented actors we have (Robert DeNiro and Leonardo DiCaprio amongst others), telling a story of the slaughter of Native Americans by European immigrants a story we only recently are willing to acknowledge i.e. Indian Schools. So, what went wrong?
The story is told once again from the Anglo-Saxon perpetrator’s point of view. A fifty year old Leonardo DiCaprio is miscast as a young soldier returning from World War One. Calling upon his wealth of emotional realities that have made him one of our most interesting actors, DiCaprio presents as emotionally out of control in this film.
Focusing on his performance while not establishing a relationship with actress Lily Gladstone, who plays his Native American wife, we don’t really understand why these two are married. Gladstone, calm and pretty does nothing to enlighten us to what her feelings are. She is basically a blank emotionally.
Patronizing Gladstone because she is Native American is disgusting. She simply did not deliver the emotional reality needed for her character whose family is dying around her. There are many talented Native American actresses waiting for their moment to shine. They need to be held to the same standard as any other actress.
This problem falls directly on the director. When directing movie stars who are also major talents it is up to the director to reflect to them when they have gone off, as they might be so anxious to play the part they lose their way. Scorsese says DiCaprio loves to talk about his character. Perhaps he should have listened more and talked less. DiCaprio gives a performance of an endlessly anxious, not very bright, con man. We need to be able to root for him if he is being placed center stage in almost every scene. Even if his behavior is upsetting. Gladstone, has nothing to work with from DiCaprio and unfortunately, she mostly smiles demurely.
Robert DeNiro can take care of himself. He is as usual phenomenal. He is able to create a terrible character who we have some sympathy for.
The high point of the film is a Tribal Council meeting, where local tribal members who are being murdered for their recently acquired wealth, decide to go to Washington DC to address the increasing deaths of tribal members. Why more of this point of view was not revealed I’m uncertain.
A Native American scholar, film maker friend of mind, not only found this film insulting, he identified problems with clothing Native Americans wore when oil was discovered on their land. My friend says they were no longer wearing those clothes at that time. (perhaps historically inaccurate?)
Scorsese has lost control of other major talented actors in the past (Jack Nicholson in “The Departed”, characterized and was in a different film than everyone else) but he did not manage to take the entire film down as he was not the lead.
Had a Native American director told this story from Gladstone’s and the tribal members point of view or had Scorsese told it from the Native American’s point of view he might have had a masterpiece on his hands.
But the sloshy storytelling and lack of a hero to root for could not be rescued by the phenomenally beautiful cinematography and supportive acting by so many other talented actors.
Carol Schaye has had several short stories published by McFadden’s Women’s Group, Sierra Nevada Ally and other publications. Carol has written for two west coast newspapers and has worked extensively in television. A fan of Flannery O’Connor, Carol studied acting with Lee Strasberg and Austin Pendleton and writing with Salem Ludwig. She attended Marymount College majoring in theater.
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