The Indian Runner (1991)
Genre: Drama
Duration: 127 minuten
Country:
United States / Japan
Directed by: Sean Penn
Stars: David Morse, Viggo Mortensen and Valeria Golino
IMDb score:
6,9 (10.355)
Releasedate: 20 September 1991
The Indian Runner plot
The story is about two brothers. One brother is a police officer and an ex-farmer, who has a happy life with a wife and a child. The other brother is a returned Vietnam veteran who is angry at everything and everyone. He tries to come back to life with his brother and it is very difficult for him.
Actors and actresses
Joe Roberts
Frank Roberts
Maria
Dorothy
Mr. Roberts
Mrs. Roberts
Caesar
Randall
Rafael
Mr. Baker
Reviews & comments
Sergio Leone
-
- 4431 messages
- 3112 votes
Mediocre.
On paper, The Indian Runner has everything to succeed, but the story remains too flat for the entire running time. Frank is a traumatized bastard and brother Joe tries to get through to him, but without success. Although the ending is the only correct one, it didn't interest me at all. The repetitive nature kills the film.
The cast also disappoints me a bit. I somewhat expected Charles Bronson not to be able to touch me, but David Morse and especially Viggo Mortensen should be able to do better. I find both gentlemen extremely flat here: Morse is boring and I hardly believed his pain, Mortensen is mainly loud without making an impression.
Sean Penn has proven to be a decent director with his later films, but I cannot really call this debut successful. The intended emotional impact is missing. The biggest culprit of this seems to me - besides the main cast - to be the too long running time.
Tight 2.5
Translated from Dutch · View original
scorsese
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- 13237 messages
- 11128 votes
Reasonable film about a police officer whose brother returns from the war. A bit slow and, especially because of the length, rather long-winded. The relationship between the two brothers is well developed and the entire finale and especially the scene in the bar is the best part of the film. An excellent cast with the strongest role reserved for Viggo Mortensen.
Translated from Dutch · View original
Lovelyboy
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- 3954 messages
- 2956 votes
Just working on this family drama while I actually expected more crime or mafia when I bought it, but that is not something that has to matter with a director like Penn and such a cast. So just turn.
In any case, the story revolves around the brothers Frank and Joe, who both follow their own path, differ in character and are in different phases of life. The feeling of nostalgia when Frank returns from Vietnam is initially nice, but Frank's restless character also appears to be beyond what Vietnam has made of him. The attraction/repulsion reaction within the family and especially around Frank is something that follows like a common thread with improvement, deterioration and sometimes dramatic events. The decent cast and at times the chemistry between the two actors Morse and Mortensen are strong, with the latter in particular seeming completely at home in his role.
Key seems to be the aforementioned nostalgia with flashbacks and the image of being a carefree child where misery and real uncertainty only begins in adulthood. Everyone has their struggles and issues where Frank still doubts everything and the meaning of life. In addition, every house appears to have its cross regarding happiness and disaster and 'loving' also means letting go. And with that, you would say, The Indian Runner has a lot to offer and the film can count on a beautiful image of the times and good acting.
But this is far from a home run because it all happens at too slow a pace for me, while it is not exactly exciting. Moreover, I just miss some connection with the characters and the story and in the pub scene, for example, I miss a fight between Frank and Joe that could have spiced things up a little more. The final verdict is solid and there is undoubtedly a good idea behind it and Arquette is adorable as always, but the film lacks that extra incentive that takes it to a higher level.
Translated from Dutch · View original
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