One of my all time favorites.

Must See Movie...

Excellent, Without a doubt!!

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

In my point of view, this film not only talks about just a community but also shows the sights and sounds of one of the most prevalent issues that our world faces today. The film's main argument is about the major crisis of water shortage that we face today and how the multinational corporations are taking advantage of this to make themselves a fortune. In the process these global organizations are not only remorselessly exploiting and starving the poor people to death but also destroying our pristine Eco-system. Water is vitally important resource; yet it seems as though no one pays any attention to it. This film shows a disappointed community due to lack of work opportunity. All frustration comes from 'water law' which is not clear to general people and power holder takes that advantage from that law. Unfortunately, most of the developing nations' minority class like farmers and villagers has been victimized in this situation. I would like to mention one very small character, a woman through stone to people when they passing through her yard and short view where all people brought bullet with their food stamp. Director used it for showing deepness of frustration of that community people. Both are illegal but the community peoples point of view, it was really a time demand. In last scene, that woman and all people were celebrating that bean together. Coming from one of these developing or so called Third World countries, I was aware of this crisis from experience. I have grown up watching the plight and misery of people caused by various global concerns and water shortage was one of them. However, I have to admit that before watching this film, I was completely unaware of the degree and extent to which this problem have been taken due to the involvement of these greedy multinational companies. The film makers' suggestion is for us to fight for your right, if you are in right way you will get support from general people. However, this is not going to help a lot since the situation has worsened so much that only drastic measures may be the only option for us to re-stabilize the planet's problems and its Eco-system.

A small town of mostly Mexican residents is about to be ruined by a land developer who has visions of hotels, motels, condos, and ski lodges dancing in his head. The few hundred men and women in Milagro are divided about what to do. Some see construction jobs bringing in money and excitement. Others feel that "our town is a family." The developer and his team of henchmen are all in this together, but the conflict between the townspeople grows until an accidental shooting takes place. The main mean guy, Christopher Walken, hunts down the accidental shootist, Chick Vennera, but the victim of the shooting recovers and refuses to press charges. Richard Bradford is the head of the development company and gives up his attempt to buy the land, raging against his advisers. This summary makes it sound like some angry docu-drama, but it's a surprisingly gentle and whimsical movie.This is a kind of tricky area to deal with in any kind of fiction. The tendency is to make the villagers and the interlopers generic. How many times have we seen these romanticized peasants? They always go about their business in a languid informal manner. They sing a lot. They eat with gusto. They don't mind a drink now and then. They have a great sense of humor and a mystical feeling for the land. Often there's a highly respected, or at any rate easily tolerated, dotty ancient man or woman.And how often have we seen the equivalent of these land developers? They dress in suits and ties. They're full of guile. They press the law to its limits and maybe a little beyond. They have no particular feelings for each other. Their only interest is pelf.The director, Robert Redford, doesn't entirely avoid these clichés, but he keep them about as toned down as this kind of story permits. Some of the actors aren't that convincing, but Christopher Walken certainly is. Every performance he gives seems like a polished gem. The film has virtues beyond the plot and the other usual elements. The photography captures a magnificent landscape. Not staggeringly majestic -- not the Grand Canyon -- not that raw -- but a silent and self-satisfied ocean of pinyon and juniper clotted rolling hills. You can almost smell the Pinesol.Alas, though, the tony resort development is a canard. That's not the problem facing these small-town good guys. It's the people who are going to live in those condos and ski on those slopes that present the problem and the problem extends far beyond the town limits of Milagro or even San Juan County. And it's not a pleasant problem to contemplate because it involves us.The people who will live in those condos must live somewhere, and some day they will have to live here, and, as the local editor, John Heard, points out, they'll demand clean water and restaurants. Taxes will skyrocket and urban sprawl will sprawl.In 1950, the population of the earth was roughly 2 billion. It's now 6 billion and by 2050 will have doubled.Robert Bradford and the Ladd Devine Development company may give up in disgust but can anyone doubt that there will be another such entity offering greater bribes ten years from now? Or that eventually one or another such entity will get what it wants? Or that such entities are only the thin end of the wedge of a change process whose proportions are monumental?The good folks of Milagro are going to lose their village, just like everybody else. But how can we argue against population growth? You might as well argue against motherhood and apple pie.

This started off so well, with some absolutely beautiful New Mexico scenery, I had high hopes. Unfortunately, they were dashed the rest of the way as director Robert Redford had to shout his Left Wing politics loud and clear in our face.So what we wind up with is a low-down, dishonest greedy Right Wing big businessman running the poor little guys out of town and only those good-guy liberal activist minorities saving the day. We even get a dose of Christian bigotry here where those poor picked-on-pagan gods are run out by Christians! Well, you just know what side is going to win: yes, those wonderful left wingers, adored by the film industry.This VHS went into a garbage can where it belonged. Adios!!

It's not that often a movie comes around about nothing special and still it just works.Some scenes, and old man in a chair talking to....nobody.., well, manages to be great entertainment. Robert Redford really did a great job. People, pictures and atmosphere, everything just feels true and interesting. Sometimes you end up watching a movie with all the things lined up, big budget, big names and a great story and still end up feeling empty. This is the opposite. Moving and funny at once. A simple story about life and expectations maybe. This is what cinema is about.Regardless of genre, a great movie is a great movie and this is a really great movie. I waited years for it finally being available on DVD.