best movie i've ever seen.

An Exercise In Nonsense

It really made me laugh, but for some moments I was tearing up because I could relate so much.

what a terribly boring film. I'm sorry but this is absolutely not deserving of best picture and will be forgotten quickly. Entertaining and engaging cinema? No. Nothing performances with flat faces and mistaking silence for subtlety.

This is a great rendition of the true story of the noble-yet-futile struggle of Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce to retain their independence and tribal life. At one poignant moment, General Howard (in an amazing portrayal by James Whitmore) intones gravely to his Colonel (memorably portrayed by Sam Elliott), "Read Your History." Then, he continues, the weak are always conquered and subjugated by the strong. The colonel retorts that when the strong become immoral, the day will come that they cease to be strong. This was true in 1877, and the parallels between our self-righteous, duplicitous and brutal behavior then and now are frighteningly similar to today's America. Ned Romero does a great job of conveying the nobility, leadership, and tactical brilliance of Chief Joseph. And the native American actors who play the other Nez Perce are uniformly terrific. This excellent movie should not be missed.

Like its hero, Chief Joseph of the Nez Pierce, this movie uses understatement to incredible effect. Ned Romero is brilliant as Chief Joseph, under who attempted to take his tribe to Canada. James Whitmore is marvelous as the Army officer, with an unusually progressive outlook, but powerless to assist Chief Joseph.The photography is exceptional, and the score is hauntingly beautiful. See it if you can.

I have seen this movie in 1978 for the first time and it has moved and inspired me a lot. Its plain and simple authenticity, its well-structured plot, its reliance on Joseph's best oratory and the excellent performances of the players who mostly do without histrionics have struck me at first sight and still do so. I will show this movie again tonight to a course of my college students who study Native American history and Indian oratory and customs to deepen their cross-cultural understanding and I am sure that they will be amazed again as quite a lot of other courses before. I can truly recommend this movie to anyone who really cares about historical truth and high-quality cinematography. Dieter Seidensticker, Bielefeld, Germany

This movie is one of my favorites because Chief Joseph is one of my favorite men in history. Here was a man possessed with great intelligence and character. He led his people and suffered great loss. This film shows the inhumanity of man to his fellow man and how one truly great man can rise the the occasion of greatness in the middle of great danger. An excellent film to watch.