Thunderheart is a fairly corny American crime film about a self-loathing half-caste Native American FBI agent named Ray, who is forced into investigating a murder on a Native American reservation. Upon arriving on the reservation, Ray is disgusted and offended by the way of life of the defeated Native Americans. He makes to stay as faraway to a close relationship with the Native Americans as possible. The tribal police officer of the reservation, Walter Crow Horse, is equally disgusted (but showing it in a more comical way) by Ray.
Thunderheart is your typical Hollywood liberal propaganda portraying the Native American as still a “victim” of white oppression. Despite being on a reservation, whites continue to exploit the unlucky and somber Indians. Over time Ray begins to pickup on this “oppression” and sides with the Native Americans. It seems that “cool” ray is finally feeling the Native American blood flowing through his veins. Ray even has a “vision” of being chased down by a group of old time redneck cowboys.
Thunderheart is your typical Hollywood liberal propaganda portraying the Native American as still a “victim” of white oppression. Despite being on a reservation, whites continue to exploit the unlucky and somber Indians. Over time Ray begins to pickup on this “oppression” and sides with the Native Americans. It seems that “cool” ray is finally feeling the Native American blood flowing through his veins. Ray even has a “vision” of being chased down by a group of old time redneck cowboys.
Thunderheart also has another agenda that I found a tad laughable. The film has an “empowering” message to Native Americans to start becoming militant and to take back land. With the recent wave of illegal immigration in American, Indians from the America's have been flooding into the country. Myth driven groups like the Mexican Movement demand that all whites be expelled from the America’s to make way for their new Indian “Empire.” Thunderheart would make for a great motivator and recruit film for prospective members of the Mexican Movement.
Val Kilmer plays the role of Ray and does a fairly good job playing a pseudo suave FBI agent. Ray doesn’t like Native Americans because his father was the stereotypical Native American alcoholic. It seems that Ray’s father had lost his “Indian spirit” which unfortunately led to his demise. Thunderheart can also be seen as an anti-alcohol film for Native Americans as well. Hollywood really does tell heartwarming and positive stories.
Val Kilmer plays the role of Ray and does a fairly good job playing a pseudo suave FBI agent. Ray doesn’t like Native Americans because his father was the stereotypical Native American alcoholic. It seems that Ray’s father had lost his “Indian spirit” which unfortunately led to his demise. Thunderheart can also be seen as an anti-alcohol film for Native Americans as well. Hollywood really does tell heartwarming and positive stories.
Sadly Ray doesn’t get even close to “hooking up” with his Native American love interest. Due to the sadist behavior of the scheming white man, Ray’s chance at love is forever gone. Thunderheart has a rebellious message to both Native Americans and other “minorities” to adopt a false sense of pride. When Ray realizes his Native American soul, he develops a horrible attitude. Maybe Hollywood wants minorities to fail?
-Ty E
Great find and review, and can I just start by saying: BEST FUCKING POSTER EV-ER!
ReplyDeleteI like that you are talking about immigration issues via film. Nobody else does. Everyone else is scared. Anyways... what is interesting about that Mexican Movement poster is that are they sure they wanna start tracing the roots of every Mexican, b/c I'm certain that many of them might have some Spanish and French blood in them. Last time I checked, that's European blood.