Talk About Movies: Part 4
Somehow threads merged, so here's part 4 of our ongoing movie discussion.
Smoke Signals is on Tubi. Other quality native movies: Rhymes for Young Ghouls, Beans, Blood Quantum, Dance Me Outside, Frybread Face and Me.
I enjoy Wind River quite a bit but there is a narrative that it’s a white savior movie. I respect that Sheridan held onto it, refusing to sell the script because he wanted to tell the story. It sucks the young woman in it is actually Asian, not Native American. Sheridan has an annoying history of doing that with Native American characters in his shows and movies.
Thx for the recommendations!
I enjoy Wind River quite a bit but there is a narrative that it’s a white savior movie.
Yeah, I noticed that, but still thoroughly appreciated the movie.
Smh
It sucks the young woman in it is actually Asian, not Native American. Sheridan has an annoying history of doing that with Native American characters in his shows and movies.
You keep repeating this as if it's true. It isn't.
Can you point out the lie? Straight from IMDB (the young woman from Wind River and she had a prominent Native American role in Yellowstone)
Chow was born to a Chinese father and an American mother in Columbia, South Carolina. Her father is the son of Chinese immigrants and her mother is a descendant of White Americans. She stated in 2010 that she wanted to be able to speak more fluently in Mandarin Chinese as well as be able to read traditional Chinese characters.
Also Aminah Rieves from Sheridan’s show 1923 has South American and Mexican roots. She’s Indigenous but is still a non Native American playing a Native American.
It’s tough because at the same time, no one else is telling Native American stories at this scale. But at the same time, maybe give Amber Midthunder a call, or Devery Jacobs,or Kaniehtiio Horn..
I can't even imagine the level of devastation CroShow must still be experiencing when they cast Johnny Depp as Tonto in The Lone Ranger
I can't even imagine the level of devastation CroShow must still be experiencing when they cast Johnny Depp as Tonto in The Lone Ranger
Sigh! You couldn't help yourself, couldn't you... 😊
I can't even imagine the level of devastation CroShow must still be experiencing when they cast Johnny Depp as Tonto in The Lone Ranger
Racism in the big 2026. I was pointing out a slight annoyance of a movie I enjoyed (Wind River) and an artist I have mixed feelings on due to casting choices he's made. In a world where nearly every visible minority group is getting a chance to shine, I can acknowledge we've made big strides while also wishing for more.
Can you point out the lie? Straight from IMDB (the young woman from Wind River and she had a prominent Native American role in Yellowstone)Also Aminah Rieves from Sheridan’s show 1923 has South American and Mexican roots. She’s Indigenous but is still a non Native American playing a Native American. It’s tough because at the same time, no one else is telling Native American sto
The Wind River chick claimed (and still does) that she's part Cherokee. I don't know or care whether that's true or not, but do you want Sheridan to get a DNA test of every actor he hires or something?
As for your 2nd example, she is a native american, just not the brand you want her to be I guess. It's funny because you then give a couple of canadian actresses you think he should hire instead lol.
But if that's the best you can do regarding this "annoying history" he has of not hiring natives to play natives, then yeah, it's not true.
Racism in the big 2026. I was pointing out a slight annoyance of a movie I enjoyed (Wind River) and an artist I have mixed feelings on due to casting choices he's made. In a world where nearly every visible minority group is getting a chance to shine, I can acknowledge we've made big strides while also wishing for more.
I'm Irish. Martin Sheen aka Ramon Estevez has often played Irish American characters including JFK despite being of Mexican/Irish but not fully Irish descent. This doesn't bother me in the slightest. Nor did Julia Roberts Tom Cruise Leonardo di Caprio Cameron Diaz or Nicole Kidman playing actual Irish.
John Leguizamo is Colombian and Andy Garcia Cuban yet both have portrayed Italian characters as has Nick Nolte.
Are you saying none of these actors should have been allowed to portray such nationaities? How about Irish actors playing Trump or Oppenheimer? It's called acting where you pretend to be someone you're not. Tom Towles was African American but looked white so played lots of white characters including white supremacist ones.
I'm rather bemused at your apparent beef here. Besides Native Americans are descended from Siberians who share east Asian ancestry anyway so again I'm not sure what the issue is with all due respect.
Watched Bye Bye Birdie for the first time in probably 30 years. Wanted to rewatch ever since I recently binge rewatched Mad Men. The episode where some company wanted to recreate the opening scence. They redid it and the company said no. Draper said of course they didn't want it, it wasn't Ann Margaret.
But as hawt as a 20 year old Ann Margaret is nothing compares to a PEAK Janet Leigh.
This movie is probably more entertaining than anything in the last 25 years. Bobby Rydell steals every scene. Paul Lynde was gay? Who woulda ever guessed 😀 This movie is awesome and I am gonna dedicate myself to silly 60's movies for the next few weeks because they are so awesome!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm Irish. Martin Sheen aka Ramon Estevez has often played Irish American characters including JFK despite being of Mexican/Irish but not fully Irish descent. This doesn't bother me in the slightest. Nor did Julia Roberts Tom Cruise Leonardo di Caprio Cameron Diaz or Nicole Kidman playing actual Irish. John Leguizamo is Colombian and Andy Garcia Cuban yet both have portrayed
Not addressed to me, but I feel I can jump in here : while I get your POV, I feel that the comparison does not match up, as, imho, Irish have a better and more frequent representation in art/culture/movies than Canadian Natives - for the sake of this example, let's just focus on Native Canadians... I mean, before the pandemic, BY FAR the majority of Canadians were unaware of Residential schools and its torturial/cultural - and too frequently - physical genocide!!!
In conclusion : I believe that the frequency of Representation is important.
^^ Thanks homie. What started as me wondering if any of you have seen my favorite movies about Native Canadians/Americans, I didn't expect to receive such vitriol from pointing out a few minor annoyances for casting choices. When I was accused of lying, I came back with facts, then the goal posts moved. This is how non Natives oppress my people on a regular basis. I've seen the playbook before and I don't have the patience or energy to deal with it here. This is one of the last remaining places I enjoy talking about movies with people on the internet. I have nothing further to contribute to the topic.
*edit* I wrote a small piece on the subject a while back. I'm optimistic for the future of Native Representation. Copy and paste below.
Native representation in Hollywood has been an uphill battle. Smoke Signals (1998) felt like the beginning of a movement of Indigenous-led films that could breakthrough the mainstream. Gene Siskel said, “Smoke Signals could turnout to be a milestone in the Native American cinema. It could become the equivalent of the black cinema’s “She’s Gotta Have It” by Spike Lee.” The 90s also brought other films that featured Indigenous actors and stories: Dance Me Outside (1994), Thunderheart (1992), and Clearcut (1991). Unfortunately the movement slowed down significantly just as it reached its peak following Smoke Signals.
In the last 15 years, Hollywood has improved on reaching a more diverse audience by telling culturally diverse stories. It’s been amazing to witness the rise of fellow BIPOC voices, Native Americans/Canadian stories have been the last at the table. There have been a handful of films that carried the torch, but none of them have caught on like Smoke Signals did all those years ago.
Sterlin Harjo has played a major part in bringing Native stories to the forefront of popular culture movies and TV shows with the breakout hit, Reservation Dogs. Devery Jacobs is a long-time favorite on The Green Screen of Death, we’ve championed movies such as: Rhymes for Young Ghouls, and Blood Quantum. Reservation Dogs also features breakout performances from: D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Paulina Alexis, and Lane Factor.
The momentum created by Reservation Dogs has paved the way for major Hollywood films to feature Native actors. 2025 alone has meaningful Native representation: One Battle After Another, Train Dreams, Eddington, and Sinners. Many Sinners fans came out of the film eager to see more of the Choctaw vampire hunters, led by Nathaniel Arcand. As One Battle After Another reaches it’s climax, Eric Schweig is right there playing a major part in taking the film to the finish line. Warfare features D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai as one of the lead actors in a film that features a slew of young talent. Woon-A-Tai’s character is essential and is a stark contrast from the young, shy, unsure of himself character he plays in Reservation Dogs.
There are other recent terrific examples of Native Representation in film. Prey (2022) features Amber Midthunder taking a Predator head-on in an outstanding sci-fi/action film. Beans (2020) is a story told from a young girl’s perspective during the 1990 Oka Crisis, a 78 day armed standoff between the Mohawk and Canadian government. The film is autobiographical, written and directed by Tracey Deer. Frybread Face and Me (2023) is a coming of age story about two Navajo cousins hanging out with their grandma during the summer and learning valuable life lessons. It’s a beautiful coming of age film and includes a wonderful story about a Queer Native American. Rez Ball (2024) is a coming of age film with basketball in the forefront. Rez Ball is directed by Sydney Freeland and co-written by Freeland, Michael Powell and Sterlin Harjo. Lily Gladstone came dangerously close to winning an Oscar for her performance in Killers of the Flower Moon (2023). Safe to say Martin Scorsese reached “Uncle” status in the rez community for this film. Other Native films that have been recommended to me but I haven’t watched YET: Wild Indian (2021), Night Raiders (2021), and War Pony (2022).
We’re in a beautiful spot for Native Representation in film. I hope the momentum continues as it only makes sense the First People of Turtle Island begin to see ourselves on the big screen.
@Dubj
We do have representation and it's been consistently frequent for several years now and I dont just mean Irish, I also mentioned the likes of Andy Garcia John Leguizamo and Tom Towles playing different nationalities, ethnicities and even different races.
@Cro not sure if you're comment is directed at me but fwiw I can assure you I'm not engaging in vitriol towards you. Again I'm simply more bemused than anything at your apparent beef. We'll leave it at that cheers.
had to google bipoc, wouldn't the bi be incorporated into poc - feels really odd to include two specific races and then lump the rest into people of color
Silent Night Deadly Night (2025)
Twisty-turny re-imagining of the 80s classic, it has a bit of a saggy middle but redeems itself with a nutty and rather original third act. I kinda liked it overall.
Psycho Killer (2026)
State trooper Georgina Campbell hunts a Satanic serial killer who murdered her husband in this meh road horror. Malcom McDowell is wasted in it.
Faces of Death (2026)
A TikTok style website moderator suspects someone is committing real murders to recreate scenes from the infamous 70s shock "documentary" Faces of Death in this pretty dumb in parts but entertaining meta Horror
Revisit:
Sleepers (1996)
I don't believe for a second that this is a true story but it's still a great film.
Spoiler in clip for those who haven't seen it.
Your'e the only one who didn't.
Broken YouTube LinkBut you didn't miss anything.
The book's author claimed it was true (he's Shakes, Jason Patrick's character) and that he changed dates, names, times etc, but the DA's office denies it's true.
Yeah, I looked up a bit about it after. It's possible I knew it was supposed to be and have since forgotten...I haven't seen it in ages, but I have seen it a few times.
Do they say it's a true story in the movie? I'm guessing they do and I just don't remember.
Yeah, I looked up a bit about it after. It's possible I knew it was supposed to be and have since forgotten...I haven't seen it in ages, but I have seen it a few times.
Do they say it's a true story in the movie? I'm guessing they do and I just don't remember.
It states the same at the end via credits, that the author states it's true and DA's office deny it.
i rewatched Fire in the Sky for the first time in years. I forgot how much I enjoyed this as a kid and how messed up it was that we watched this so many times in our house! Feel like it came out at just the right time. UFO sightings were still popular, X-Files was one of the most popular shows at the time. Robert Patrick was 2 years removed from his iconic performance in Terminator 2 and he delivers the goods in this one. Was also cool to see Pete Berg when he was still just an actor. The alien operation scene is pretty freaking gnarly, providing solid nightmare fuel. My wife is an X-Files nut, so she was in heaven watching Patrick and aliens abducting some dude and operating on him. It was her first time seeing it and she loved it. It has its flaws but overall really glad I watched it again.
What’s everyone’s thoughts on Smoke Signals? It’s a vital film in the home of every Native American and Canadian. I swear it gets better with age. Also I didn’t realize the DJ in the beginning of the movie is played by poet/activist John Trudell. It’s hysterical and gets to the root of how many Natives deal with pain, through comedy. I know it’s not unique to us, but it’s so de
I loved Smoke Signals although I haven't seen it since its initial release. The traffic reports!
Written by Sherman Alexie who, it seems, has been cancelled.
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