Geronimo: An American Legend

"Geronimo: An American Legend" is a new, "politically correct" Western, which attempts to revise Hollywood's traditional take on the war between the U.S. Cavalry and American Indians.

Yet, in some ways, it is as traditional and old-fashioned a Western as anything that came out of Hollywood's "Golden Age," complete with horseback chases filmed against scenic southern Utah, noble cavalry officers and even a barroom shootout.

While it is quite entertaining (if a bit slow in the first half), and bolstered by some excellent performances (chiefly from Wes Studi and Robert Duvall), this "Geronimo" is not the story of Geronimo.

The central character is Lt. Gatewood (Jason Patric), a cavalry officer from whose viewpoint the film is told, with help from a voiceover narration provided by one of Gatewood's junior officers, 2nd Lt. Davis (Mark Damon). (Yes, even after the enormous success of "Dances With Wolves," Hollywood is still making movies that tell the Indians' story from the "white-eyes' " point of view.)

The film covers the final 18 months of Geronimo's freedom, primarily the time when he and a small band of some 35 Chiricahua Apache warriors raided Southwest desert country, with 5,000 cavalry soldiers and 3,000 Mexican troops in hot pursuit.

The film opens with Gen. Crook (Gene Hackman) and chief scout Al Sieber (Duvall) bringing Geronimo into the reservation. But when an innocent medicine man preaches freedom to his people, he is gunned down in a confrontation, prompting Geronimo to kill some soldiers and head for the hills.

In an attempt to show both sides of the issue, director Walter Hill and screenwriters John Milius and Larry Gross occasionally demonstrate Geronimo's brutality, though they tip the scales by painting him as noble, philosophical and quick with a quip.

Still, the character comes off as superficial, despite Studi's excellent, shaded performance. There's only so much an actor can do when he is given such little screen time and his role is so underdeveloped.

What would have been wrong with doing a movie about the life of this Apache warrior? Or even focusing on how he survived in the desert during this period? Or how his life changed when he later went to prison in Florida? Does anyone really care about how much Gatewood and Davis anguish over their roles in the genocide of the American Indian?

On the positive side, in addition to Studi, there is Duvall as Siebert, who gets all the best lines and knows precisely what to do with them (though this character may remind you a bit too much of his "Lonesome Dove" turn), as well as Hackman, who lends his considerable authoritative presence to a role that is all too small. Many minor roles are also filled well, with special kudos to Steve Reevis as an Apache scout for the cavalry.

Patric, however, is all wrong with his wimpy interpretation of Gatewood, exhibiting neither strength nor charisma.

And, of course, there's that fabulous southern Utah landscape. It's great to see men and horses against that colorful backdrop once again.

In the end, though it is an entertaining picture and may prompt some audience members to seek out more information about Geronimo and the history that surrounds him, the movie should — and could — have been much, much more.

"Geronimo: An American Legend" is rated PG-13 for considerable violence and just a few profanities.