Dances with Wolves- Storyline and Short Review

Dances with Wolves is a 1990 American western film written and directed by Kevin Costner. It stars Costner, Sean Penn, Mary McDonnell, and Woody Harrelson.

The film follows the exploits of an army captain’s half-Native American tracker during the mid-19th century U.S. westward expansion. This movie is a wonderful adaptation of the novel by Michael Blake.

It’s set in the late nineteenth century and involves an encounter between a lone survivor of an American Civil War cavalry troop and a Native American tribe. The main character is a former Union soldier turned mercenary who has fought for the North in the war against the South.

All About Of Dances With Wolves- Storyline

Genre: Drama/ Western

Runtime: 3h 56m

Release Year: 1990

IMDB Rating: 8

Rotten Tomatoes: 83%

Box Office: 424.2 million USD

The storyline Of Dances With Wolves 1990

In the early 1800s, John J. Dunbar (Kevin Costner) is a former Union soldier who has turned to mercenary work in order to make ends meet after his unit is disbanded. He’s hired by Frederick Benteen (Sean Penn) and his business partner Captain Thomas Fitzpatrick (Woody Harrelson), whom Dunbar had fought alongside during the American Civil War.

Dunbar befriends an elderly member of the Sioux nation, Tom hawk (John Hawkes), who introduces him to the tribe’s chief, Little Wolf (Mary McDonnell). The Sioux are preparing for a battle against the U.S. government, and Dunbar is asked to help dispatch a delegation of military officers sent by President Ulysses S. Grant (Robert Duvall).

Dunbar meets Lily Moonbeam (Rebecca De Mornay), an attractive frontier woman whom he befriends during his stay with the Sioux. Meanwhile, Fitzpatrick and Benteen are involved in a shootout with some Mexican bandits led by The Stranger (Ethan Hawke).

Dunbar and Tomahawk come to their assistance, but both of them are shot. Dunbar is taken back to the U.S., where he’s nursed back to health at Fitzpatrick’s home.

Dunbar eventually decides to return home and fight in the Union army during the Battle of Gettysburg but is mortally wounded in the fighting. He dies soon after, and Lily Moonbeam finds him and makes peace with her past by burying him close to where he died.

Short Review of Dances with Wolves

Dances with Wolves is a 1990 American epic romance war film based on the novel of the same name by Michael Blake. The film had its premiere at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles, California, and was commercially successful, grossing over $424 million worldwide.

The critical response to Dances with Wolves has been positive and it holds an 83% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Reviewers praised Kevin Costner’s performance as John Dunbar, Robert Redford’s portrayal of Commanding General Hugh Scott, and the cinematography by Russell Carpenter.

In 1851, Captain John Dunbar (Kevin Costner) is commissioned to travel along the western frontier as an agent for the U.S. Army during the American Civil War. He befriends an elderly member of the Sioux Nation, Tom Hawk (John Hawkes), who introduces him to Little Wolf (Mary McDonnell), an attractive and lively woman.

Although wary of the white man, Little Wolf gradually becomes fond of John, and they eventually begin a relationship. Meanwhile, Captain Dunbar is involved in a shootout with some Mexican bandits led by The Stranger (Ethan Hawke). Dunbar is shot multiple times but survives.

Popular Reviews of Dances with Wolves

Dances with Wolves has been praised by movie critics for its acting, directing, and cinematography. On Rotten Tomatoes, 83% of reviews are positive and the consensus states: “Kevin Costner delivers an outstanding performance as Captain John Dunbar in this affecting epic romance war film based on Michael Blake’s best-selling novel.”

Some reviewers called Dances with Wolves one of Costner’s greatest roles and applauded his portrayal of the character. Others criticized the film for its inaccuracies and historical inaccuracies, particularly with regards to Native American culture.

Recent Reviews of Dances with Wolves

The majority of reviews for Dances with Wolves are positive. On Rotten Tomatoes, the consensus is that “the acting, directing, and cinematography are all top-notch,” awarding the film a score of 83%.

Some reviewers have called Dances with Wolves one of Costner’s greatest roles and applauded his portrayal of the character. Others have criticized the film for its inaccuracies and historical inaccuracies, particularly with regards to Native American culture.

Richard stones reviewed the movie as “a near-perfect epic romance war film which, with stunning production values, strong acting from Kevin Costner and newcomer Mary McDonnell and sumptuous cinematography by Emmanuel Lubezki, captures the heart of the American Frontier.”

In his review for The Telegraph, Robbie Collin said

“Dances With Wolves is a mess: bafflingly inaccurate in its portrayal of Native American culture, dating in its dialogue, and hackneyed in its plotting. But Costner makes the mistake of being utterly convincing as Captain John Dunbar, an officer who has seen more than his share of bloodshed.”

However, Robbie Collin did say that “Costner’s performance is so rich and moving it almost redeems the film” in which Kevin Costner delivers outstanding performance from start to finish.

The New York Times’s Janet Maslin praised Costner for his “powerful and deeply affecting” performance as Captain John Dunbar, but found the story “uneven and sometimes breathtakingly clunky.”

Maslin writes that Dances With Wolves is worth watching for its impressive visuals alone, writing: “The filmmaking is often gorgeous, with Lubezki giving an almost painterly sweep to wide shots of wheat fields transforming into craggy Indian territory, Costner elegantly dancing through Lakota ceremonies or – in one of the most extraordinary sequences ever filmed – galloping after a herd of buffalo over rolling prairies.”

However, Maslin did criticize Costner for his “undeveloped” character development and found fault with historical inaccuracies.

The performance of the cast and crew

The cast and crew of Dances With Wolves are some of the best in Hollywood, delivering a powerful and deeply affecting performance. Kevin Costner delivers outstanding performance from start to finish, with his convincing portrayal of Captain John Dunbar being particularly praised. However, Janet Maslin did find fault with historical inaccuracies in the film.

Mary McDonnell is praised for her portrayal of Crazy Horse, with Rolling Stone calling her “stunning.” Maslin writes that she “skillfully renders the Indian’s seething anger and deep melancholy” and is a standout in an impressive cast.

Graham Greene has been described as “evil” and “one of the great villains in movie history” by Entertainment Weekly, but Janet Maslin writes that he is believably sinister in his role as Lt. Col. Glenn Jones, managing to make Greene’s character interesting despite the poor plot surrounding him.

Director Kevin Costner was impressive too.

Dances With Wolves features one of the most memorable soundtracks in Hollywood history, with music from John Barry that has been praised by critics. Maslin writes: “the elegantly orchestrated action sequences and soaring love themes are epic indeed”.

Overall, Dances With Wolves is an excellent film that is sure to please fans of historical drama. Janet Maslin’s only real criticism is that the plot surrounding Lt. Col. Glenn Jones could have been better developed, but overall she describes the cast and crew as “stunning” and “epic”.

Why is the movie Dances with Wolves so famous?

Dances with Wolves is one of the most famous movies in Hollywood history because of its powerful and deeply affecting performance from Kevin Costner, as well as its memorable soundtrack and epic action sequences.

The story follows the journey of white man Edward Albert (Costner) who is given the job of teaching a group of Indian warriors to live in a civilized society. Although at first, it seems like an impossible task, Edward soon starts to see that there is more than just hatred and animosity between the two groups, and he begins to realize what his people have been lacking all these years – love.

This emotional journey is beautifully portrayed by Costner, who is truly amazing in his Oscar-winning performance. Combined with the powerful themes and stunning visuals, Dances With Wolves has become one of the most iconic movies in Hollywood history.

Why you should watch Dances with Wolves

If you’re interested in a historical drama, or simply want an excellent film to watch, then Dances with Wolves is definitely worth a watch. Not only is it brilliantly written and acted, but its powerful story will touch your heart. Whether you’re new to the genre or a long-time fan of Hollywood films, there’s no doubt that Dances with Wolves is one movie you won’t regret watching.

Awards won by Dances with Wolves

Oscar: Best Picture, Director (John Ford), Actor in a Leading Role (Kevin Costner)

Golden Globe: Best Motion Picture – Drama

BAFTA: British Film Award for Best Film

Conclusion

In this article, we have discussed the movie Dances with Wolves. This movie is based on a novel by Michael Blake which is set in the late 1800s and depicts the lives of two trappers during their time in the wilderness. The movie focuses on how they become friends as well as lovers and also how they work together to survive.

The story has various themes such as friendship, love, betrayal, greed, lust, and rivalry. Out of all the movies listed in this article Dances with Wolves is probably the most well-known and popular. Therefore it would be reasonable to say that if you’re looking for an excellent movie to watch then this should definitely be at the top of your list.

FAQs

1.Is Dances With Wolves a True Story?

Ans: Some believe Dances With Wolves is a true story, while others claim it was created from various materials. However, the majority of scholars believe it is a novel.

2.How Many Buffalo Were Killed in the Movie Dances With Wolves?

Ans: Some believe the number of buffalo killed in the movie Dances With Wolves is exaggerated. Scholars estimate between 100 and 500 buffaloes were killed during filming, but this could not be confirmed.

3.Did They Really Speak Sioux in Dances With Wolves?

Ans: Some believe the characters in Dances With Wolves spoke Sioux, while others claim this was fabricated. The majority of critics believe the dialogue in the movie is based on Lakota language and culture, but it may have been embellished with Sioux words to make it more authentic.