Review of Dances with Wolves (1990) by Danny R — 23 Jul 2015

Kevin Costner's masterful, extraordinary western epic, all the more so because it is his amazing Academy Award winning directorial debut. It concerns an idealistic young Civil War soldier named Lt.

John Dunbar, played impressively by Kevin Costner, who received a Best Actor Academy Award nomination for his memorable performance. Lt. Dunbar has always wanted to see the frontier before it's gone, and because of his selfless heroic act in the battlefield he becomes a "Union hero," and wins the right to the post of his choosing, he requests a position at an old military fort in the western frontier of South Dakota.

It's not long before the Sioux Indians living nearby come to understand his genuine outreach and take him in as their own. The Sioux give Dunbar the name "Dances With Wolves" because of the rapport they observe between him and a wild wolf who hangs at his side.

There is also an inspiring love story between John Dunbar and his lady love "Stands With A Fist," a white women who was raised by the Sioux tribe, she is played magnificently by Mary McDonnell, in an Academy Award nominated performance.

There are outstanding supporting performances by Graham Greene, Rodney A. Grant, Floyd Red Crow Westerman, Robert Pastorelli, Maury Chaykin, and Wes Studi. The visually stunning Academy Award winning cinematography by Dean Semler is breathtaking with it's soaring jaw-dropping shots of the beautiful American countryside.

Brilliant direction by Kevin Costner, who only casts real Native Americans in the role of indians, who speak their own language ( with subtitles) instead of English, this greatly adds to the authenticity of the film.

Another benefit is that all the Native Americans in this gem of a motion picture are portrayed with great dignity and sensitivity, which is rarely accorded to Native Americans in any movie. Special kudos must go to the late great John Barry for his majestic Academy Award winning original score.

A triumphant in every respect, winner of 7 Academy Awards including Best Picture & Best Director: Kevin Costner. An American classic! Highly Recommended.