The Indian Runner

Thought this was based on a Bruce Dickinson song and assumed it was Run to the Hills, and honestly, can you blame me? Excellent performances all around. Every time Benicio Del Toro turns up in an early nineties movie I know I'm in for treat.

This is Sean Penn's poignant ode to Cassavetes in a family drama. A young Mortensen puts on an intense and scary performance as the disturbed brother. Every piece of acting in this film is amazing and shows Penn's ability as a director to draw out outstanding unrestrained performances from his peers. The script feels a bit weak as too many character nuances behind Viggo's Frank are left overly vague. We only witness the actions and aftermath of his erratic violent behavior. An underrated gem.

Wonderfully dramatic in a modest way, and it has my favorite montage ever. The central story is heartbreaking, the performances are excellent, and there's something breezy about the whole thing that keeps it from being a downer. It still has some Cassavetes-style heartstoppers that make you feel five things at once and think, "I can't believe they just did that." Astoundingly well-made, a near perfect drama.

As you'd expect of a movie inspired by a Bruce Springsteen song, this movie has nothing to say and it says it really slowly. Only see this if you want to see Charles Bronson... well, it's against my religion to give it away

At times overdramatic, but these people do feel real. Credit the performances. Damn, that chair is strong as hell.

This movie is filled with good performances, especially from David Morse and Viggo Mortensen. The script has a lot of strong moments but I did not like the ending of the film, it is unsatisfying. Overall this film is disappointing.

not so good

Strange story about an immature disturbed man played convincingly by Viggo Mortensen. The brother (David Morse) is a patrolman and also does a fine job. Valeria Golino was marvelous as usual. I felt Charles Bronson was miscast as the father. I wish the story had more to say, but it is rather aimless. I absolutely love Patricia Arquette but her role was limited. A ton of great talent for such a mediocre final result. The music from Janis Joplin was a nice bonus. Stupid pointless ending.

Even considering the flaws it's still a good movie, with a strong cast and a nice atmosphere.

Moving drama which spotlights Penn's remarkable directorial skills (especially for a debut) in terms of storytelling and performances; Morse, Mortensen and Arquette share acting honours, but heartbreaking cameos from Dennis and Bronson (in what would effectively be the final film for both actors) almost steal the show. Unusual but effective directorial choice to show the effects of violence, but little of the act on-screen, making many scenes all the more powerful.

It has a mighty impressive cast, and it's a notch above the average Hollywood movie, but I never hit it off with The Indian Runner. It seemed to be escaping cheesiness very narrowly for a while, but ends up diving right into it. It is a message movie, but not exactly a runner. It takes two hours to deliver its message, which seems a lot for one so blunt and uncomplicated.

Was too young for this type of movie the first time I watched it, maybe it is better or worse than this score.

#90s(e)#, reviews, story.

On killing things and breaking stuff.

What's not to like? Penn does a great job behind the camera, and in front you have Morse and Mortensen. Morse excels as the "good" brother to Mortensen's "bad".

This movie was the one of the first to really have an emotional impact on me, which is largely the reason for the high score. A bit like a pathos-loaded and more melodramatic Cassavetes film.

Moody piece. Lethargic at times, but filled with emotion and truth, and ultimately quite moving. Strong performances all around, with offbeat but effective casting of Bronson as the boys' melancholy father.

why is this guy always an indian role.

Very good.

The directorial debut from Penn takes inspiration from a Bruce Springsteen song from "Nebraska," and, at its best, it has the same considered quiet intensity of all of the songs populating that album. By the end, Penn has caved into his worst instincts and let cheesy imagery overtake the film just enough to undercut the well-earned heavy emotions of the material. Most of Penn's writing here is lean and affecting, but he can't apply the same discipline to the rest of the film.