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Thunderheart (1992)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writer (WGA):
John Fusco (written by)
Release Date:
3 April 1992 (USA)
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Tagline:
Two men from different worlds. Two cops after the same killer. Together they must uncover the secrets. Together they must discover the truth.
Plot:
An FBI man with Sioux background is sent to a reservation to help with a murder investigation, where he has to come to terms with his heritage...
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Plot Keywords:
Awards:
2 nominations
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NewsDesk:
(4 articles)
First “The Chronicles of Narnia 3″ Photos
(From Filmofilia. 27 November 2009, 9:48 AM, PST)
Ninja Turtles Reboot Finds Writer
(From TheMovingPicture. 20 July 2009, 9:52 PM, PDT)
(From Filmofilia. 27 November 2009, 9:48 AM, PST)
Ninja Turtles Reboot Finds Writer
(From TheMovingPicture. 20 July 2009, 9:52 PM, PDT)
User Comments:
Thunderheart : the American Indian lives on in American Soul
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Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only) | Val Kilmer | ... | Ray Levoi |
 | Sam Shepard | ... | Frank Coutelle |
 | Graham Greene | ... | Walter Crow Horse |
 | Fred Ward | ... | Jack Milton |
 | Fred Dalton Thompson | ... | William Dawes |
| Sheila Tousey | ... | Maggie Eagle Bear |
| Ted Thin Elk | ... | Grandpa Sam Reaches (as Chief Ted Thin Elk) |
| John Trudell | ... | Jimmy Looks Twice |
| Julius Drum | ... | Richard Yellow Hawk |
| Sarah Brave | ... | Maisy Blue Legs |
| Allan R.J. Joseph | ... | Leo Fast Elk |
| Sylvan Pumpkin Seed | ... | Hobart |
| Patrick Massett | ... | Agent Mackey |
 | Rex Linn | ... | FBI Agent |
| Brian A. O'Meara | ... | FBI Agent |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
119 min
Country:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Canada:14A (Ontario) |
Iceland:14 (original rating) |
Iceland:16 (video rating) |
South Korea:12 |
Netherlands:12 |
Argentina:13 |
Australia:M |
Finland:K-14 |
Spain:13 |
Sweden:15 |
USA:R |
UK:15
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Based on a true story, documented as Incident at Oglala (1992), which was also directed by Michael Apted.
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Goofs:
Anachronisms: The events upon which the story is based happened in June 1975. There is a portrait of Richard Nixon in the FBI director's office. Nixon resigned in August 1974. Gerald Ford's picture should have been there. Also, as Val Kilmer is driving in the opening sequence, "Badlands" by Bruce Springsteen is playing on the car radio. The album containing this song was released in June 1978. The car driven by Kilmer in the opening scene is a Ford Mustang convertible which wasn't released until 1983.
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Quotes:
Richard Yellow Hawk:
Well, well, well, the Washington Redskin.
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Movie Connections:
Featured in Last Action Hero (1993)
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FAQ
Who is Leonard Peltier, the guy on whom Jimmy Looks Twice is based?I'm confused. Is there a difference between the Sioux, the Lakotas, and the Oglalas?
Who are the goons?
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Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Thunderheart (1992)| Recent Posts (updated daily) | User |
|---|---|
| Poor casting choice of Val Kilmer | Pegasys9 |
| Portrayal of elders | nunquam |
| Great Movie | kamshak11 |
| Last scene location. | Kowalchuk |
| Springsteen Song... | hawkeyebrower |
| I thought... | black_rain068 |
Recommendations
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Watching Val Kilmer execute a brilliant performance is not only entertaining, to say the least, but moving.
Kilmer comes to grips with his 1/4 Sioux background and with the forces of "civilization" as an FBI agent. The forces of civilization are the infamous greed and corruption, or "special interests" as some politicians prefer to use. The Sioux are accused of proud but reckless. They're right about the pride. What is omitted by the forces of civilization is the honor of these people.
Particularly engaging is the mysticism of the Sioux. FBI agent Ray Levoi (Kilmer) is gradually absorbed by this mysticism (as can be the audience), and opens greater insight into the real conflict.
While probably the majority of Americans cannot claim Native American heritage, surely, the land can. And belonging to the land, as Americans, that heritage must be ours as well. This film inspires one to feel such thoughts and feelings, especially if we feel attachment to (and presumably, love for) this land, America.
One most interesting observation about owls: one character says to Levoi, the FBI agent, "the owl is the messenger; it means somebody's going to die." That is a common interpretation in Mexico too, surely brought down by its Indians, the common vision there being that of a barn owl (lechuza, in Spanish).
This mysticism is very powerful in this film. I recommend it for quality acting performances, and high spirituality.