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IMDbPro

The Indian Runner

  • 19911991
  • RR
  • 2h 7m
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
9.2K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
13,211
3,681
Viggo Mortensen in The Indian Runner (1991)
Home Video Trailer from MGM Home Entertainment
Play trailer2:31
1 Video
99 Photos
Drama
A Vietnam vet comes home to his small town and finds himself in conflict with rules that his brother has vowed to uphold.A Vietnam vet comes home to his small town and finds himself in conflict with rules that his brother has vowed to uphold.A Vietnam vet comes home to his small town and finds himself in conflict with rules that his brother has vowed to uphold.
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
9.2K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
13,211
3,681
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Sean Penn
    • Writer
      • Sean Penn
    • Stars
      • David Morse
      • Viggo Mortensen
      • Valeria Golino
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Sean Penn
    • Writer
      • Sean Penn
    • Stars
      • David Morse
      • Viggo Mortensen
      • Valeria Golino
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 66User reviews
    • 29Critic reviews
    • 56Metascore
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 1 nomination

    Videos1

    The Indian Runner
    Trailer 2:31
    The Indian Runner

    Photos99

    Dennis Hopper in The Indian Runner (1991)
    Dennis Hopper in The Indian Runner (1991)
    David Morse in The Indian Runner (1991)
    Dennis Hopper and Viggo Mortensen in The Indian Runner (1991)
    Viggo Mortensen in The Indian Runner (1991)
    Sean Penn and David Morse in The Indian Runner (1991)
    Charles Bronson in The Indian Runner (1991)
    Viggo Mortensen in The Indian Runner (1991)
    Patricia Arquette, David Morse, and Viggo Mortensen in The Indian Runner (1991)
    Viggo Mortensen in The Indian Runner (1991)
    Viggo Mortensen in The Indian Runner (1991)
    Charles Bronson, Valeria Golino, Dennis Hopper, David Morse, and Viggo Mortensen in The Indian Runner (1991)

    Top cast

    Edit
    David Morse
    David Morse
    • Joe Roberts
    Viggo Mortensen
    Viggo Mortensen
    • Frank Roberts
    Valeria Golino
    Valeria Golino
    • Maria
    Patricia Arquette
    Patricia Arquette
    • Dorothy
    Charles Bronson
    Charles Bronson
    • Mr. Roberts
    Sandy Dennis
    Sandy Dennis
    • Mrs. Roberts
    Dennis Hopper
    Dennis Hopper
    • Caesar
    Jordan Rhodes
    Jordan Rhodes
    • Randall
    Enzo Rossi
    • Raffael
    Harry Crews
    • Mr. Baker
    Eileen Ryan
    Eileen Ryan
    • Mrs. Baker
    Trevor Endicott
    • 12-Years-Old Joe Roberts
    Brandon Fleck
    • 7-Years-Old Frank Roberts
    Kathy Jensen
    • Lady at Carwash
    James Devney
    • Deputy #1
    • (as Jim Devney)
    Leland J. Olson
    • Doctor
    • (as Dr. Leland J. Olson)
    Annie Pearson
    • Hotel Manager
    Thomas Blair Levin
    • Clyde
    • Director
      • Sean Penn
    • Writer
      • Sean Penn
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The first movie in five years where Charles Bronson does not sport a mustache.
    • Goofs
      Frank's prison tattoos change position throughout the movie.
    • Quotes

      Frank: Somebody was boring me, I think it was me.

    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Paradise/Livin' Large/The Fisher King/The Indian Runner (1991)
    • Soundtracks
      Feeling Alright
      Written by Dave Mason

      Performed by Traffic

      Courtesy of Island Records Ltd.

    User reviews66

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    8/10
    There are a few of us who feel that Sean Penn is one of the major driving forces in American cinema, an actor of pure artistic intentions, utter sincerity and empathy, and thoughtful (if often misconstrued) politics. He's kind of an heir to a few different giants -- Brando, in terms of rough sexuality and pugnacity; Nicholson, in terms of intelligence as an actor (he shares with both a volatile, sometimes over-the-top acting style and tendency to play human beings with emotions rather than playing acting techniques); and Cassavetes, emphasized with this film (which he dedicates to him). He's more meticulous and crafty than Cassavetes, but just as emotionally direct. (And like him, there may be times where you don't know what to think of what you're seeing; I think that's true of anything original, or anything that eschews typical film conventions.) But despite that similarity, the film isn't quite real -- the Indian mythos, the narration of David Morse, Viggo Mortenson hopping on a moving train. It's the stuff of hazy dreams. The whole picture is imbued with a quiet feeling -- you wish you could show it to those on the right who hate Penn for his outspoken politics, just to prove that he cares deeply about exactly the type of people they think he and his Hollywood friends are against.

    At first the Indian stuff is a little cheesy, but it leads up to a climax where it really works and feels organic. More than being an actor who can direct, Penn is at times a real master -- he's got a rare gift of ending films with a real punch, without it being cheap. Here, the film gets more technically flamboyant as it goes along -- the camera moves a little more, the inter cutting between a few different scenes gets quicker -- and it ends wonderfully. You have to have a certain willingness to go along with the story that Penn's telling (many times characters do things that don't make any logical sense, but emotionally it fits), and the semi-metaphysical closing really worked for me.

    Part of the value is in the chance to see good actors work; it's strange that actors known for their histrionics so often direct films that are completely devoid of showiness in terms of acting. That is to say, when Mortensen freaks out on his wife (Patricia Arquette, whose constant squeals are incredibly -- and aptly -- uncomfortable), it's tense because of the exchange of emotions and not because of any actorly shaking or screaming. Penn is a very generous director, and I think that's shown by his allowing Charles Bronson to do some of the finest work of his career. The movie feels very indebted to the '70s, what with a few of the zooms, the folk/rock music, and the kind of small, rural movie this is that rarely gets made anymore. (It owes something to Dennis Hopper's own films, I think; specifically in Mortensen's speech about the "math kids.") 8/10
    helpful•23
    13
    • desperateliving
    • Jan 25, 2005

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 20, 1991 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • Japan
    • Official site
      • MGM
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • 兄弟情仇
    • Filming locations
      • Plattsmouth, Nebraska, USA
    • Production companies
      • Columbia Pictures
      • Mico
      • Mount Film Group
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $7,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $191,125
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $34,047
      • Sep 22, 1991
    • Gross worldwide
      • $191,125
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 7 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby SR
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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