Renegade (2004)

In 1870, after a brutal run-in with an outlaw in a brothel, Mike Blueberry becomes marshal in Arizona where he keeps the peace between Whites and Apaches but an influx of Indian gold treasure-hunters threatens to lead to violence.

Director:

Jan Kounen

Writers:

Matthieu Le Naour (screenplay) (as Matt Alexander), Alexandre Coquelle (screenplay) (as Matt Alexander)

Stars:

Vincent Cassel, Michael Madsen, Juliette Lewis

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Vincent Cassel	...	Mike Blueberry
Juliette Lewis	...	Maria Sullivan
Michael Madsen	...	Wallace Sebastian Blount
Temuera Morrison	...	Runi
Ernest Borgnine	...	Rolling Star
Djimon Hounsou	...	Woodhead
Hugh O'Conor	...	Young Mike Blueberry
Geoffrey Lewis	...	Greg Sullivan
Nichole Hiltz	...	Lola (as Nicole Hiltz)
Kateri Walker	...	Kateri
Vahina Giocante	...	Madeleine
Guillermo Arévalo	...	Kheetseen (as Kestenbetsa)
Tchéky Karyo	...	Uncle
Eddie Izzard	...	Prosit
Colm Meaney	...	Jimmy McClure

Storyline

Alledged wayward adolescent Louisiana gentleman Michael 'Mike' Blueberry is dumped by his family with a Wild West uncle. The brute's only 'motivation' is a stick. After a nearly fatal encounter in the brothel with Wallace 'Wally' Sebastian Blount, Mike is left for dead in the desert. A Chiricuahua (Apache) medicine man's family finds, nurses and initiates him. After the shaman's death, Mike returns and becomes the town's honest 'deputy' marshal. Gold fever strikes, with staged Indian brutalities to allow rivaling fiends to invade their sacred mountains.

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Plot Keywords:

leg spreading | bare chested male | female nudity | female frontal nudity | character name as title | 

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Taglines:

The devil you know.

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Genres:

Adventure | Western

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence, sexuality, nudity and drug content

Details

Country:

France Mexico UK

Language:

English Athapascan languages German French Spanish Apache languages

Release Date:

11 February 2004 (France)

Also Known As:

Renegade

Filming Locations:

Sierra de Organos, Sombrerete, Zacatecas, Mexico

Box Office

Budget:

€36,100,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

A.J.O.Z. Films, La Petite Reine, Union Générale Cinématographique (UGC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

124 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Val Kilmer was originally offered the headlining role but respectfully declined. Willem Dafoe and Benicio Del Toro were then considered for the role of Mike Blueberry, but Jan Kounen remembered conversations he had about shamanism with his friend Vincent Cassel and chose him instead.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Blueberry: He's... dead. And now it's my turn. I am leaving... this world. I'm leaving... my memories. I see...

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Crazy Credits

At the beginning of the end credits it says 'A Jan Kounen Session' instead of 'A Jan Kounen Film'.

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Connections

Referenced in Eddie Izzard: Sexie (2003)

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Soundtracks

Danny Boy
by Frederick Edward Weatherly
Performed by Juliette Lewis

User Reviews

Average adaptation based on Jean Giraud's comic book with hallucinatory special effects

The film deals with a young Blueberry (Hugh O'Connor) who after a hideous experience he swears vengeance against a villain (Michel Madsen). Adult Blueberry (Vincent Cassell) is appointed as sheriff in a little town , he's helped by an old man (Ernest Borgnine) and a rough and ragged gunman (Colm Meany) . They will have to confront nasties and a greed bunch (Michael Madsen , Eddie Izzard , Djimon Honsou) that are looking for a treasury at Indian territory commanded by Apaches Chiricagua (leading Temuera Morrison) . When gold fever strikes white enemies invade their sacred mountains and Indians raid them . On his way, Blueberry meets a lot of villains on a persistent mission to find gold in the Superstition Mountains .

This exciting movie blends western action , shootouts , breathtaking landscapes with hallucinogenics shots ; besides, a little bit of violence and nudism . The final confrontation amongst the starring and contenders is overblown with amazing as well as thrilling images . Passable acting by Vincent Cassel , though Val Kilmer was originally offered the headlining role but respectfully declined . Willem Dafoe and Benicio Del Toro were then considered for the role of Mike Blueberry, but Jan Kounen remembered conversations he had about shamanism with his friend Vincent Cassel and chose him instead . The picture has gotten classification apt +18 , because of the crude murders , sex and violence are varied . Strange storyline by Gerard Brach , Polanski's usual screenwriter , from an original Jean Giraud (Moebius)'s comic book . However , being much better the drawings ; thus , the film is quite boring and isn't well paced . The motion picture obtained limited success , in United States achieved a few box office , in Europe attained money enough . Film outdoors are spellbound and overwhelming , it's the best part of the movie . Jean Kounen direction is mediocre , cinematography in Super35mm Panavision by Tetsuo Nagata is enjoyable and musical score is atmospheric . The flick will appeal to peculiar and queer western buffs. Rating : Mediocre , 5.5/10 . Well worth seeing for the extraordinary landscapes.