American History is presented in High Schools as a majestic
and unerring path of national prestige from our founding fathers such as George
Washington up until today.
But that’s not the case. There were hundreds of years of
slavery, racism, and also the stealing of land then genocide of Native
Americans which also happened before America became back-to-back World War
Champs. A lot of Americans don’t really like to hear that we have a dirty
history, but in 1990, America kinda embraced our wrongs when the film Dances
with Wolves came out.
Dances with Wolves is
a film directed by and starring Kevin Costner.
The movie revolves around his character who is a U.S Soldier that is posted in
the Western United States amongst warring Indian Tribes. Eventually, he becomes
friends with the Sioux and they accept him into their tribe. The film is kind
of like the Avatar, or Pocahontas, or The Last Samurai. However, even with
the likenesses to other films, Dances
with Wolves really is a good movie, and it even won the Academy Award for
Best Picture in 1990.
But I don’t believe that it should have though.
Dances with Wolves may
have been a good movie that was semi-historically accurate and warmhearted all
the while featuring the white man saving the Sioux and other Indians from
slaughter and redeeming his race for the injustices they have committed for
hundreds of years.
It’s just soooo corny. Like why does the white guy always
have to come in and save the little poor colored people in every movie? But as
I said, the movie is good. Great acting, directing and an interesting story
(even though it is extremely common). I could see this film winning and
deserving an Academy Award for Best Picture.
But not in 1990.
Because, in 1990 one of the greatest living directors Martin Scorsese
released a film which even today can be called his masterpiece. Because in
1990, the mafia and crime epic Goodfellas came out.
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| https://www.flickr.com/photos/drb62/416508896/ |
Goodfellas tells the true story of American Mobster Henry Hill and his exploits over a 25 year period. Hill's story is incredible as it tells of his rise from nothing to a major player in the Lucchese Crime Family in New York. The film is debated along with Raging Bull as being one of Scorsese's best films. With Scorsese himself being named one of the greatest living directors. The clout doesn't stop there though.
The praise for Goodfellas
is through the roof. It is ranked
17th in IMDb’s top 250, it holds a 96 % rating on
Rotten Tomatoes, American Film Institute ranked it the 2nd best
gangster movie ever behind The Godfather.
Scorsese’s film is not one for children though. In fact it
might not even be one for adults depending upon how comfortable you are with
violence and hearing the word “fuck”, which
is said over 300 times in the movie and averages out to about 2 f words per
minute.
Even with the violence, murder, flagrant language, and
psychopathic tendencies of pretty much every character in the movie, the film
is a classic. The film is one which should be seen by anyone who can handle it.
There are no rules in the film, energy is everywhere, it is
a glimpse into not only the life of the mafia, but into crime and human
wickedness. Goodfellas should have walked away with the gold in 1990.
IMDB.com
rottentomatoes.com
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