War Pony

Where the film succeeds is in this ability to make us feel on a dramatic ridge flirting with the precipice. Continuously: the resourcefulness, the negotiation, the daily quest for the right plan, for the money to find for the moment or the one after. Each individual linked to the other, By necessity or tradition. On one side, the comfort of the community, on the other its permanent violence, like two sides of the same coin. Drama can arise from every shot. Everything is survival and misery, but everything is also beauty and kindness. Anything could happen, But in the end we are left with motherly love.

This starts off as quite an interesting observation of two young men growing up on the Pine Ridge reservation for the Oglala Lakota tribe in rural Dakota. It principally centres on the young "Bill" (JoJo Bapteise Whiting) who is juggling two girlfriends, two young children, and aspirations to buy and breed a rather mangy looking poodle! When he happens by a successful farmer whose car has broken down by the side of the road, he sees a way to make some extra cash. The two men click and pretty soon "Bill" is packaging turkey jerky by the bucketload! Meantime, the younger "Matho" (LaDainian Crazy Thunder) has been thrown out of his father's home after he and his pals compromised his cocaine business by adding a little epsom salts to their distribution network! Both stories see the men and their friends and families trying to get by in a community that seems to exist for the sake of it. Poodles notwithstanding, there seems little structure to their lives nor much point to anything. Opportunities are sparse and family loyalties only appear to endure when convenient. It's actually quite a depressing story that I couldn't help wonder might not have been worthy of watching at all, had it not been for the native American aspects to the production and plot. Despite that increasingly prevailing downbeat theme, there is something likeable about Whiting's characterisation of the wayward "Bill" - a man who does seem to at least want to escape the relentlessness of their existence. The ending is weak, though, and frankly really quite daft and as an whole, the film does drag a bit across the two hours of rather soporifically scored, slowly paced, drama. It's worth a watch, but it's not great.

There was a great deal to take in regarding this film. My favorite part, which so reminded me of the last scene of FRESH, was when Bill asks Matho if he likes coffee and his answer so expertly and tenderly reveals his inner self and the growth still destined to take place for the two main characters.

Throughout the film their two stories seem intertwined and similar yet as the film extends we see that their trajectories are almost opposite (trying to ascend and trying not to descend) and yet destined to collide, inescapably predictable and refreshingly vulnerable as if one of them may actually be able to overcome the circumstances of their situations only to see that neither can quite generate enough speed to actually take flight.

The film is unapologetic, accurate, true to life on the Rez, and creates many moments that are excruciating to watch. The slow burn fuse in the storytelling is appropriate and effective, could it have moved faster...perhaps, but it gave me a similar vibe to MANCHESTER BY THE SEA and how the film just didn't want to, didn't let you, look away. And it shouldn't. Many great moments, great performances, excellent symbolism, and a plain and raw quality that spoke volumes of truth about human nature, the abject poverty of what is easily considered third world conditions of the reservations in South Dakota, the desperation, the hustling, the utter lack of opportunities, the loss of culture and language, and the blurry delicate lines that must be negotiated for survival and to get one's self even a little bit ahead. I thoroughly enjoyed the film. Not at all uplifting, but definitely makes you think, feel, and need/want to talk to someone what about it. It's a good one!!

"War Pony" is a cinematic masterpiece that captivates audiences with its breathtaking visuals and gritty realism. The film's beautifully filmed sequences transport viewers to a world of raw emotion and visceral action. The portrayal of characters and their struggles is nothing short of spectacular, evoking deep empathy and connection. The filmmakers' commitment to realism is evident in every frame, creating an immersive experience that lingers long after the credits roll. "War Pony" is a must-watch for anyone seeking an unforgettable journey into the heart of human resilience and the art of filmmaking.

The movie centers around two different characters: Bill, a man in his early 20s, who is hustling in order to maintain his family and his relationship with his two sons from different mothers, and Matho, a much young boy, who's life is spiraling due to drugs and unstable home life.

I was hesitant to like this movie at first, but Bill won me over. At first he just seemed too obtuse, but over time you learn that he just takes that role when he needs to maintain a relationship. In reality, he is a smart and affectionate young man, who might be somewhat too impulsive, when he sees opportunities, but on the other hand, he needs to make money somehow. He is no father of the year, but maybe if he could just find some calm in his life, he would be.

Matho is a simpler character. He is rebellious and while early on he isn't the leader of his little friend group, he raises to that position later. On the other hand, life keeps dealing him a bad hand over and over again even at his very young age.

For most of the film, their paths are separate and despite the relatively small community, they don't even know each other.

We see a lot of examples of the native American culture they come from. I can't really claim to understand all the metaphorical aspects of certain motifs in the movie, but at the same time the characters have also lost their connection to them, so they don't understand them either.

In many ways this feels more like coming from European tradition of film making than American, as the focus is on the characters, not the story, which is just a vehicle for us to get to know the people.

On the other hand, it's also about the wealth disparity these people experience and the repercussions of that. Crime is casual. Many of these people just do it. It's all around them. The few interactions they have with people outside of their culture are quite racist and there's a strong feeling of their people being used.

Overall, definitely worth a watch, if you are into sort of Oscar-baity dramas, but without the baggage of being real Oscar-bait (thus transcending that pseudo-genre).