Genre: Adventure / romance
Director: Michael Mann
Plot: Three members of a dying Indian tribe find themselves caught up in the French Indian war when they come to the aid of a British colonel's two daughters.
The gist: This film by Michael Mann was supposed to be three hours long, but was edited to two hours much to his disappointment. As a result, the film feels incomplete as certain characters' motives are unclear.
But on a whole, the film is an interesting look at the conflict between white colonists and the natives. Day-Lewis plays Hawkeye, a white man raised by natives as one of their own since he was an infant, so he is more like them than his own people. He gets romantically involved with a British colonel's daughter, played by Madeleine Stowe, as he attempt to protect her from the French and their Mohawk guide (played by famous Native American actor Wes Studi).
The good: Daniel Day-Lewis, the best method actor in the world, is solid as the lead here, with Stowe providing solid support as his love interest. The cinematography, music score and production design are also top notch.
The bad: The above mentioned editing, which left the film rather confusing at times. The romance between Day-Lewis and Stowe, as well as his brother and Stowe's sister are barely explored, which makes it hardly convincing. The climax is also rather disappointing, at least I thought it was.
Verdict: A not so epic adventure romance film which could have been so much more if the studios had put more faith in its director. (3/5)
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