Lyle Mitchell Corbine Jr. makes an impressive directorial debut in Wild Indian from Vertical Entertainment. Decades after covering up his classmate’s murder, Michael (Michael Greyeyes) has moved on from his reservation and fractured past. Upon release from prison, Ted-O (Chaske Spencer), a man who shares his violent secret, seeks vengeance. Michael goes to great lengths to protect his new life with his wife Greta (Kate Bosworth) and boss Jerry (Jesse Eisenberg) from the demons of his past.
Lyle Mitchell Corbine Jr. opens up Wild Indian and introduces us to a young Makwa, aka Michael (Phoenix Wilson), receiving a lecture from a teacher at his private school. It’s clear that Makwa is suffering abuse of some sort, but he refuses to speak up. Makwa is also a victim of constant bullying in school. His only bright spot in life is his cousin Ted-O (Julian Gopal), but even Ted-O can’t seem to break away from the violent layers of Makwa. One day, an incident fractures their relationship, and the two go their separate ways.
Fast forward to the future, and Makwa is now known as Michael and rarely even mentions his former life. Furthermore, it’s clear that he still has anger issues. Michael Greyeyes fully encompasses the anger and downright diabolical behavior as Michael. Kudos to director Lyle Mitchell Corbine Jr for using a semi unknown in the role, as it allowed me to become more invested in the character. Chaske Spencer was also impressive in the role of Teddy as a man who was dealt the wrong hand in life.
Primarily, the film belongs to Michael Greyeyes as he has the most scenes throughout the film’s ninety-minute run time. Kate Bosworth and Jesse Eisenberg do not have a ton to do in the movie. However, director Lyle Mitchell Corbine Jr may have done this on purpose, to give the film a more realistic approach of naïve co-workers and family members who never truly know a person.
Wild Indian kept me engaged throughout its short length, and I do hope it finds an audience.
Final Grade: B
Wild Indian opens in select theaters on Friday September 3rd. In addition, the film is also available via digital and one demand.
Eggers masterfully crafts a narrative that explores the fine line between desire and destruction, drawing viewers into the emotional turmoil of his characters. The cinematography is breathtaking, with shadowy landscapes and hauntingly lit interiors that evoke a sense of dread and anticipation. Every frame of the film feels meticulously composed, a testament to Eggers’ commitment to his craft.
The film opens by introducing us to an American soldier named Jake (Green), who is seconds away from being executed while on her latest top-secret mission. While Jake is rescued, her team ends up losing their lives, adding to Jake’s PTSD. A few years later, during the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, a group of schoolgirls was taken hostage in Afghanistan. Jake’s old boss, Travis (Christopher Backus), recruits her to join an all-women commando unit to liberate them.
Mangold sets the film in the influential New York music scene of the early 1960s and centers on a 19-year-old musician from Minnesota named Bob Dylan, portrayed by Timothée Chalamet. It follows Dylan’s meteoric rise as a folk singer to concert halls and the top of the charts, as his songs and charisma become a worldwide sensation. The narrative culminates in his groundbreaking electric rock and roll performance at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965.
Reviews And Dunn is a unique blog showcasing all things cinema, music & theater.