a brief resurgence of Western films during the era of "political correctness," there were a few movies that sought to redefine the legend of the American West from the viewpoint of American Indians (or Native Americans). These films, however, only scratched the surface of the long and tragic history of indigenous peoples during the white colonization of North America. While legends of leaders like Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse, and Geronimo are well-known, there is another great Indian leader whose story is often overlooked. Ted Turner's film company, Turner Pictures, known for exploring lesser-known chapters of American history, paid tribute to this historical figure in Tecumseh: The Last Warrior, a 1995 television biopic directed by Larry Elikann.
The protagonist of the film is Tecumseh (1768-1813), a Shawnee chief and arguably the greatest leader of all American Indians. His attempt to unite the remaining Indian tribes of North America into a single nation to resist the pressure from white colonies on the Atlantic coast is a truly captivating story. Unfortunately, the script by Paul F. Edwards tries to condense decades of important and complex events into a 90-minute format, resulting in a dry depiction of key moments in Tecumseh's life (portrayed by Jesse Borrego). Elikann's direction lacks the passion needed to bring the legend of Tecumseh to life, leaving the character feeling underdeveloped. Furthermore, the script awkwardly tries to create drama by focusing on Tecumseh's rival, Ohio governor and future US president William Henry Harrison (played by David Clennon), ultimately making Harrison a more intriguing character in the film.
Overall, Tecumseh: The Last Warrior falls short of its potential, failing to fully capture the complexity and significance of Tecumseh's story. Despite its shortcomings, the film sheds light on an important chapter of American history that is often overlooked.
Rating: 2/10 (-)
(Note: This review was originally posted on the Usenet newsgroup rec.arts.movies.reviews on December 3, 2002)
Watch the trailer here: Tecumseh: The Last Warrior Trailer
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