Jacob Ford Smoke Signals was released in 2008 and is a great taste of modern Native American culture. I didn't love the movie, but I was very taken into the story and each of the characters lives. I thoroughly enjoyed watching the movie and being able to experience all that occurs on today's Indian Reservations.The acting was by far the weakest point of this movie, but frankly there is some excuse for that considering the entire cast was made up of Native Americans. Not that Native Americans can't act very well, which they can, there just aren't too many who are interested in making a movie. The two lead roles are perfect examples of this. Victor Joseph is the first lead of the movie, played by Adam Beach, and is a very stoic person who has lived a hard life with his father leaving while he was a child. Thomas Builds-the-Fire is the second lead, played by Evan Adams, who is a very nerdy young man who desperately wants to be Victor's friend. Adam Beach does a very poor job in his role with every line being dry, which some could say matched his character, but not once did I believe that it wasn't an actor I was watching. Evan Adams, on the other hand, did an excellent job in his part, playing the nerd of Thomas almost perfectly. There is one particular point in the film, that I especially like, where he has lost his dorky braids, clean suit, and big glasses and is walking very coolly towards the camera; his hair blowing in the wind while he is walking in slow motion, and you begin to think that this is a really cool character. Then slowly he puts on a smile and immediately the nerd is back within an instant. Aside from Evan Adams' though, the acting in the entire film is really lousy, but in a way it sort of fits with the film, giving a taste of that rich culture even more.Chris Eyre directed this movie, and actually did a surprisingly good job for his first full-length film. Even though the film was very short, and the story even left open at times, each scene transition was very smooth. I was especially fond of all the different cultural aspects he included, from the bored radio announcer and radio meteorologist, and the long car trips in reverse because normal drive doesn't work, to the wide love of fry bread. This was just a great learning experience to what's going on right in our, or more accurately their, backyard that we know so little about. Acclaimed writer Sherman Alexie wrote the screenplay based off of a short story of his. Frankly, I thought this is where there was some of the greatest fault. The dialogue was alright, but mainly it was just the story and even some plot holes that brought down the movie a little. Nevertheless, it was a great film.If you decide to watch Smoke Signals, don't watch it for the movie. Watch it for the good story and great cultural experience that lies behind it. Then go out to one of the many Indian Reservations nearby and experience that culture firsthand, since it is the real root of the great country we live in. I give Smoke Signals a culturally informed 7.7/10

Rami Mosaoa For years, thousands of the movies that produced by Western filmmakers presented Native Americans in a stereotypical way. They showed them a as warriors who are in a constant conflict with white people. These movies depicted Native Americans as savages, murderous defectors, and robbers. In general, these stereotypical movies showed the Native Americans in bad images, and the whites are always heroes. Yet, in 1998, a movie called "Smoke Signals" changed the style of Native Americans movies. It showed Native Americans in a more realistic way. The secret behind this movie is its cast. In fact, "Smoke Signals" written, directed, acted, and co-produced by Native Americans. The writer of this movie is Sherman Alexie who grew up on an Indian reservation in Washington. Unlike the writer a white family in Oregon adopted the director of this movie who is Chris Eyre. The actors of "Smoke Signals" include Adam Beach, Evan Adams, Gary Farmer, Tantoo Cardinal, and others. Comedy and Drama are the main genres of this movie.The story of "Smoke Signals" is about two young Indians men grew up together on an Indian reservation in Idaho which is Coeur d'Alene. Although they grew up together, they have totally different personalities. Victor (Adam Beach) who is a son of an alcohol addicted father (Gary Farmer). His father vanished from the reservation to live in a trailer near Phoenix while he was a little boy. Actually, Victor has a tough personality. However, Thomas (Evan Adams) is the other Indian young man who lost his parents in a fire that caught their home on the 4th of July 1976 while he was a baby. In Fact, Victor's father saved Thomas from the fire. Thomas has a very kind personality, and he always annoys Victor by telling stories about the live on reservation and about Victor's father. After about ten years from the day that victor's father vanished, Victor heard that his father died in his trailer in Arizona. He wanted to travel to Phoenix to bring his father's ashes back, but he did not have enough money for this trip. His friend Thomas decided to help him with the money, but in return he wanted to join the trip to Phoenix. After Victor accepted Thomas' offer, they started their trip to Phoenix that was full of surprising events.There is no doubt that Chris Eyre was very successful in directing this movie. He was able to present the story by adding the sense of humor. The movie contains many funny scenes that convey messages. For instance, the scene that showed the two ladies who were in the car, that moves backward, asking Victor and Thomas if they got their passports to enter the states. Actually, this scene makes the viewer laugh. At the same time, it conveys how Native Americans feel about their reservations as an isolated part form the country. In addition, Evan Adams was amazing in his performance. The character of Thomas adds an important value to the movie, and helped in placing the sense of humor. Thomas' appearance and cloths were very funny especially his over-sized glasses. Beside his appearance, his accent played important role in attracting viewers' attention. Especially, the way he used to call Victor, "Hey Victor." However, this movie has a lot of flashbacks. In fact, all of them were well used. The character of Thomas as storytellers made the use of flashbacks vital in this movie. One of the interesting flashbacks is when Thomas was telling a story about how Victor's mother was able to feed one hundred Indians by fifty fry bread. Beside Thomas' stories, the flashbacks were very useful in showing the life of Victor's father in Phoenix, and how he felt about his son Victor.In general, "Smoke Signals" is a unique movie that produced by Native Americans. It shows the modern life of Native Americans on reservation, their values and beliefs. It also stresses on some issues that related to the history of Native Americans. Actually, "Smoke Signals" is a very enjoyable movie that must to see at least one. It is well written, acted, directed, and edited. On scale of five stars this movie deserves four stars.

slava86-655-338128 If you are sick and tired of Hollywood movies, Smoke Signals might impress you and makes compelling watching. Even though it seems a simple drama film, this film is special. I do not mean that this film shows us huge spectacle visual image or is acted by super-star. It describe Native Americans' point of view well, by Native Americans themselves. Original novel of this film was written by Native American author Sherman Alexie, and the film was also directed by Chris Eyre, Native American. It made the film describe their real story on their view. Not only them, but also including two protagonists Victor Joseph (Adam Beach) and Thomas (Evan Adams), all actors who acted as Native Americans is real one of them. Describing their real life, the film shows us two guys' journey to recognize father's love.Arnold Joseph (Gray Farmer) had family and little son – Victor. He had lived with his brother's family on in reservation. One day, a big fire broke out their house. Arnold could save his family, but his brother's family got stuck in the fire. Arnold's brother threw his baby – Thomas to save him, and Arnold barely caught him. After that, the two boys had grown up completely different home environment. Arnold had alcoholism, and sometimes used to be violence, so Victor became to feel resentment against him. On the other hand, Thomas has grown up by his grandmother, so he became resemble with her. He became to wear big glasses, braid his hair and even talk tiresome story always. One day, Arnold got big conflict with her wife and son and he impulsively left his family. After some years, the two boys grow up to two guys. Victor's resentment against his father made him critical manly guy, and Thomas always talking stories Victor does not like. They were having a monotonous daily life, but Victor's mother suddenly got a call about Arnold from Arizona. It was Suzie Song (Irene Bedard) and she told that Arnold died so someone should get back his stuff. Thomas was embraced about it. He did not want to meat even remind. Also he did not have enough money to go Arizona. When he got a inner conflict about it, Thomas came to him with little bit money.One of the most remarkable points of the film is well-mixed memories and present scenes. For example, before Victor and Thomas leave reservation, Thomas came to Victor and asked to go Arizona with him in a store. After that, Victor went out the store. Then, a camera's viewing point is changed to outside of the store and there was boy Victor. This change of time makes memories naturally connected with present scene and prevents audience to feel bored from memories. Also they tell us connections between the present and the past. For example, when Suzie tells Victor about Arnold, the film shows us his soliloquy. Then, he threw a basketball and Victor caught the ball in the present. This scene makes not only good visual but also implication. The ball thrown by Arnold is symbol of truth and his real mind for the son. Victor caught the ball so it means he will accept his father. These kinds of framework make the film not only interesting but also worth as art.Other remarkable point is each role of two protagonists. Victor and Thomas have totally different personality. This point makes the film well-organized. Their journey is for Victor to get truth about father and understand about him. This kind of plot can be boring but Thomas prevents it. His role is assist for Victor to accept his father. He encouraged Victor to start the journey and makes him remind his father and even mother. Victor is always serious and critical so make element of drama, whereas Thomas is optimistic and makes the mood funny. If there were protagonists who have different personality in the film, it would not be great like this. Even though these kinds of characters are used to be in so many literature and movies, truth is that the film successfully adapted a composition of the characters.This film is simple drama but not usually. It described Native American's real life from their point of view. It gave us totally different impression and can be motivation to understand and think about them. However it does not mean that 'difference' is all good point of the film. Impression about this film is universal. Even though the film made by them, it can make us feel sympathy. Remarkable frameworks and well-organized character composition also contribute making attraction of this film. After considering all element, I want to give 8.5 score to it. If you want to understand Native American, feel impression about father's love and enjoy light humor, Smoke Signal might be pretty good choice.

Sean I saw Smoke Signals in my American cultures class. Seeing it from that point of view may have heightened my enjoyment of the film, but on its own merits it is still a fine film.Two young men, Victor Joseph and Thomas Builds-the-Fire, who grew up on a reservation together, set out to obtain the cremated ashes of Victor's estranged father, Arnold. These two are very engaging and fun to watch, thanks in no little part to the inspired performances by their actors. Like in any good film, their journey develops into something greater than picking something up. The ride director Chris Eyre takes us on is enjoyable and does not overstay its welcome.The entire cast and crew of Smoke Signals is Native American, giving it an interesting perspective, similar to movies like Thunderheart and Dances with Wolves. The audience is presented with contemporary life on the reservation, simply as it is. We get not just caricatures, but what feels like real people interacting with each other, living their lives. That alone merits a viewing of this film.Smoke Signals is a very solid, entertaining film that should be watched by anyone who wants to be aware of cultures in the United States or at the very least entertained.