bbash-37096 An underrated film now some 28yrs. old that provides a cute story line, certain situation comedy, some dramatic scenes, an absolutely outstanding award-winning haunting musical score by Dave Grusin. Adding is beautiful Landscape photographic shots of New Mexico during the "Golden Hour" (as known to photographers) which occurs on sunny days one hour before Sunset, reflecting in various New Mexico landscape locations. A film you will end up watching multiple times. The Cast interacts nicely in the film. Also great Directing by Redford enabling conflict, alternative answers. The very small, undeveloped, and financially poor town is up against big power, big money, and typical crooked political insiders forcing their ways through various means. However, the towns people come together stemming from the planting of a small Beanfield by a down and out local resident out of work, struggling to provide for he and his family. Various situations and dialogue make this film humorous. Together they overcome the effects of Big Business, Politics, and the pressures against olde' Milagro.

g-bodyl The Milagro Beanfield War is a fascinating, very entertaining film that surprised me when I found out how little known this film was even though it was directed by Robert Redford, whom is a very prolific actor and director. I liked how this film has a penchant for pretty sunrises and sunsets and I feel like it adds to the film. Is this a political film? It could be because it certainly has political overtones, but I was more entertained than politically guided with this film.Robert Redford's film is about a small town in New Mexico where it's predominated by Hispanics and Catholics. There is this one man named Joe Mondragon who illegally uses water to irrigate his beanfield and does what he can to protect it against the interests of big business.This film surprised me by having the acting it's best asset. I haven't heard of half of the cast, but they do a great job. There are several I've heard of such as John Heard, Christopher Walken, and Daniel Stern and I think they do a pretty good job. To be honest, I thought Stern would be funnier here since he is known as a funnyman.Overall, The Milagro Beanfield War is a vastly underrated film. It can be pretty funny at times without being too overly dramatic. It takes a while to get hooked into the film, but eventually you'll not want this film not to be ovefr. Not only does it have a good story, it's pretty to look at thanks to some fine cinematography and has a wonderful score by Dave Grusin. I think more people should get to see this film because it's very good. I rate this film 9/10.

sol1218 ***SPOILERS*** In the movie " The Milagro Beanfied War" we have an unlikely hero in Joe Mondragon,Chick Vennera,who in his David against Goliath fight against big land developer Ladd Devine, Richard Bradford,rallies all the people of that little New Mexican town without him even realizing that he's doing it. All Joe wanted was to irrigate and plant crops, beans, on his small strip of land so he could have enough money to pay his bills. Land that was being flooded with precious life giving water by Joe accidentally striking a water pipe! Just like Moses by striking a rock provided the children of Israel with water in the Sinai Desert. Joe who was planning together with his family to move out of his home and go north to find work is now determined to stay in place, the town of Milagro,and start a new life as a bean grower. But with big time land developer Devine determined to get his condos golf courses and swimming pools built Joe now knows he has his work cut out for him but, with really nothing to lose, he's more then willing to go all the way to do it!Robert Redford's, who directed and financed the movie, attempt to show the movie audience in how big business or big land developers use both money and the power of local government officials,up to the governor of the state, to drive people out of their homes that they lived in for generations. In the case of the people of Milagro we see how those with power use every flimsy law on the books, that was put there to help them get what they want, to drive people like Joe not just out of business but out of town as well. It's when everything fails Devine gets his top gun Kyril Montana,Christopher Walker, together with the local sheriff's posse to get the dirty job done for him. Only to have Montana & co. facing the ends of the barrels of the outraged people in town who just when things look as bad as they could be came to Joe's, who was charged with a slew of crimes like breaking the land and water code laws to attempted murder, rescue. And it was the law that Devine used against Joe as well as themselves that that put that witch hunt against the people of Milagro to an end.The movie shows that when people get organized and refused to be intimated they can accomplish a lot more then just leaving it up to local politicians, who are in the pay of big business interests, to do the job for them. Joe Mondragon was forced to make a stand when he saw that an injustice was being done to both him and the people of the town of Milagro. Without even realizing it Joe's actions energized the townspeople who at first were more then willing to give up their homes feeling that It was a hopeless cause on their part but later stand their ground and fight back against the likes of the powerful and well connected land developer Ladd Devine. But once they flexed their political muscles as well as their trigger fingers Devine & Co. knew that they just didn't stand a chance!

tonjesm There is a soundtrack for the movie, I own it and it's great. It's not as good as the movie and includes a few that are just the background stuff but there is some excellent music. keep searching, I bought mine a while ago (mid 80's?).The movie is one of my favorites and I'd recommend it to anyone. It's also a great movie to watch with a chic. They like the romantic aspects and the drama while the guys like the comedy and the 'chase'. It's a bit like British comedy in that there are a lot of subtle jokes but it is thoroughly entertaining for men as well as women.I need one more line of text so here it is . . . one more line of text.