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Dances with Wolves

Dances with Wolves

Adventure · Drama · Western · 1990

Wounded Civil War soldier John Dunbar tries to commit suicide—and becomes a hero instead. As a reward, he's assigned to his dream post, a remote junction on the Western frontier, and soon makes unlikely friends with the local Sioux tribe.

Movie details

Dances with Wolves

“Inside everyone is a frontier waiting to be discovered.”

1990 Adventure · Drama · Western 3h 1m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.8 / 10

Community rating

Wounded Civil War soldier John Dunbar tries to commit suicide—and becomes a hero instead. As a reward, he's assigned to his dream post, a remote junction on the Western frontier, and soon makes unlikely friends with the local Sioux tribe.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over Dances with Wolves?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Kevin Costner

Written by

Michael Blake

Kevin Costner

Kevin Costner

Lieutenant Dunbar

Mary McDonnell

Mary McDonnell

Stands With A Fist

Graham Greene

Graham Greene

Kicking Bird

Rodney A. Grant

Rodney A. Grant

Wind In His Hair

Floyd 'Red Crow' Westerman

Floyd 'Red Crow' Westerman

Ten Bears

Tantoo Cardinal

Tantoo Cardinal

Black Shawl

Robert Pastorelli

Robert Pastorelli

Timmons

Court is in session

Put Dances with Wolves on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Prestige Tourist

“Form is the argument.”

Every composed frame and deliberate cut is evidence that control can be thrilling in its own right.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Technique in search of a pulse.”

Immaculate construction is still construction. The film may be too busy proving its craft to feel alive.