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Skins (2002)
Rate:
7
Viewed:
7/25
7/25:
At least, Chris Eyre got away from the business of ripping off films and started doing something original for
a change.
The result is Skins. Three big-time Canadian Indian actors from
Powwow Highway,
Dances With Wolves, and
The Last of the Mohicans get together to update the public of
the progress in Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, and the answer remains the same: nothing has changed. Even
the four faces on Mount Rushmore are still laughing at these Indians in terms of progress while
desecrating their holy ground.
Speaking of Powwow Highway, Graham Greene continues the
same Vietnam War veteran character and then concludes him appropriately. The burns on his face sure healed
up quickly, huh? Eric Schweig, having gained lots of weight since the heyday of
The Last of the Mohicans, leads the way by offering emotional
support. However, it's too bad that Gary Farmer has a nothing role when he's capable of contributing more.
The biggest issue of Skins is direction. It's, in a word, a mess. At first, I thought I was going to
watch a documentary, but no. Afterwards, there are like three to five different paths being tackled at once. Even
the flashback threw me off because I didn't realize that's based on two brothers when they were young. Finally,
one is settled on, and that's when the second half started to get better.
At the same time, Chris Eyre needs to stop using American Indian clichés, although they're hardly
abused in the film, and just move on by using facts to illustrate what's happening with the people in
the present day. Had he expanded the issues by going through the flashback route based on how it was back
then for the two brothers instead of the vigilante crap, it would've made for a better film. Sure, the past
can be touched upon in depth, but honestly, what can anyone do about it nowadays besides
drinking so much and vandalizing stuff?
All in all, Skins is a combination of Chris Eyre's weak direction and strong performances by Graham
Greene and Eric Schweig.