The Last of the Mohicans

Written by: Mann et al Starring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Madeleine Stowe

Talk about big! This is a big, huge, loud picture, full of action and thrills. But truth be told, despite the pedigree, it has a lot in common with "Rambo" (or even "Under Siege"); that is, a big studly martial arts expert defeats the villainous hordes and rescues the woman he loves. The battle scenes are striking, but in between this is a curiously static movie. The action set-pieces are separated by long stretches of talk, which sound high minded but grind the movie to an utter standstill. (I also need to complain about the sound editing--some of the dialogue was completely inaudible, drowned by sound effects or the big, overblown score.) (What's more, Daniel Day-Lewis sounds like he came from Van Nuys.) A lot of the action is shot in the dark too, with the result that it is kind of murky. Surprising from Mann, whose crispness (see "Manhunter" and "Thief") we've always admired. Perhaps most damaging, however, is the complete abandonment of character. I never get any sense of who Hawkeye really is, and what made him that way.

I root for him generically because he is the "good guy." But I never really care that much about him, or, for that matter, find him terribly appealing (studly yes, appealing no). I hate to say it, but "Under Siege" was much better in this regard, and could hand "Mohicans" a few lessons in the humor department ("Mohicans" is woefully short on this commodity) as well. (10/11/92)