Smoke Signals

Critics Consensus

Smoke Signals tells a familiar story from an underrepresented point of view, proving that a fresh perspective can help subvert long-established expectations.

83%

TOMATOMETER

Reviews Counted: 30

82%
liked it

Audience Score

User Ratings: 10,369

TOMATOMETER

N/A
All Critics | Top Critics
Average Rating: N/A
Reviews Count: 0
Fresh: 0
Rotten: 0

AUDIENCE SCORE

82%
Average Rating: 3.9/5

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Movie Info

The unavoidable synopsis -- two young American Indians leave the reservation to resolve their problems and to find themselves -- belies the poetry of this well-acted, well-directed and largehearted movie.

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Cast

Adam Beach
as Victor Joseph
Evan Adams
as Thomas Builds-the-Fire
Irene Bedard
as Suzy Song
Gary Farmer
as Arnold
Tantoo Cardinal
as Arlene Joseph
John Trudell
as Randy Peone
Cody Lightning
as Young Victor Joseph
Simon R. Baker
as Young Thomas Builds-the-Fire
Monica Mojica
as Grandma Builds-the-Fire
Leonard George
as Lester Fallsapart
Monique Mojica
as Grandma Builds-the-Fire
Michael Greyeyes
as Junior Polatkin
Darwin Haine
as Boo
Michelle St. John
as Velma
Elaine Miles
as Lucy
Cynthia Geary
as Cathy The Gymnast
Gary Taylor
as Cowboy
Perrey Reeves
as Holly
Nicolette Vajtay
as Julie
Molly Cheek
as Penny
Robert Miano
as Burt
Tom Skerritt
as Police Chief
Todd Jamieson
as Jesuit No. 1
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Critic Reviews for Smoke Signals

All Critics (30) | Top Critics (5)

View All Critic Reviews (30)

Audience Reviews for Smoke Signals

½

Sherman Alexie is one of most important Native American fiction writers of the past century, and with this adaptation of his short story we see the real strife of these people, living in reservations. The film follows a young man (Beach) and an old friend (Adams) who take a road trip to put his father to rest. The film deals with prevalent issues in the Native American community including poverty, alcoholism, and racism from a heavily white population. Having Native American protagonists and a heavily NA cast is pretty unheard of in many films, even recently, and seeing this story made is really quite interesting. The story is a little rushed, as the journey takes a short amount of time. Most of what we see is Victor (Beach) trying to understand the legacy that his father has left for him. We see a transformation, but it goes by so fast that it's hard to savor exactly what has occurs before the story inevitably ends. We're also not sure what either Thomas or Victor will ultimately do now that this "adventure" has taken place. It just doesn't have the strength behind it that the original story invokes.

Spencer S.
Spencer S.

Super Reviewer

I recently finished reading Sherman Alexie's "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" and felt compelled to revisit Smoke Signals for about the 8th or 9th time. I love this film a little more every time I view it, which is easy to do considering that the first time I saw it I just wasn't that impressed. I had felt that, in their quest to have the first "All Indian" movie, they had sacrificed a little quality and technical expertise. Maybe I still feel that's true but it's not something I notice much any more. Now I find myself engrossed in the rich characters, especially Arnold (Evan Adams). Arnold is a misfit and yet he might be the most 'indian' character in the entire ensemble. He's bright, he's introspective, and he's terribly, terribly honest. Even when he's embellishing stories he is still exposing truths. Much like it's screenwriter, Smoke Signals is deceptively deep, intelligent and philosophical even if it's not perfectly crafted. .

Randy Tippy
Randy Tippy

Super Reviewer

½

[font=Century Gothic]"Smoke Signals" starts at a celebration on July 4, 1976 on the Coeur d'Alene Indian Reservation where Arnold Joseph(Gary Farmer) made a stuning catch to save the life of infant Thomas, while his parents died in a fiery blaze. Later, Arnold cut his hair short before disappearing from the reservation, leaving behind his wife(Tantoo Cardinal) and young son, Victor. As an adult(Adam Beach), Victor receives word that his father died in Phoenix. But because he is broke, he cannot go there to claim the body and possessions. However, Thomas(Evan Adams) agrees to fund him, as long as he can tag along...[/font] [font=Century Gothic][/font] [font=Century Gothic]"Smoke Signals" is a an endearing seriocomic road movie that is more concerned with the destination than with the journey.(I suppose there is some symbolism in the men going from the sight of a fire to Phoenix but maybe I'm just reading too much into it.) The movie is about redemption and forgiveness as Victor tries to reconcile the abusive father he once knew with the memories that other people have of him. That is why, as with any story, it does not really matter if it is exactly true, as long as the essence of it is right.[/font]

Walter M.
Walter M.

Super Reviewer

½

All right...objectively, this is just not a very good movie. The two main characters are an unlikable prick and an unlikable nerd, respectively, and the themes are telegraphed and insultingly obvious. But Smoke Signals is important simply because of its lineage - and even though it's not that great, it's a difficult film to dislike. It's very earnest. I guess if your only exposure to Native Americans in film is, like, Indian in the Cupboard, this movie would be well worth seeing. As a cinematic craft, not so much.

Drew Smith
Drew Smith

Super Reviewer

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