Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Strong empathy, messages in mature Native American drama.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 17+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Drunktown's Finest
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In Dry Lake, New Mexico, three Navajo characters are struggling. "Sick Boy" (Jeremiah Bitsui) is about to leave for the Army to support his pregnant wife (Elizabeth Frances), but he can't seem to keep himself from drinking and getting into trouble. Nizhoni (Morningstar Angeline Wilson) lives with her adoptive white Christian parents and is going to college, but she wants to learn more about her real family. And Felixia (Carmen Moore) is a transgender woman living with her grandparents and earning money turning tricks; she dreams of being a model for the annual Women of the Navajo calendar. Eventually all of the characters reach turning points and must decide who they are and where they're going.
Is It Any Good?
DRUNKTOWN'S FINEST has some awkward, amateur moments here and there, mostly in some of the line readings and in some of the generic plot setups and payoffs. But writer-director Sydney Freeland (making in her feature debut) makes her passion deeply felt, and it's very refreshing to see the lives of Native Americans portrayed onscreen with such sympathy. It's easy to forgive the movie its shortcomings and tumble headfirst into the characters' lives.
The movie has a languid, hazy feel that allows for little moments spent with the characters, getting to know them. Bitsui, who had a supporting role on Breaking Bad, fares the best in his performance. Wilson has a lovely, fresh-faced innocence, and Moore -- who's transgender in real life -- brings an appealing combination of self-awareness and self-value to her role. Overall, it's a goodhearted movie that you want to root for.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the drinking in Drunktown's Finest. How is it portrayed? What makes the characters drink? Are there realistic consequences for their drinking?
How is the transgender character treated in the movie? How does she view herself? How is she viewed by other characters? Does she have body image issues?
How much violence is shown? Does it seem necessary or excessive? How does its impact compare to what you might see in a thriller or horror movie? Which has more impact, and why?
Movie Details
- In theaters : February 20, 2015
- On DVD or streaming : November 3, 2015
- Cast : Jeremiah Bitsui , Carmen Moore , Morningstar Angeline Wilson
- Director : Sydney Freeland
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Director(s) , Transgender Movie Director(s) , Indigenous Movie Director(s) , Indigenous Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Indion Entertainment
- Genre : Drama
- Run time : 94 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 20, 2019
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