Who's in It: John Trudell, Robert Redford, Sam Shepard, Val Kilmer
The Basics: Famous people line up to praise longtime Native American activist-poet Trudell in this documentary. Not that he doesn't deserve it. He did a lot of good work on behalf of American Indians. But after a while, the nonstop butt-kissing gets sort of tiring. Yes, yes, you're incredible. So's your poetry. OK, actually, the poetry is kind of insufferable.
What's the Deal? Even the really cool doc about musician Townes Van Zandt that came out last year called Be Here to Love Me didn't shrink from the man's faults. But this one just lays it on thick. You half-expect him to raise people from the dead by the time it's over.
Trudell's Genuine Accomplishments: He chaired the American Indian Movement during the occupation of Wounded Knee. He also worked hard to free Leonard Peltier, the guy convicted of killing two FBI agents at the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in 1977. He was basically tireless.
The Coolest Thing He Has That You Don't: A 17,000-page FBI file. That's right, slacker. What have you done to smash the state today? Huh?
Seriously, Enough With the Poetry: I know that Mother Earth is in trouble, and I hate the bad enviro-polluters, too. But dude, the poetry is mind-melting. Any one of these moments is a good time to go get some Junior Mints.