What's not to like? Penn does a great job behind the camera, and in front you have Morse and Mortensen. Morse excels as the "good" brother to Mortensen's "bad".

Sean Penn's cinematic piece of americana featuring meditations on primal instincts and a maladjustment for the modern life.

Was too young for this type of movie the first time I watched it, maybe it is better or worse than this score.

Moving drama which spotlights Penn's remarkable directorial skills (especially for a debut) in terms of storytelling and performances; Morse, Mortensen and Arquette share acting honours, but heartbreaking cameos from Dennis and Bronson (in what would effectively be the final film for both actors) almost steal the show. Unusual but effective directorial choice to show the effects of violence, but little of the act on-screen, making many scenes all the more powerful.

It has a mighty impressive cast, and it's a notch above the average Hollywood movie, but I never hit it off with The Indian Runner. It seemed to be escaping cheesiness very narrowly for a while, but ends up diving right into it. It is a message movie, but not exactly a runner. It takes two hours to deliver its message, which seems a lot for one so blunt and uncomplicated.

#, reviews

This movie was the one of the first to really have an emotional impact on me, which is largely the reason for the high score. A bit like a pathos-loaded and more melodramatic Cassavetes film.

As you'd expect of a movie inspired by a Bruce Springsteen song, this movie has nothing to say and it says it really slowly. Only see this if you want to see Charles Bronson... well, it's against my religion to give it away

why is this guy always an indian role.

Moody piece. Lethargic at times, but filled with emotion and truth, and ultimately quite moving. Strong performances all around, with offbeat but effective casting of Bronson as the boys' melancholy father.

The directorial debut from Penn takes inspiration from a Bruce Springsteen song from "Nebraska," and, at its best, it has the same considered quiet intensity of all of the songs populating that album. By the end, Penn has caved into his worst instincts and let cheesy imagery overtake the film just enough to undercut the well-earned heavy emotions of the material. Most of Penn's writing here is lean and affecting, but he can't apply the same discipline to the rest of the film.

Wonderfully dramatic in a modest way, and it has my favorite montage ever. The central story is heartbreaking, the performances are excellent, and there's something breezy about the whole thing that keeps it from being a downer. It still has some Cassavetes-style heartstoppers that make you feel five things at once and think, "I can't believe they just did that." Astoundingly well-made, a near perfect drama.

Very good.