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The Last of the Mohicans

Starring: Daniel Day-Lewis, Madeleine Stowe
Director: Michael Mann
Genre: Action
Year: 1992
Rating: 4 / 5

One word is all that is necessary to describe the final sequence in director Michael Mann's film, The Last of the Mohicans. One word can accurately encompass this adaptation of the James Fenimore Cooper novel. Wow. So as not to spoil this majestic scene for those who have yet to see the film, I will merely say that it is quite the sight to behold. Even more impressive, though, is the fact that this sequence differs from typical film conventions, something which will only be apparent after fully ingesting the action that takes place. The Last of the Mohicans, a romantic adventure set in the time of the French & Indian War, is a sprawling epic, headlined by lead Daniel Day-Lewis and unheralded Wes Studi.

Cora (Madeleine Stowe) and Alice Munro (Jodhi May) are travelling through the untamed wilderness of pre-Revolutionary War America to visit their father, Colonel Edmund Munro (Maurice Roeves). Accompanied by British officer Heyward (Steven Waddington), the two young women are ambushed by a Huron war party led by Magua (Wes Studi). Magua's family was torn apart by "Gray Hair," his name for the elder Munro, and he has sworn to slay the man and his daughters. On the verge of being killed, the woman are rescued by Hawkeye (Daniel Day-Lewis) and his Mohican family - Chingachgook (Russell Means) and Uncas (Eric Schweig).

With danger averted, the women's saviors agree to accompany them to their father's fort, meaning another potential brush with the Huron. When they arrive, a greater danger awaits them, as Munro's forces are under siege, attacked by the joint forces of the French and Magua's Huron. Despite not believing in the British cause, Hawkeye leads the women into the Munro's compound. It is there that he helps a small band of colonials escape to protect their families, only to find himself imprisoned for his efforts. Despite having a chance to flee himself, Hawkeye stays, knowing that he has found someone special in Munro's eldest daughter Cora.

When looking back at films over the last couple decades, I can find many examples of film soundtracks that I have truly enjoyed, but there are precious few scores that truly move me. The Last of the Mohicans is a resounding exception, as it pulsates throughout the movie and drives the gripping conclusion. Daniel Day-Lewis gives a commanding performance as a white man raised from infancy by his new Indian family, but the film's most impressive effort is turned in by Wes Studi. Studi's Magua is initially portrayed as a cunning villain, solely looking to end the lives of two innocent women, yet Studi gives his character emotional depth, as we come to see the powerful rationale behind his heated fury. The Last of the Mohicans is a true gem of a film, and one that, in light of the praise now heaped upon The Patriot, deserves to be considered with the best of its genre.

Cast:

Certification: Rated R for violence.
Running Time: 114 minutes.

Additional Info: Internet Movie Database
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