As a critic, ‘Bad River’ fulfills all of my personally desired elements to make this a perfect film and thus earns a well-deserved 10 out of 10. I highly recommend it
Over the past few years as a film critic and contributor to the Rotten Tomatoes scoring system, I have desired to commit to a specific set of scoring aspects to give any films I review an accurate score.
Due to its exceptional ability to tell a well-informed story—filled with elements of nostalgia and history, exhilaration and hair-standing-up moments—Bad River inspired me to set a list of standards in place. Going through these standards, Bad River has received a score of 10 out of 10.
For further reading:
I call it ‘The SNEWP Method.’ My Rotten Tomatoes film critic scoring technique
Due to its exceptional ability to tell a well-informed story—filled with elements of nostalgia and history, exhilaration and hair-standing-up moments—Bad River has received a score of 10 out of 10.
Vincent Schilling
About the film
As described by the film’s release, Bad River, which Mary Mazzio directed, “chronicles the Wisconsin-based Bad River Band, and their ongoing fight to save Lake Superior, the largest freshwater resource in America from an aging pipeline that is now at risk of rupture.”
Enbridge Corporation’s infamous Line 5 is the aging pipeline traversing through Wisconsin’s Bad River Reservation.
Further details include that the film is narrated by Indigenous activist, actress and high-profile fashion model Quannah ChasingHorse, who is Hän Gwich’in of Eagle Village, Alaska, and Sicangu-Oglala Lakota along with award-winning actor Ed Norton. The film is also produced by director Mary Mazzio, West Wing writer Allison Abner and basketball icon and owner of the Atlanta Hawks, Grant Hill.
Bad River Review
Score 10 out of 10
S2-N2-E2-W2-P2 (SNEWP Score: What does this mean?)
Immediately venturing into Bad River, I was hooked. Quannah ChasingHorse and Ed Norton have great voices that lead the charge, and director Mary Mazzio does an excellent job of setting the stage for the entirety of the story. In its initial stages, the film quickly generates a well-structured foundation. All filmmakers should strive to create such a foundation as this.
Hilariously, it reminded me of a Native way of telling a story; I have often told friends in a group, “I have to tell you this story first so that I can tell you this story.” I am sure many of you reading know exactly what I am talking about.
The story blooms beautifully. As it was necessary to do so, Bad River sets the stage with a well-orchestrated series of historical footnotes that inform the uninformed and create genuine nostalgia for those who are all already familiar with the subject matter.
The beauty of the film is that no one is left out, and every essential element is included to carry the heart of the film forward. It was a work of beauty to watch. It was just so beautifully done.
I enjoyed the nostalgia and history included in the film so much. I cherished the unwavering, in-your-face and unapologetic discussions of settler colonialism, the Indian Removal Act, broken treaties, Indian Boarding Schools and the American Indian Movement.
There was no time for my mind to wander during the film, nor were there any criticisms on my part.
Then, there were the voices from the Bad River community who were Tribal elders and former and current councilmembers, moms. Teachers and more, who made the film even that much more amazing. I laughed, gasped, cried, smiled and raged at many of these insightful words. I appreciated the words so much of Eldred Corbine, Edith Leoso, Alton Sonny Smart, and Chairman Mike Wiggins, who bared their hearts in this film. I was moved by so many of these amazing people. I will never forget them.
The story of Line 5 continues throughout the film, and for those of you out there who may not be familiar, Bad River delves deep to showcase this unsettling David vs. Goliath story.
The story of this strain on justice continues to this day.
Overall, Bad River is a wonderful yet heartbreaking story of the real history faced by Indigenous people. This is a history that is painful to hear, but it is a necessary pain.
I was especially moved by the words of Bad River Ojibwe tribal member Aurora Giizhigookwe Conley, who said, “When you see money as more of a commodity and necessity than your own water, rice and land, then they did kill you.”
Bad River is definitely going to be one of my highest-recommended films of 2024.
Bad River will open in selected major cities on March 15, 2024
For information, visit: https://www.badriverfilm.com/
Vincent Schilling, Akwesasne Mohawk, is the founder and editor of Native Viewpoint. With nearly 20 years of experience as a Native journalist and former member of the White House Press Pool, Vincent works to uplift underrepresented voices in the world of media and beyond. Follow Vincent on YouTube.com/VinceSchilling, on Twitter at @VinceSchilling or on any other of his social media accounts by clicking on any of the icons below.
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