6.8
Following her sister's disappearance, Jax and her niece Roki must stick together. Desperate to keep what's left of their family intact, Jax and Roki defy the law and hit the road on a journey to the Grand Nation Powwow in Oklahoma City.
Lily Gladstone
Jax
Isabel Deroy-Olson
Roki
Ryan Begay
JJ
Shea Whigham
Frank
Audrey Wasilewski
Nancy
Crystle Lightning
Sapphire
Tamara Podemski
Ricky
Patrice Fisher
Ruth
Ryan RedCorn
Powwow Emcee
Jason Alan Smith
FBI Agent
Lillian Faye Thomas
Lillie
Casey Camp-Horinek
Mary
Tyler Tipton
Chad
Dennis Newman
Derrick
Trey Munden
Ryan
Arianne Martin
Donna Marsh
Blayne Allen
Boo
Michael Rowe
Elder Philip
Hauli Gray
Tawi
Blake Blair
Tanner
Miciana Alise
Makeup Artist
Kylie Dirtseller
Phaya
Colleen Elizabeth Miller
Server
Cory Hart
ICE Agent Lewis
P.J. Sosko
Night Manger
Director, Screenplay
Erica Tremblay
Screenplay
Miciana Alise
July 4, 2024
6
It’s frustrating to watch a movie that gets most everything right but ends up going off the rails when it really counts. Such is the case with writer-director Erica Tremblay’s third feature outing about a Native American woman (Lily Gladstone) from Oklahoma’s Seneca-Cayuga Reservation who goes in search of her missing sister (Hauli Gray) at the Grand Nations Powwow in Oklahoma City with her 13-year-old niece (Isabel Deroy-Olson) in tow. But the duo’s road trip odyssey soon turns into a statewide crime-ridden misadventure not unlike the narrative in “Thelma & Louise” (1991). Much of this multilayered tale is actually carried off quite skillfully, spotlighting the challenges that indigenous people (especially women) face and presenting a story with a capably executed, tension-filled, edge-of-your-seat quality, prompting viewers to wonder what’s coming next. However, as the story wears on, it becomes increasingly implausible, culminating in a climax that’s more than a little difficult to believe, its heartfelt sentiments notwithstanding. There are also some intriguing back story elements scattered throughout that, quite frankly, could have been better developed and resolved. That’s indeed a shame, considering how these shortcomings undermine the production’s many strong points. These weaknesses also take away from the outstanding performances of Gladstone (who turns in even better work here than in her Oscar-nominated role in “Killers of the Flower Moon” (2023)) and Deroy-Olson in her big screen debut, as well as an outstanding cast of supporting players. This AppleTV+ original truly has a lot in its favor, but it’s unfortunate that it didn’t carry through on its strengths throughout the entire film. A near hit but one that doesn’t live up to its promise or potential.