Adam Beach, Evan Adams
The current flurry in independent filmmaking is bringing all kinds of new voices to the screen. This is good—anything to balance the Pulp Fiction wannabes and whining twentysomething dramas. So haul out the welcome mat for Smoke Signals, a promising road movie that bills itself as the first feature film written and directed by Native Americans.
Screenwriter Sherman Alexie and first-time director Chris Eyre follow two young Indians, Victor (Beach) and Thomas (Adams), as they leave Idaho's Coeur d'Alene Indian Reservation and head for Arizona to pick up the ashes of Victor's dead father. "Without blowing Smoke, it's fair to say the movie is both funny and affecting and offers solid performances by its two leads. (PG-13)
Bottom Line: Tagging along for this ride pays off
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