Movie Loner

Good stories make good movies. Makes sense, right? A simple concept that the moviemakers of the world should have grasped by now. Unfortunately, they haven’t. More and more I see awful stories being put to film. Hollywood isn’t the only culprit either. Indie and foreign cinema are also reaching for tired, unoriginal stories not worth telling. Well, here’s a good story from twenty years ago that was worth telling: Robert Redford’s The Milagro Beanfield War.

Frustrated, out-of-work Joe Mondragon decides to irrigate his father’s old beanfield. No big deal. Problem is corporate developer Ladd Devine plans to build a resort golf course smack dab in the middle of Joe’s field, as well as the rest of the small New Mexico town of Milagro. Joe’s agricultural endeavors send shockwaves all the way to the Governor’s office. With millions at stake the Governor dispatches tough lawman Kyril Montana (Christopher Walken) to mediate the situation. Meanwhile, local activists Ruby Archuleta and Charlie Bloom rally the townspeople against the land developers.

Despite mounting pressure, Joe continues to plant his beanfield. A line is drawn in Milagro between supporters and non-supporters. Ruby pens a petition to fight the impending displacement of her people. Montana and his cronies resort to scare tactics to halt Joe’s actions. Joe refuses to budge and the town residents arm themselves for battle against Ladd Devine’s corporate machine. An accidental shooting threatens the future of Milagro. It will take luck and a little bit of magic to save the tiny town.

The U.S. government versus Mexican people. Sound familiar? Redford’s simple but prescient movie is more relevant today than twenty years ago. Immigration issues aside, The Milagro Beanfield War is an enjoyable tale that neatly balances comedy and drama. Redford handles the serious subject of corporate greed with enchanting care, deftly illustrating the absurd lengths people go to for monetary gain. A solid cast is led by Chick Vennera who carries the film as unlikely martyr Joe Mondragon. Good stories make good movies. This is a perfect example.

A scene from The Milagro Beanfield War: