Run, Simon, Run

On its own terms, in its context, Run Simon Run is meant to tell the story of an unrepentently angry loner seeking dignity for himself and his tribe. But, he has so alienated is fellow tribesmen, the white authorities, and well-meaning social workers, small victories exact terribly high consequences.

The dialogue is rather Spartan, so Reynolds's performance must carry the film for it to work. he stretches his acting muscles to deliver a brooding portrait of a committed, volatile, and tortured soul. Inger Stevens, on the other hand, for the most part, is just brooding -- a rather one-note performance that doesn't qualify high in her gallery -- a more hopeful counterpoint to Reynolds' virtuoso angst would have served this TV movie better. I'm not saying her performance is bad, but it leaves Run Simon Run as a very good made-for-TV movie in lieu of a great one.

This is also slow at spots, but the overall running time is so short, it's not that problematic. Certainly worth seeing once.