"The Milagro Beanfield War" - Movie Review and Analysis of Film Techniques.
"The Milagro Beanfield War" is an excellent movie about one man's fight against the state and landowners to use water for farming purposes. Robert Redford did a great job of not only bringing the feel of the culture to the film but also keeping the whole feeling of the film.
Joe Mondragon is a family man that is looking for work when he stumbles upon a supply of water. In New Mexico, it is illegal to use water because it is owned by the state. Joe decides to use the water for a beanfield that he is going to grow. Most of the people in the town of Milagro, New Mexico think that what Joe is doing is good including Sheriff Bernabe Montoya who tries to look past everything but also helps Joe in some ways. Other people, such as Kyril Montana, a detective that is trying to stop Joe from stealing from New Mexico and Flossie Devine, who is building a golf course near the beanfield and owns the water that Joe is taking. Mayor Sammy Cantu is also unhappy about what Joe is doing but doesn't really go after him for it. Amarante Cordova, Ruby Archuleta, and Joe's wife Nancy, among others, help Joe in every way they can no matter what it is.
The whole moral of the movie seems to be to fight for your beliefs in what is right. Joe and his helpers didn't conform with everyone else to build golf courses or to modernize their small town. They believed it to be unfair to make the use of water illegal when it is one of the most essential parts of life. Robert Redford uses many techniques to distinguish the "good guys" from the "bad guys". One such technique that he used involved the lighting. When Joe Mondragon or someone else whose considered "good" is on screen, they are generally outside or the lighting is very bright. Whenever Detective Montana or Flossie Devine are on screen the lighting is darker giving off a much more ominous feel. For the most part, the relationships between Joe Mondragon and his friends and helpers always seemed to be on good terms but people like Flossie
Joe Mondragon is a family man that is looking for work when he stumbles upon a supply of water. In New Mexico, it is illegal to use water because it is owned by the state. Joe decides to use the water for a beanfield that he is going to grow. Most of the people in the town of Milagro, New Mexico think that what Joe is doing is good including Sheriff Bernabe Montoya who tries to look past everything but also helps Joe in some ways. Other people, such as Kyril Montana, a detective that is trying to stop Joe from stealing from New Mexico and Flossie Devine, who is building a golf course near the beanfield and owns the water that Joe is taking. Mayor Sammy Cantu is also unhappy about what Joe is doing but doesn't really go after him for it. Amarante Cordova, Ruby Archuleta, and Joe's wife Nancy, among others, help Joe in every way they can no matter what it is.
The whole moral of the movie seems to be to fight for your beliefs in what is right. Joe and his helpers didn't conform with everyone else to build golf courses or to modernize their small town. They believed it to be unfair to make the use of water illegal when it is one of the most essential parts of life. Robert Redford uses many techniques to distinguish the "good guys" from the "bad guys". One such technique that he used involved the lighting. When Joe Mondragon or someone else whose considered "good" is on screen, they are generally outside or the lighting is very bright. Whenever Detective Montana or Flossie Devine are on screen the lighting is darker giving off a much more ominous feel. For the most part, the relationships between Joe Mondragon and his friends and helpers always seemed to be on good terms but people like Flossie