Movie Review

Lily Gladstone leads fine cast in Native American drama Fancy Dance

Isabel Deroy-Olson and Lily Gladstone star in Fancy Dance.

Photo courtesy of Apple TV+

Movies focused on Native Americans are in too short supply, and those that do get made tend to focus on the sins of the past, not the realities of modern-day life for them. After getting an Oscar nomination for one of those former types of stories in Killers of the Flower Moon, actor Lily Gladstone is back with a latter type in Fancy Dance.

Gladstone plays Jax Goodiron (Lily Gladstone), who lives on the Seneca-Cayuga reservation in Oklahoma with her niece, Roki (Isabel Deroy-Wilson). Tawi, Roki’s mother and Jax’s sister, has gone missing, leaving Jax to take care of her as best she can. As we soon see, though, that care involves lots of scamming and stealing, an unsavory way of surviving that is unfortunately part of their reality.

Tawi’s disappearance and Jax being deemed an unfit guardian causes Child Protective Services to place Roki with her white grandfather, Frank (Shea Whigham), and his wife, Nancy (Audrey Wasilewski). Knowing how important it is for Roki to attend the tribe’s annual powwow, where she has danced with her mother several times before, Jax sneaks her out of Frank’s house. However, Jax’s determination to find out what happened to Tawi, as well the authorities issuing an Amber Alert for Roki, makes their journey extra difficult.

Written and directed by Erica Tremblay (a member of the Seneca-Cayuga tribe herself), and co-written by Miciana Alise, the film does a solid job of showing the challenges Jax and others like her face in the world without making the story overly maudlin. Jax is shown to be a hustler from the very first scene in the film, and the fact that she ropes Roki into her schemes makes the crimes they commit difficult to swallow for viewers.

But each of the misdeeds is in service of helping their goals, and are also weighed against the trauma they are experiencing with Tawi’s disappearance. Tremblay has a subtle touch when it comes to the larger topic of missing Native women not being a priority for law enforcement. She makes the shameful idea a constant part of the film without pressing so hard that the outrage turns into a sermon.

Even though the film tells a very specific story, the experience of the various family members is universal enough to keep it from being siloed off from the rest of the world. Nearly everyone can relate to the bond Jax and Roki share, the pain of losing a loved one, or the frustration of a parent not living up to expectations. If anything, the details of being part of the Seneca-Cayuga tribe make those elements even more powerful.

While Gladstone was worthy of her Oscar nomination for Killers of the Flower Moon, the character she played was often hard to read. Although she’s not very expressive in this role, she brings all the requisite emotions out of the character, giving her a lot of depth. Deroy-Olson, who resembles a young Natalie Portman, gives a lived-in performance despite her relative lack of acting experience. Whigham, Wasilewski, and Ryan Begay as JJ, a tribal police officer, also bring a lot to their supporting roles.

Streaming channels like Apple TV+ have been part of the decline in attendance at movie theaters, but the big positive they have brought is the ability for films like Fancy Dance to find a wider audience than they might otherwise. It also gives fine actors like Gladstone and Deroy-Olson more opportunities to showcase their talents, hopefully leading to even more roles in the future.

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Fancy Dance is now playing in select theaters and streaming on Apple TV+.

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weekend event planner

These are the top 15 things to do in Houston this weekend

Photo by Eric Ryan Anderson

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Since we’re officially in the holiday season (or “Mariah season,” as we like to call it), several seasonal, holiday-themed events will be popping off this weekend. Houston Ballet will have its annual Nutcracker Market. Discovery Green will open up its Green Mountain Holiday Ice rink. Coca-Cola will even bring us a new, immersive light experience.

But we’ll also have live music from Jelly Roll and Cyndi Lauper, delicious art openings at CAMH, Mitochondria Gallery, and Archway Gallery, and legendary cult filmmaker John Waters providing live commentary for one of his most beloved films.

Thursday, November 14

44th Annual Houston Ballet Nutcracker Market
The 44th annual Houston Ballet Nutcracker Market is a four-day shopper’s paradise filled with larger-than-life nutcrackers and ornament-adorned trees. It features curated collections with holiday items, gourmet food, apparel, jewelry, gifts, and more from over 270 merchants from across the country. Highly sought-after merchant Paul Michael returns to the market this year after a two-year hiatus with his signature décor pieces, including ornaments and décor, topiaries, snow globes, nativity scenes, Christmas trees, and garlands. 10 am.

Contemporary Arts Museum presents Vincent Valdez: Just a Dream… public opening
CAMH will present Vincent Valdez’s new exhibition this weekend. This exhibition is the artist’s first major museum survey, spanning over two decades of work. This unique lineup and show will include a mix of singer-songwriter Nick Gaitan’s original “Tejas Roots” music along with a curated set of covers, paying tribute to legends and cultivators from Houston, San Antonio and further down the Gulf Coast, that have had an influence on his work and sound. Chicano Boulevard will close things out with a DJ set. Through Sunday, March 23. 7 pm.

The Hobby Center presents Hairspray with John Waters
As part of this year’s Houston Cinema Arts Festival, John Waters (aka The Pope of Trash) comes to Houston for his first-ever live and in-person director's commentary of his original Hairspray. A special pre-show trailer reel will kick things off, followed by the main event, the screening with live commentary by Waters, followed by a Q&A. VIP ticket holders will join in a Group Therapy Experience, which includes preferred seating, an autographed show poster, and a socially distanced selfie with Waters, on stage with you in the foreground. 7:30 pm.

Friday, November 15

Discovery Green presents Green Mountain Energy Ice
Kick off the holiday season at Green Mountain Energy Ice at Discovery Green. Visitors can glide beneath the glittering lights of downtown Houston and discover the holiday magic at Discovery Green. The first 50 people in line at 5 pm skate for free, and Forever Green members skate for free from 5-7 pm. Entertainment is provided by the winners of the Discover Houston Music showcase on the Anheuser-Busch stage. And the Lake House will be serving classic American fare such as burgers, salads, and tacos. Through Sunday, February 2. 7 pm.

Disney On Ice presents Frozen & Encanto
Disney On Ice will present the magical adventures of Frozen and Encanto as they come to life like never before. This adventure on ice transports fans into two of the most popular Disney films, as audiences can sing-along to their favorite songs while embracing world-class ice skating, aerial acrobatics, and more. Audiences will see Anna, Elsa, Mirabel, and the Madrigal family live, as well as fan favorites Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald, Goofy, and many more. 7 pm (10:30 am and 7 pm Friday; 11 am, 3 and 7 pm Saturday; 1 and 5 pm Sunday).

Mitochondria Gallery presents "Place of Repose II" opening reception
Mitochondria Gallery will present “Place of Repose II,” their culminating group exhibition of 2024. The exhibition completes the year with a thoughtfully curated space where viewers can find a sense of tranquility and restoration. It serves as both an invitation and a gentle reminder: first, to live mindfully, with gratitude for the present; and second, to intentionally embrace rest - reclaiming time to renew both mind and body. Through sculptures and paintings, this exhibition explores facets of the human experience. Through Saturday, December 14. 7:30 pm.

Chelsea Handler: Little Big Bitch Tour
You gotta love it when a comic goes on tour, complete with a take-no-prisoners title. Comedian Chelsea Handler comes to Sugar Land as part of her Little Big Bitch Tour, which will give fans a retrospective look (including her years as host of E!’s Chelsea Lately and Netflix’s Chelsea) at what made her the person, comedian, and New York Times best-selling author she is today. Let’s hope that former boyfriend/Houston resident Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson will make an appearance from the stands. 8 pm.

Saturday, November 16

Hogan Brown Gallery presents “Take Me As I Am: Redemption and Grace for the Discarded” opening reception
Hogan Brown Gallery will be showing off a new solo exhibition from artist Lance Flowers. This showcase highlights Flowers’ collage work, a reflection on the cultural preservation of Houston’s Third Ward in the face of growing gentrification pressures. A multimedia video installation will complement the exhibition, featuring interviews and statistical data on Third Ward’s highs and lows. The exhibition will also engage Third Ward businesses and cultural spaces, creating a rich and immersive experience across the neighborhood. Through Thursday, December 5. 6 pm

Archway Gallery presents A Native Feast
Archway Gallery and Ishtia chef David Skinner will present a food journey through Indigenous culture in conjunction with Harold Joiner’s "Homeland: Random Musings of a Native Son," an exhibition of paintings and mixed media works inspired by his Southwestern homeland. The five-course tasting dinner created by Skinner, a Choctaw tribal member, is inspired by his ancestors' stories and will include the Indigenous ingredients gifted to the world by Native Americans. 6:30 pm.

Coca-Cola's Classic Christmas
Coca-Cola’s Classic Christmas is a festive, new, immersive holiday light experience that will transport guests to a world of Christmas magic. The event will feature larger-than-life light sculptures, ice skating, a snow slide, shopping, live entertainment, visits with Santa, hot cocoa, and more. There will also be a variety of theme nights, where visitors can dress up or enjoy special events. Go to the event website for more information. Through Sunday, December 29. 6:30 pm (5:30 pm Sunday).

Cyndi Lauper in concert
All the girlie-pop divas of today – Charli, Chappell, Billie, Sabrina – owe a debt of gratitude to girlie-pop icon Cyndi Lauper, who dropped such ‘80s classics as “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” and “Time After Time.” Lauper comes to Houston as part of her Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Farewell Tour. The Grammy, Emmy, and Tony-winning singer-songwriter has released 12 albums in her career, most recently Detour in 2016. 8 pm.

Sunday, November 17

Handies Douzo/Ensō Pop-Up + Giveaway
Handies Douzo, the hand roll and sushi bar in Montrose, is hosting a handcrafted matcha pop-up in collaboration with Ensō, a local, Asian-owned matcha and tea company. Guests can experience the unique pop-up where matcha meets temaki. Guests can enter an Instagram giveaway for a chance to win a $100 Himari gift card. The contest is open now, and the winner will be announced on Tuesday, November 19. The event is open to the public, and no reservation is necessary. 11 am.

Long Way Home presents Honky Tonk For Hope
Honky Tonk For Hope is an all-day festival helping those in need in the community. It will feature performances by Hayes Carll and Band of Heathens, Jason Boland and The Stragglers, Eddie 9V, John Evans Band, and Two Tons of Steel. The afternoon of independent Texas music artists and a few of their friends will raise funds for Long Way Home to assist in meeting the needs of pediatric transplant patients and their families. Children 12 years and under are free with adults. 2 pm.

Chris Shepherd’s Table to Stage: A Conversation with Tom Colicchio
The Houston chef and media personality sits down with Top Chef head judge Tom Colicchio for a conversation centered about Colicchio’s new book Why I Cook. “He kind of scares the shit out of me,” Shepherd told CultureMap last month. Expect a lively look at Colicchio’s career that has included winning eight James Beard Awards as well as serving as an advocate for the restaurant industry. 6 pm.

Jelly Roll in concert
Tennessee rapper-turned-country rocker Jelly Roll has been having a very wonderful year. He was nominated for a Best New Artist Grammy. Beautifully Broken, his latest album, was number one on the Billboard 200 and country charts. He even appeared on an episode of that gangstalicious Sylvester Stallone show Tulsa King. This weekend, he’ll be in Houston along with special guests ERNEST, Shaboozey, and Allie Colleen. 7 pm.

Photo by Eric Ryan Anderson

Jelly Roll performs this Sunday.

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