It's advisable to know from the beginning of
The Milagro Beanfield War
that "milagro" is the Spanish word for "miracle." The scene is a rundown Hispanic community in New Mexico, bordering a posh housing development. In full control of the local water rights, the powers-that-be are secure in the belief that they'll be able to expand their development without resistance from the locals. No one can foresee that impoverished farmer Joe Mondragon (
Chick Vennera
), during a burst of frustrated rage, will accidentally open a heretofore hidden sluice, thereby providing free water for his bean field. At first, the locals are against Mondragon's "insurrection," reasoning that the new housing development will provide jobs. But with the help of Charlie Bloom (
John Heard
), a burned-out '60s activist who now runs the community newspaper, Mondragon becomes the hero of the hour, the spiritual leader of an ever-growing "no development" movement. The evil land developers send their minions to intimidate or coerce Mondragon; each time, however, he is seemingly protected from harm by divine intervention. When Mondragon is forced to shoot a trespasser on his land, it looks as though his luck has run out. Chased into the hills by private detective Kyril Montana (
Christopher Walken
), Mondragon is once more rescued in the nick of time by what appears to be a miracle. And there are more wonders to behold before fade-out time!

Whimsical, yes, but thanks to its hand-picked ensemble cast (including
Sonia Braga
,
Rubén Blades
James Gammon
Daniel Stern
Freddy Fender
M. Emmet Walsh
, and
Melanie Griffith
) the film remains totally credible throughout. Adapted by John Nichols and
David Ward
from Nichols' own novel,
may be the most likeable "liberal-tract" film of the 1980s.
Robert Redford
's appropriately
Capraesque
direction is matched by
Dave Grusin
's vibrant Oscar-winning musical score.