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Update: September 26, 2017
Dragonlord's Review of AMERICAN MADE (No Spoilers)
Bottom Line: Tom Cruise’s megawatt charisma shines in this farcical biopic that’s breezily entertaining as it is incredulous.
After his last two disappointing outputs (Jack Reacher: Never Go Back and The Mummy), Tom Cruise is back and he reunites with Edge of Tomorrow director Doug Liman in bringing to life this fantastic true-to-life story. Cruise plays Barry Seal, a former TWA pilot turned aerial spy photographer and drug runner for the CIA, a drug smuggler for the Medellin Cartel and an informant for the White House.
I’d like to think that Barry is “Maverick” Pete Mitchell in an alternate reality sequel to Top Gun where he is now married with kids but is bored out of his mind from his normal job and that’s why he’s doing all these dangerous jobs. Foregoing any real character insight and depth or even a conscience in the early parts, Barry is an extremely likable character with only his can-do attitude, disarming smile and aviator shades to get him out of trouble.
Playing fast and loose with some of the historical accounts, the film is part political satire depicting the CIA and the Reagan administration as meddlesome and incompetent in their so-called war on drugs and in their involvement with the Contras in Nicaragua. There's also a lot of comedic moments (my favorite being the one where Barry has a baseball bat when delivering guns to the Contras) and tense situations, mostly when the Medellin Cartel is involved.
Strong performances by Domhnall Gleeson, who plays the opportunistic CIA Monty Schafer, and Sarah Wright, who plays Barry’s sassy wife. I don’t know if it’s a coincidence or a career path but Caleb Landry Jones has portrayed two of the most hateable, most punchable characters I’ve seen in the past few weeks (months if I include Get Out). Coming off from his recent detestable turn in Twin Peaks: The Return, Caleb is back as Barry’s brother-in-law JB. Aside from his loathsome face, the moment you see JB, you know he is just going to screw up Barry’s operations.
Similar to The Wolf of Wall Street, War Dogs, Blow and Goodfellas to name a few, this type of crime rags-to-riches film with its quick pace and fast edits is also ideal to be watched at home. And to answer your most important question about the movie, yes, Tom Cruise has a running scene in this one.
Rating: 8/10
Dragonlord's Review of AMERICAN MADE (No Spoilers)
Bottom Line: Tom Cruise’s megawatt charisma shines in this farcical biopic that’s breezily entertaining as it is incredulous.
After his last two disappointing outputs (Jack Reacher: Never Go Back and The Mummy), Tom Cruise is back and he reunites with Edge of Tomorrow director Doug Liman in bringing to life this fantastic true-to-life story. Cruise plays Barry Seal, a former TWA pilot turned aerial spy photographer and drug runner for the CIA, a drug smuggler for the Medellin Cartel and an informant for the White House.
I’d like to think that Barry is “Maverick” Pete Mitchell in an alternate reality sequel to Top Gun where he is now married with kids but is bored out of his mind from his normal job and that’s why he’s doing all these dangerous jobs. Foregoing any real character insight and depth or even a conscience in the early parts, Barry is an extremely likable character with only his can-do attitude, disarming smile and aviator shades to get him out of trouble.
Playing fast and loose with some of the historical accounts, the film is part political satire depicting the CIA and the Reagan administration as meddlesome and incompetent in their so-called war on drugs and in their involvement with the Contras in Nicaragua. There's also a lot of comedic moments (my favorite being the one where Barry has a baseball bat when delivering guns to the Contras) and tense situations, mostly when the Medellin Cartel is involved.
Strong performances by Domhnall Gleeson, who plays the opportunistic CIA Monty Schafer, and Sarah Wright, who plays Barry’s sassy wife. I don’t know if it’s a coincidence or a career path but Caleb Landry Jones has portrayed two of the most hateable, most punchable characters I’ve seen in the past few weeks (months if I include Get Out). Coming off from his recent detestable turn in Twin Peaks: The Return, Caleb is back as Barry’s brother-in-law JB. Aside from his loathsome face, the moment you see JB, you know he is just going to screw up Barry’s operations.
Similar to The Wolf of Wall Street, War Dogs, Blow and Goodfellas to name a few, this type of crime rags-to-riches film with its quick pace and fast edits is also ideal to be watched at home. And to answer your most important question about the movie, yes, Tom Cruise has a running scene in this one.
Rating: 8/10
