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Details
Format: Blu-ray, DVD
Program Type: Movie
Other
Product Name: American Made [Includes Digital Copy] [Blu-ray/DVD] [2017]
UPC: 025192316197
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Rated 5 out of 5 stars
First-rate entertainment
Doug Liman’s entertaining “American Made” tells the somewhat true story of Barry Seal, a former TWA pilot, who, during the 1980’s, was ‘coerced’ into flying spy missions for the CIA before becoming a drug smuggler for a Colombian drug cartel. Then, to avoid prison, he becomes an informant for the DEA, and winds up slipping further and further into a complex web of nefarious enterprises that makes it virtually impossible for him to get out of. Playing Seal with a flippant sarcasm, Tom Cruise displays the multi-leveled range of a superior character actor, but what really makes this film work is Liman’s tightrope-balancing act between outrageous humor and the serious, even dangerous, reality of Seal’s situation. In fact, the film brings to mind the best of Martin Scorsese’s work, e.g., “Goodfellas”, or, more precisely, Scorsese’s less accomplished “Wolf of Wall Street”. Particularly notable is the film’s digital photography that employs an exaggerated sun-drenched color saturation to the point of comic-book surrealism. Although taking liberty with the facts (Seal did not crash-land into a suburban neighborhood), this is a cinematic ride that ranks with the best action thrillers of recent years. And how it eventually leads into the Iran-Contra criminal escapades of the Reagan Administration in 1986 should provide an eye-opening history lesson to viewers who may not know much about that shady era in American history. (Interesting trivia: Cruise actually does his own flying in the film.) A first-rate entertainment, and Liman’s career best.
Barry Seal (Tom Cruise) pretty much lived large for a spell in the late Seventies through the early Eighties. He had pretty much everything which included wealth and the love of an extremely hot woman. His hand was in many pies some legal, some illegal, and some questionably legal. It wasn't so much the wealth, sex, and rock 'n' roll that Barry craved but the shear adrenaline rush of the chase. Many accomplices to his activities would include President Ronald Reagan, then Governor of Arkansas Bill Clinton, to his no-account white trash brother-in-law. His inevitable downfall was a classic case of overreach. But what a thrill ride! Cruise plays Seal with equal parts brio and relish. He really seems engaged and having fun with this part and it shows. Best I've seen him in years. Doug Liman directs the film at a dizzying breakneck pace not unlike his previous collaboration with Cruise, "Edge of Tomorrow". Flick flew under my radar on initial release. Don't make the same mistake.
Thought that this movie was better than most people gave it credit for. The cinematography definitely takes you for a ride, making it a fun watch. However, I think they try to make the Barry Seal a bit too likable. Regardless of how much of a cowboy he may have been and whether he was blackmailed by the government as well the Cartel, he was still a smuggler. And apparently a prolific one. This movie is more lighthearted than I would expect the story to be. You don't feel the amount of weight he must of felt, considering his demise.
