Americana

AMERICANA is not a disaster. In fact, it's maybe 3/4ths of a very good movie. This neo-Western crime caper has a lot to say both about America's violent past and its fractious, identity politics poisoned present, but it should have taken the time to develop those ideas more fully.

Don't be fooled by Sydney Sweeney's top billing-she's probably the third or even fourth lead. She's fine enough, though her character is underwritten and stuck with a character trait that probably seemed better on the page than how it plays on screen. Halsey is fierce and along with Zahn Mcclarnon probably gives the movie's best performance.

AMERICANA looks and feels like an early Coen Brothers film or something Tarantino might have tried before Pulp Fiction, but it lacks the style, pace and wit that either of those filmmakers would bring to the material. But you could do worse movie-wise these days and if you go in open minded, you might just come away liking this one.

Director Tony Tost writes and directs a highly entertaining neo-western that reaches its peak in the final stretch. With a first-rate cast, Helsey stands out in particular with a dazzling performance that steals the show.

A film that develops gradually.

Tost's approach gains momentum as we understand where the paths of this neo-Western lead us. The director pays homage to the Western in a modern way, highlighting its characters, their struggles, and their true motivations. He features a committed cast that makes everything shine even more, while the director develops a script that knows exactly what it wants to tell, drawing us into a story that captivates thanks to the charisma of its characters.

A touch of femininity in an intense western.

The director spares no expense in highlighting the strength of his female characters. A solid Sydney Sweeney, more serene than usual, embodies a captivating character with a touch of innocence that makes her charming in every scene. Helsey, on the other hand, steals the show with an impressive performance. The singer displays all her talent in taking on a character filled with wounds and suffering, but also with absolute kindness. Her depth and powerful performance make the film her own from the start. Paul Walter Hauser also stands out, showcasing his full essence as an actor whose talent continues to grow. The cast is rounded out by Eric Dane, Zahn McClamon, and Simon Rex.

An incredible soundtrack.

Although the film isn't completely perfect and struggles in certain aspects, its country-tinged soundtrack manages to elevate the low moments with charming songs and banjo chords that complement the deep drama of this neo-western. Between the performances and the music, Tony Tost manages to pull off a script that loses some threads, but that doesn't affect the outcome of a fulfilling film.

Conclusion .

An interesting offering that recaptures the spirit of the Western in certain aspects, addressing the neo-Western appropriately and delivering a film that, with subtle humor, intense drama, and a truly powerful message between the lines, manages to convey a pleasant feeling throughout. Although it could have been more well-rounded, Americana is undoubtedly worth seeing.

For a heist movie, this seems to move real slow. Character development are important but film maker seem to not care about run time. If you like Halsey, she makes an appearance early for a short time then disappears until much later then you get a lot of. This film conceptually sound good but it is only (small) part heist. Not even half way through I've already lost interest. I stuck it out and luckily the kid and ghost face aka Henry scene kept me a little invested how the movie progresses. In my opinion the character Henry Alvin made this film tolerable. Halsey did good (I think this is her film debut) acting out her parts. The film is mostly drama and I realized this after much given thought. The end is perfect as it didn't fall into the trappings of a feel good film - the reincarnation nonsense was resoundingly rejected by the true adult in this film. The ending makes perfect sense also because Halsey's character finally realizes true wealth. What would make this film score higher than my six out of ten rating is if they had less of that excruciatingly slow scenes (yes, multiple) with hefty lefty cowboy and Sydney's character.

"Americana" is the story of a small town somewhere in South Dakota. We meet a large group of eccentric characters -- among them thug Dillon, his girlfriend Mandy and her little brother Cal (who claims he is the reincarnation of Sitting Bull), stuttering waitress Penny Jo, and goofy but kind-hearted vet Lefty. A very valuable Native American artifact goes onto the black market and the chase for it becomes wild and violent involving the folk I just mentioned and many others...

"Americana" is clearly an attempt to emulate Tarantino. And for a while, it does a really good job. The stories and timelines all intertwine nicely. The characters are engaging and the performances are solid (especially Paul Walter Hauser and Sydney Sweeney, who make Lefty and Penny Jo a charming and quirky pairing). However, about 2/3 of the way through, writer/director Tony Tost seems to run out of idea so it's just "everybody shoots." It sort of peters out at the end, which is a shame, since a killer ending would have really elevated this flick.

Overall though, in a world of IP and huge budget messes, "Americana" is a breath of fresh air. Not perfect by any length, but still pretty entertaining and definitely worth checking out and supporting.

As far as liking a certain genre of film I from time to time like to watch a good western, and with this entry "Americana" it was a modern day raw and gritty journey as I as the viewer felt the cowboys vs. Indians and cops and Robbers style. Set in South Dakota it involves a criminal scheme and a young man(Paul Walter Hauser) looking for love. Add in outsiders and outcast it's as if no one seems to be who they are, things connect up between the central characters as all are involved someway or the other. Look for Zahn McClarnon("Dark Winds") in a supporting turn and Sydney Sweeney as wild card character waitress Penny Jo(who becomes a damsel in distress by being tied up and gagged). The film has plenty of twist and excitement as it's a fun journey thru the old west that movie lovers should enjoy.