American Son

What do we make of a movie that has love it or hate it reviews? Possibly reviewers are judging two different aspects: content and portrayal. American Son raises many important issues that society is struggling with. And the film does show that these issues are not as clear-cut as we might think. It encourages the viewer to see the other person's perspective. If these elements of the film were instead those of an article or a non-fiction book, they would be top-notch.

But this is a film, one adapted from a play. And as a film, it languishes beneath its interesting premise. The most glaring fault lies in the conversation between the parents. Although they were married for many years, they now speak about race issues as if the topic was something new. Is the viewer meant to believe that a biracial couple never explored their views of racial relations? They do not have a credible conversation, but instead make statements for the benefit of the viewer. Rather than believable character dialogue, we get parallel monologues. It is of no surprise, then, that the writer uses amateur contrivances such as that used to bring up the shameful history of segregated water fountains. 'Can I get you anything?' 'Water' 'There's a water fountain down the hall, well actually there are two...' And so on. Such clumsy attempts to invite a soapbox moment is just bad film. Indeed the bulk of the screenplay is replete with such contrived moments. It is the type of faux pas made by Creative Writing students. If it were a fluffy action movie, it could get by with inconsistent, superficial stock characters--the viewer would still enjoy the exciting car chases. But this is meant to be serious drama. It is not the acting that is the problem, but the writing. Sadly, a missed opportunity to prompt a meaningful discussion on the issues it reduces to cliché.

This is adapted from a Broadway play, and it plays out like one as well. One setting, four characters, if that's not your thing then maybe avoid it. A mixed-race couple at a police station await word on their son's involvement in a police incident. It gets intense and you will be angry and annoyed and more.

It's a little too timely and it cuts deep. It gives you a slight window into the reality of black America. Maybe it will open your minds or make you see things from another angle.

I found this movie absorbing and it has left me exhausted having just watched it. I have read some of the other reviews and I do agree you have to get through the first ten minutes and allow the mum to be annoying, thats kind of the point. People often say somehting was a rollercoaster and this truly was. I lost count of how many times I thought, well thats a terrible stereotypical point of view only for one of the characters to call the other character out on it and thats how it goes on. If you fast forwarded through it, if you didn't finish it then it is no wonder you found it boring or didn't understand it. It is from a play and is filmed as a play so there's no fighting or shoot outs or any real action of any kind. But the emotional turmoil is no less effective. The acting is top notch - actually if you do find the mum really annoying then that is really a compliment - and the ending is handled perfectly. It makes you think, it makes you wonder, it really is worth a look.

I have to disagree with many of the reviews for this movie. I wasn't great but it wasn't unnecessary. This was a Broadway play, which explains why the story seems without depth. The lack of perspective adds to the tension. You only know what you bring with you to the room and what the police slowly tell you. What I did notice is that many reviewers hate racially charged topics. This is why we cannot seem to heal from them in this county. We've got to be able to face the ugly little truths.

Kerry's depiction of a mother worries for her missing son is highly believable. The fact that she, who is black, is met by a young police officer, who is white, and that they have to grapple with their individual reactions to each other i.e. inexperience and all too common micro aggressions on his part and a different lived experience and suspicion on her part made for uncomfortable but riveting scenes. Also loved the scene between her and the more seasoned cop which, besides displaying an overuse of force by a black officer, also delivered some difficult truths.

I love that there were so many layers to the plot besides the scenes between the mother and the police officers. The film also succeeds in showing the aftermath of a marriage that has completely broken down and just how far people can drift from those first blissful moments in a relationship. Anyone whose ever been through a bitter break-up will surely recognize the truths in these scenes.

The transition from Broadway to television was, in my opinion, extremely well done. The focus was squarely on the four performers which is where it should be and not on a whole lot of Hollywood-type frills. Makes me wish I had seen the original play.