Americano

I think as a romantic comedy it works quite well, and I think it's a great film for couples to watch together - preferably by candle-light, with some wine and some tapas snacks on hand. Tim Sharp & Ruthanna Hopper were fine as the "comic" couple played against the serious (Jackson & Varela) couple. I'll admit the Dennis Hopper character was a bit of a problem: his portentous oracular pronouncements ("Be wary!") were a bit hard to swallow. The chemistry between Jackson & Varela is real. The cinematography was first rate; the sights & sounds of Spain, of the drunken blow-out that is the running of the bulls are captured quite well indeed. What, for me, made the film completely worthwhile was the presence of beautiful Chilean actress Leonor Varela. She is a fine actress, and has shown herself to be also a first rate comedic actress. A must see for a Spanish beauty fans!

This is an awful failure of a film, one of the worst I have seen in a while. The acting is absolutely abysmal, the story-line a bore, the characters self-absorbed zeros I would never want to meet anywhere, not even at a garage sale. Don't waste your time or money. Let's face it: films about ugly, ego-maniacal young Americans in Pamplona are a wasted effort. The story, told eons ago, doesn't bear repeating. Hemingway did it already, and he did it in a masterful way that the script writer for this film can never hope to match. This film might have been passably interesting had the story been about a critical juncture, occurring somewhere other than a stereotypically red and white bedecked Pamplona, in which the protagonist has to face real dilemmas far more profound than the tawdry "finding one's self" bromide tendered here. A DVD worth labeling and tossing as GARBAGE.

AMERICANO is the story of three Americans spending their last "free" days traveling in Europe. They only have a few more days before they return to the States to start their jobs, pay their debts, and enter the "real world". Reminiscent of THE MOTORCYCLE DIARIES and THE PUFFY CHAIR, AMERICANO is about discovering the individual. Chris (McKinley) has a good job lined up but is reticent about returning after meeting the enigmatic Riccardo and beautiful Adella. Ryan and Michelle inspect the depths of their relationship. With a beautiful score, the film puts us into the running of the bulls in Pamplona. Chris and Ryan and filled with excitement and anticipation; Chris is inspired by Hemingway, ready to jot this adventure down in his journal. Fate appears in the form of the disappearance of his backpack, and now his plans start to fall apart. Upon meeting the local Adella and being urged to live his life, not the on expected by him, by Riccardo, Chris begins not only a pursuit of Adella but of his own soul and character. Ryan and Michelle, as they begin to near their return to the real world, begin to question their own lives together and what is real vs. simple contentment. The music is extraordinary. While it is a little tough to believe these actors are post-college age, the acting is top-notch for an indie film. The romantic scenes between Chris and Adella are exquisite.

This is undoubtedly the most pretentious and terrible film I have ever watched. It is ignorant, trying to be cultured but just comes across as embarrassingly cringe-worthy and wooden. The main female character who is supposed to be (I think) passionate and exciting is instead annoying and fake. Its obviously an American portrayal of what they see as culture on this side of the ocean(European countries) but it does nothing but expose the ignorance of the American film industry. The only slightly redeeming fact about this movie is Jackson's character's best friend who is pretty funny (but is not even on the screen very much). I have never written a review on anything before but feel like it would be selfish in this case not to warn the rest of the world not to waste 2 hours watching this film as I have done. (well actually it was so bad I switched it off before the end). Basically if you ever think about watching this film...DON'T.

This movie is about three friends, a couple and their writer friend Chris who travel around the world to find themselves and the truth. When they reach Spain their adventure heats up when they meet Adella. Adella and Chris are instantly attracted to each other, she decides to give him a taste of Spain.

From food, beautiful places, music (the soundtrack is absolutely amazing!), and even the famous San Fermin (Pamplona Bull Run). But my favorite scene must be the scene when Adella played by Leonor Varela seduces Chris played by Joshua Jackson. Such a beautiful scene and the song is super hot.