American Heart

American Heart casts Jeff Bridges in the role of a recently paroled convict who would like to make a fresh start of things. But from the gitgo he's saddled with a responsibility of his own making. His 14 year old son Edward Furlong runs away from the uncle he's been staying with and hooks up with Bridges.

Sad to say but it's like they're doomed from the start. They live in an SRO hotel on Seattle's seamier side. Bridges is working as a window washer, barely making ends meet. Furlong tries to enroll in school, but the bureaucracy proves too much. He falls in with a lot of street kids including child hooker Tracey Kapisky who reminds me very much of Jodie Foster in Taxi. She's lives in the same SRO with her mother who's in the same profession and jealous of her daughter.

Bridges also has a younger associate, Don Harvey who'd like to get him back in the criminal life. He's also found a bit of romance with a prison pen pal in Lucinda Jenney.

American Heart is a real downer of a film, but very well done. Sad to these are very real people. But oddly enough it follows the same plot line as the Shirley Temple movie Now and Forever with Gary Cooper and Carole Lombard. Sort of like an R-rated version of it.

This film is not one for those who like happy endings. Still I think it is one Jeff Bridges finest screen achievements.

An ex-convict (Jeff Bridges) is tracked down by his estranged teenage son (Edward Furlong), and the pair try to build a relationship and life together in Seattle.

Elements of the screenplay for "American Heart" were based on material originally covered in the director's prior documentary film "Streetwise" (1984), such as the relationship between Dewayne and his father. Having not seen the earlier film, I cannot comment on the connection any more than that.

Not surprisingly, Edward Furlong won an award for this, and Jeff Bridges is as great as ever (he is quite the natural). It is a shame that Furlong went on to a more questionable future. One cannot help but wonder if the early success tainted his later life.

What makes "American Heart" a better film than many others with a similar theme (father and son struggling with their relationship) is the exceptional acting. Jeff Bridges and Edward Furlong are both brilliant in this film. The story is also very well-written and interesting. Definitely a film above the average. 6/10

Man, was Jeff Bridges excellent in this! Talk about being pitch perfect in a character who is trying to change and just having the hardest time. Subtle touches, like when he takes away the joint from his son, only to slip it into his own pocket. This is a good film, small gem. Rent it!

I had seen this movie years ago, but recently I bought it and viewed it again. I knew I had liked the movie when I first saw it, but this time around I loved it. It is a great drama movie with a great Father/Son relationship story. Edward Furlong is really great in this film. He plays the role the way a role like this should be played. I would recommend this movie to others who enjoy a good story and a good drama. I thought the ending was sad and personally would have enjoyed a happier ending. Great movie! Kristin