American Rust - Ruggine americana

Ok, it's a slow show to begin with. You mainly watch the first episodes for the cast, the filming, the atmosphere... But as the story unfolds, the plot starts to take a turn for the best, things move faster and faster, almost surprisingly so... I'm so glad I didn't give up after a few episodes, the reward was definitely worth it!

I watched the first season back in Sept 2021. I had wondered what the heck happened with it, I had no idea that it was cancelled, And then come to find out, Just last week, April 2024, it's on Amazon Prime as an exclusive with a second season. Now I thought the first season was fine if a little bit slow but good acting good writing et cetera. I started season 2 a few days ago, & i'm on episode six, Sunday morning at 130 AM. It is Like a a good book you can't put down! This is really gripping. For those of you that may be on the fence after finishing the first season- keep going...because, Season two is WAY better than the first.

I think a lot of reviewers must not know the lighting on this show is mood lighting to emphasize the darkness, dreary area and somber mood of the town's residents. The events would be much less effective if it was bright, sunny, cheery lighting. I can't believe I feel the need to make a case for different types of lighting on a film project. And the cast is top-notch. The reviewers must not watch tv or film to not know who these stars are. It's a very well written adaptation from a book.

This show is very underrated quite frankly for its realism. I love that it is not an over hyped, over acted, overly dramatized look at life in a small steel town in Pennsylvania. I think what in most captivating is everything about seems like its playing out exactly as it might with all the sorrows, depths and loyalties that one might find in small impoverished town in which one must rely on ones town folks in desperate times. It was cast brilliantly with top notch acting and writing. Jeff Daniels will likely be nominated for some award. The undertones of opioid addiction are incorporated just enough that you understand how pervasive the problem is but not so much it overly dominates the main story line which is really about loyalties one might experience in a place where everyone knows one another and are somehow intertwined with a sense of duty to one another, something lost in large cities. The only missed opportunity here so far is that the director didnt do a better job cinematically. It is obvious this is not a seasoned director and should they renew it for a second season I hope they expand the budget to include better cinematography. Well done. Im on episode 6 and I am completely invested.

This show started off slow and I almost called it quits after the second episode, but I love Jeff Daniels in serious roles and I wanted to give it a real chance. I'm really glad I did. Here we are at episode 9 and it's totally paid off in full, though the show picked up earlier than that. I think the critics rushed to judgement on it.