Pesadelo Americano

Another hard-hitting and thought-provoking drama. Director Aric Avelino examines guns from the perspective of four separate stories: Marcia Gay Hardin as the mother of an Oregon teenager who shot up his school, Columbine-like, and faces guilt and blame and scorn from neighbors, and worry about her other son, who is now the same age as the other brother when he performed his murderous act and suicide; an inner city school principal (excellently played by Forest Whitaker, who I was pleased to see won an Oscar last week for his role as Idi Amin in LAST KING OF Scotland) trying to stay on top of the school's anti-gun policy, with Arlen Escarpeta as an A-student carrying for his mom and family who feels he needs a gun for protection while walking to/from school; Tony Goldwyn as the cop who first arrived on scene at the Oregon school shooting and who faces community/media criticism for delayed response (again, very much based on Columbine); and Linda Cardellini who shines in a very convincing performance as a west coast girl displaced to a Virginia college who is working in her granddad's (Donald Sutherland) gun shot. All of the performances, in fact, are striking and through them the picture really has an emotional impact. The film, without comment, portrays these differing views of gun ownership, gun violence, school shootings, guilt, blame, etc., very nicely filmed and beautifully portrayed, its vignettes and its style leaving the viewer to establish their own viewpoint and opinions. The film keeps its personal viewpoint quiet, instead simply portraying a few aspects of American life impacted by the consequences of guns. Like American HISTORY X, I found this to be a provoking and stimulating drama about reality, choices, consequences, and inevitability, peopled by honest and real characters, superbly portrayed and beautifully composed.

I've read comment after comment and review after review saying this film is just a remake of Crash. Some even saying the director should receive some "props" from being so quick on the draw on capitalizing on this. However, anyone who actually follows films outside of what they read in People Magazine will know that this film was being shot BEFORE Crash, and had actually been completed as far back as June 2005. It is a film that was in pre-production a year before that. Unfortunately, the distribution company decide to hold this film from release until this past weekend, prompting hack critics to say it's just a knock-off of this year's "Best Picture" (also to be strongly debated).

This is a film that doesn't need to have a Hollywood ending. Is driven by such strong performances and directing that it leaves you motionless in your seat at its conclusion. A rare film that hits harder and harder with each repeat screening. I could go on and on about the performances of Marcia Gay Harden and Forest Whitaker (who by the way gives his best performance to date in this film), but what was even more impressive was the performances by the younger actors on screen. The Son of Marcia Gay Harden and the character "Jay" both blew me away by the quality of their performances.

American Gun is well worth the money. Please don't be closed-minded and see this film as just a knock-off of Crash. Just because a movies is released after another film DOES NOT MEAN that it was made after that film. It's just bad luck for this movie and for first time writer and director Aric Avelino, who proves excellent movies can still be made with a purpose and without big budgets.

"American Gun" is an amazing, quiet movie that packs so much into an hour and 37 minutes. It's about the lives, ones of desperation and defeat, that different people around the nation live with every day, ones affected by guns.

Marcia Gay Harden plays a single mother whose son participated in a shooting at his high school and was killed. Even though that was years ago, she lives trapped in that time, that single moment that shaped her life and her younger son's life forever. For anyone who heard about the tragedy at Columbine, saw the footage and were outraged, for anyone who thought, "What were the parents doing? Why didn't they stop those children from taking guns into that school?" this movie shows the other side. And will make you think.

Linda Cardellini is a college student who works in her grandfather's (played by Donald Sutherland) gun shop. She's uncomfortable around him, around the shop, but family obligation keep there day after day.

Arlen Escarpeta plays Jay, an African-American high school student who carries a gun to school. But he's also a straight A student and takes care of his mother and younger siblings.

At the heart of this movie is Carter (Forest Whitaker), a principal at Jay's high school, a man who is there to make a difference. He talks to those kids, he tries to make them understand there's more to life than guns and gangs. He's so dedicated that sometimes he neglects his own family to help others.

There are no easy stereotypes in this movie, no pat answers. No one is simply one thing. The main characters are real, sometimes unrelentingly horrible, sometimes kind to each other. Whether you are pro or anti-gun, this movie will make you question what you believe and give you something to think about.

I disagree with the people who think that nothing sticks out in this movie.

I saw it and was amazed at some of the things that were said and shown.

Sure, there may have been some exaggerated intensity, but isn't that sometimes necessary to prove a point.

Do you think that the real lives of people who have to carry guns to school, are robbed at gun point, or live a threatened life are calm, relaxed, or peaceful? No. Those lives can be full of anxiety, violence, and much intensity!

I think this movie provides a great view of something that is ripping apart our society before our very eyes.

Hats off to the film makers!

In AMERICAN GUN guns are examined from the perspective of four different stories after one tragic accident similar to the Florida one in 2018.

Janet (Marcia Gay Harden) is the mother of the teenager who shot in his Oregon school and is scorned by her neighbours while also being worried about her brother son that has the same age of the kid when he committed that terrible act. Carter (Forest Whitaker) is the high school principal that struggles everyday for keeping the school safe from guns until he discovers that his son has bought a gun. Mary Ann Wilk (Linda Cardellini) is a West Coast girl that is displaced to a Virginia college and in her free time works in her grandfather (Donald Sutherland)'s gun shop. Frank (Tony Goldwyn) is a cop who is constantly criticized for having arrived late at the shooting and has some sort of burden in his conscience for this.

While watching I found AMERICAN GUN very interesting despite at times the loud music was annoying and the stories looked a bit disjointed. Maybe because it features many great actors and they all give good performances. I loved it? Not exactly, but I admire it for being different and kinda actual despite it was released in 2005. And I think this movie is better than most of the reviews I read... are we always watching the same movie??