Should you watch this at weekday movie ticket prices? No.
Should you watch this for free? If you’re an Adrien Brody or Hayden Christensen fan, but not if you’re a Jordana Brewster fan. There’s not enough of her.
Secret ending? No.
Running time: 95 minutes (~ 1.5 hours)
“American Heist” is an action drama that revolves around the reunion between two brothers, and their eventual decision to pull off the biggest heist of their lives. It stars Hayden Christensen (James), Adrien Brody (Frankie), Jordana Brewster (Emily), and Akon (Sugar). It is rated M-18.
“American Heist” suffers from the two protagonists taking their roles far too seriously and with too much intensity to be believable. Understandably, there’s a lot of emotion and tension between the two brothers due to the situations that they find themselves in. But it feels like an overreaction to everything and each other, and this lack of moderation in the way the acting has been approached makes it tiresome to watch after the first 20 minutes or so.
Highlights
Realistic action scenes
The action sequences feel authentic and gritty, probably because it’s not a big budget blockbuster, so there’s more emphasis on the cinematography. They actually feel like they could take place in the real world, owing to the direction and the straightforward attitude to the stunts. It focuses on functionality rather than giant flames and explosions (but these still exist), rewarding you with more genuine and realistic action.
James and Emiliy’s relationship
There’s this charming innocence to their relationship, that shyness that comes with lovers want to be together but can’t. Because of their weird awkwardness of their relationship juxtaposed with that of the overdramatic brothers’, their relationship takes a more subtle, natural note that makes it one of the few gems of the movie. You just want them to be together, since it’s the only positive thing to happen in James’ life.
Letdowns
Frankie is an overdramatic pest
There’s absolutely no empathising with Frankie. He starts out being a showy braggart that’s clearly unwelcome and obviously trouble for James. It just escalates into him badgering James into more disastrous decisions, and no amount of mid-movie tears or elaboration of backstory will get this sour taste of Frankie out of your mouth. He’s completely dislikeable and irredeemable, all the way till the end.
James is a pouty protagonist
James just sulks and mumbles his way through all his scenes. Perhaps it’s how Hayden Christensen delivers dialogue, but it’s also in how the character is written and portrayed. He seems reluctant and unwilling to do anything, and while it’s done to show his lack of confidence, it also serves to make him exaggeratedly whiny. This uncertainty just makes him a spineless character rather than the struggling underdog.
Strange cuts in the third Act
Act Three cuts abruptly between two different scenes. The problem is that one of them is all about action and focuses on the antagonists, while the other one is about the relationship between the two brothers. They are as far apart in tone as can be, and the sudden and repeated transitions between both scenes reduces whatever emotional impact severely. You never really settle into the mood that each sequence creates, and it leaves you bored and unconnected with the film as a result.
“American Heist” tries very hard to be a good character film, it really does. It also gratifies with a smattering of action scenes. But ultimately, it doesn’t work because there’s no subtlety in the storytelling, while oddly that subtlety goes to the action. It’s a queer approach to take to the film, and one that fails to pay off.
“American Heist” opens in cinemas 25 June, 2015 (Thursday).
This review was also published on Yahoo.
Thanks for the terrific guide