American Dream

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source: American Dream

The acting wasn't bad. The story needed improvement. People want to see the underdog succeed. Build up the suspense, but have an outcome the audience can be content with. Take lessons from The Equalizer. So disappointed.

Not sure why, but I wanted to like this movie. Starts off decently although no one is winning any acting awards for this one But once the premise is set up, the whole structure falls apart and the story strains credulity. You end up loosing all respect for the protagonists because the react so stupidly as the movie descends into the farcical. Kind of a shame really. In the end, it's a dud.

Only 10 for nick stahls performance. I enjoyed the movie, but I went into thinking it was gonna be as bad as what I herd about it. Pleasantly surprised it was better than I thought.

A bit surprised by this film, its a lovely revenge thrillerdrama, involving criminal elements from russia, somewhere southern parts of california, even upfront the norwegian seamens church theyve chosen to shoot a pretty violent scene. its all about money, where small entrepeneurs go dire straits because the bank wont lend money for running expences, and pretty coincidentally they get in touch with people with money when attending a marriage, but they are gangsters that turns the gun at you almost immediatly. even though its good there are lots of storystrains that vanish out in the sand, and faces that you think will be important thats never shown or used again. also hard to nail the timeline here. so it could be better plotted and the story could have been made more visual. but acting is fairly good and the final revenge tastes blood, also with a female caracter that can blow the wheel wrench more than just once to underline her true feelings( usually women beats once and then runs to be caught and killed in almost every western killer thrillers, except the superhero dames) so its a film to watch when it arrives in your local cinema theater.its a 7 and a recommend from the grumpy old man

There are no answers, only choices! Great acting, lots of plot holes buta great story poorly told. Great to see Yuri dies though!

When you start throwing names around in the film's trailer - Janusz Kaminski, award winning long time cinematographer to Steven Spielberg, you expect to see something, well... worth watching. This was not the case here. Kaminski, as producer and director for this film, was horrible as a director. Way too many random still shots, unnecessarily long or too short scenes, and scenes popping out of nowhere and ending abruptly as well as outdated slow-mo shots. The editing was just as bad. Seasoned cinematographer Keith Dunkerley's photography was the worst I've seen in a long time, and perhaps Kaminski should have stuck to what he's good at. The washed out yellow tinge colors made the film feel like it was the late 80's or early 90's - very unappealing and not gangster motif. It may have worked, had the new model Audi not made an appearance. The score was typical B-film - loud, overbearing, and unfitting for the most part. The screenplay by novice writers Duncan Brantley and Mark Wheaton had way too many plot and technical issues, many that could've easily been fixed had the screenplay been proofread by a seasoned writer. The story concept has been done many times before, much better, and this was a tacky attempt that failed miserably. It had me shaking my head asking "but why?" and many "huh?" 's. The casting and performances were adequate, with Agnieszka Grochowska being the only convincing character that seemed to know how to really act. I get that this was a low budget film, but the amateur errors are no excuse, and didn't need more funding to avoid. It's a generous 5/10 from me

"Everyday I don't have my money, add on 20%". Jeez-o-Pete. That interest sounds rather dicey to me. Everyday I decide not to write a review, I cave. I feel 20% bored. So yeah, I liked American Dream but its ending left me a little tongue-tipped, a little falsely prospected, and edgy. I didn't know how to interpret it and I salivated for about five more minutes of pledged screen time. American Dream's story feeling like an LA Lifetime movie gone rogue, goes like this: Two earnest construction workers who want to be property owners, decide to make money off a guaranteed, lucrative project. They go to a Russian Mob worker for a loan and when said loan doesn't work out, chaos and stalker threat ensues. With a low budget feel, a minimal cast, a scorched Los Angeles setting, Coinstar remnants, and some curt bloodletting, "Dream" is a nasty thriller that's mysteriously billed as a portioned drama. Uh huh. I didn't know dramas had sawed-off body parts, attempted hangings, attempted rapes, and knuckled crushing-s. What the heck. American Dream is dark, dangerous, fringed, and effectively unsafe. This is all despite some choppy editing, a certain callowness, and an LAPD that could care less about what's going on. Nick Stahl co-stars in "Dream" as Russki mobster and pseudo apologetic businessman, Yuri (that's a familiar black hat name). Fresh from rehab, absent from the acting scene, and getting his Bully on twenty years later, the slick-haired Stahl plays a scumbag ruffian like nobody's business. All in all, if you want to start 2021 off with a punch to the gut and some labored breathing, then American Dream will sock it to you Houdini-style. Janusz Kaminski's deft direction, Duncan Brantley's lurid script, and Robert Foster's numbing score here make this compact, B-movie trope recommendable. Teamwork makes the "dream" work.

Pair his cringe acting with the first time director, Janusz Kaminski and it's no surprise this is terrible. Loads of plot holes, people loaning nearly a million dollars on a handshake deal and then balking at a 7k finders fee. Then add in pointless flashbacks and scenes of the guys running around town on skateboards and it's just a bizarre film all the way through. If a film is rated 1 or 2 stars, then not only is it bad, it shouldn't have been made in the first place and that's exactly what this is.