Review of American Animals (2018) by Lydia M — 20 Aug 2018

Wow, I've been excited to see this movie, but right before I saw it, I read some comments about how boring and how slow action is. And now after seeing the movie I ask "WHERE?", I mean have we watched the same movie? Cause I loved it!

This is not regular "based on true story" movie, it's really more than that. It contains action, crime, biography, drama, art and really good poetical explanation about why they actually did what they did (can be seen through Spenser's monologues). They needed a change, excitement, to do something that would leave a mark. And once they actually started a robbery, through their physical state (nausea, vomiting, shaking, sweating) we can see their true mental state and in that moment some of them realized, it was nice and thrilling idea coming up with a plan, but making it real was hard and dangerous, and as Spencer rationally said, it would leave a mark on all of their families and their loved ones. Even Warren, the troublemaker, felt it when he had to hurt the librarian lady.

For me, the most important moment of entire movie was the catching scene. They are all nervous, terrified, lying in their beds, the whole thing from first meeting to losing books and running are going through their heads, they are aware that they're going to be arrested in every moment, and then they see the FBI lights, hear the footsteps coming closer and closer to their rooms and in that moment - they grow up. They do what adults would do. Surrender, don't run, accept the guilt, serve their sentence and eventually became the better people.

Also, something that makes this movie different and even more realistic, is not remembering important details. And that's okay, because our brain works that way. When we cope with difficult situations and go through hard period filled with a bunch of emotions, to make it easier for us to deal with it, our brain can change, "add" or "delete" memories, details in it or part of them.

But we're all just humans, and how can you truly learn if never make a mistake?