Review of American Made (2017) by Keithdow — 18 Oct 2017

It's rather surprising that 'American Made' isn't a particularly good movie given the combination of its subject matter, star, and director.

The story is based on the life of Barry Seal, TWA pilot turned drug and gun runner for the CIA in what would eventually be known as the Iran-Contra Affair. Tom Cruise has both the right kind of moxie and manic energy to step into Barry's shoes, but these days it's getting harder and harder to distinguish where Cruise's own personality ends and that of his myriad action characters begin. Most surprisingly of all is director Doug Liman's inability to turn this film into a hit. After all, he certainly has the directing chops, most notably helming 2014's Edge of Tomorrow--also starring Cruise--in what many consider to be one of the best movies of that year and one of the most overlooked films in recent memory.

Instead, 'American Made' features numerous shots of actors faces out of frame, an over-reliance on the shaky camera effect, and too much exposition. Though the movie could have certainly turned into a complete disaster if left in less experienced hands, in the end it simply feels like a lower quality facsimile of the movie 'Blow.