Read User Reviews and Submit your own for American Animals

8

BHBarryJun 7, 2018

“American Animals” is the true story of an art heist portrayed in part by those who actually participated in it. The intermingling of the real life participants in the story with the actors who were playing them gives credibility to the film“American Animals” is the true story of an art heist portrayed in part by those who actually participated in it. The intermingling of the real life participants in the story with the actors who were playing them gives credibility to the film and creates an interest and excitement with a deeper dimension than one might otherwise expect in a crime drama. Written and directed by Bart Layton, with a cast of little known actors, this is a film that not only holds your attention but draws you into the problems and pitfalls the would-be robbers face as these novice felons engage in the planned theft. Truth here is not only stranger but many times more interesting than if someone has simply imagined this sequence of events. I give the film an 8 for not only being entertaining but also for the unique manner in which the story was told.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

All this user's reviews

7

TVJerryJun 28, 2018

Four college students decide to steal some very valuable books from the university's special collection. Since this movie is based on a real event, the filmmaker staged the story with actors interspersed with interviews from the actualFour college students decide to steal some very valuable books from the university's special collection. Since this movie is based on a real event, the filmmaker staged the story with actors interspersed with interviews from the actual perpetrators. Not surprisingly, the real people are more compelling than the pros. This doesn't play out like a typical heist, but more of a cautionary tale. The performances and plot are interesting, but this is more a drama about misguided youth than the mischievous caper that sells it.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

All this user's reviews

9

netflicJun 11, 2018

Heist movies are not my favorite genre but having seen good scores for this film I made my mind to give it a try.

The movie exceed my expectations. I would rather characterize it as a mixture of a psychological drama and a documentaryHeist movies are not my favorite genre but having seen good scores for this film I made my mind to give it a try.

The movie exceed my expectations. I would rather characterize it as a mixture of a psychological drama and a documentary describing a real robbery that took place in 2004.

Not only the movie has an interesting idea but that idea is also implemented flawlessly.

There is a group of four young guys (most of them college students) who plan to steal old and very valuable artifacts from a university library.

The same story is told from different points of view.

As events roll out, here and there there are series of interviews with real participants, not only crime perpetrators but also their parents, teachers, etc., recalling events, contemplating on them after so many years. That adds another dimension and depth to the movie.

Superb acting and a great script.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

All this user's reviews

9

IndiefilmloverJun 2, 2018

Art imitates life and vice versa in this compelling yarn about a group of college students that attempt to steal some rare books from the university library. Told from multiple points of view, "American Animals" is never boring, suspenseful,Art imitates life and vice versa in this compelling yarn about a group of college students that attempt to steal some rare books from the university library. Told from multiple points of view, "American Animals" is never boring, suspenseful, and even laugh out loud funny at times.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

All this user's reviews

5

tropicAcesJun 23, 2018

There are moments of genuine tension and excitement, it’s hard to make a heist film completely devoid of any, but then it has about three faux endings that drag it on and on. Solid performances, nothing you’ve never seen before.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

All this user's reviews

9

KeithDowJun 28, 2018

‘American Animals’ is the best film I’ve seen so far this year. And that also includes being the most innovative, as I can’t think of any other movie—from any other year—that’s been presented in such a unique way.

Writer-director Bart‘American Animals’ is the best film I’ve seen so far this year. And that also includes being the most innovative, as I can’t think of any other movie—from any other year—that’s been presented in such a unique way.

Writer-director Bart Layton presents the film as a hybrid between narrative and documentary, perhaps 80-20, by laying out the story but also cutting away to the real life people who were involved with the situation for their thoughts and reflections on what happened.

The main reason why ‘American Animals’ is so effective is that it focuses on the tension and anxiety these kids are feeling before the heist … and the mixture of dread and regret afterwards. In turn, Layton elevates the film to a higher emotional plane, giving it a visceral sense of depth that no other movie has been able to match so far this year.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

All this user's reviews

10

ProteusJun 23, 2018

Excellent movie. Captures the spirit of what happened. Makes you feel it. Clever and entertaining. Kudos to the director here. Everything works. Timing, editing, interviews, reenactments. Bravo.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

All this user's reviews

10

teddywymanJul 4, 2018

I found this film quite terrific. Interviewing the actual characters throughout the story gave it a very real and unique feel, and I felt the film delivered everywhere it wanted to: it was funny, it was extremely tense, it was exciting, andI found this film quite terrific. Interviewing the actual characters throughout the story gave it a very real and unique feel, and I felt the film delivered everywhere it wanted to: it was funny, it was extremely tense, it was exciting, and it had some really interesting themes and ideas to leave you thinking when you left the theater. Given that I was expecting just another typical comedy-thriller heist movie, this one exceeded expectations. It was imperfect, but none of its flaws ever really took me out of the story. Very compelling.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

All this user's reviews

9

amehannaNov 20, 2018

With Hollywood’s constant praising of SJW’s and cuddling of hypersensitive millennials, it was only a matter of time before a film came along as a rebuttal.

Bart Layton’s AMERICAN ANIMALS follows the extraordinary and thrilling true story ofWith Hollywood’s constant praising of SJW’s and cuddling of hypersensitive millennials, it was only a matter of time before a film came along as a rebuttal.

Bart Layton’s AMERICAN ANIMALS follows the extraordinary and thrilling true story of four college friends with seemingly good lives who risk it all when they plan to steal 18th century rare books from Transylvania University.

What sets this film apart from any other film out this year, is Layton’s flawless and clever unification of documentary and narrative – blurring the lines between fact and fiction – to the point where one can’t even trust the film’s protagonists.

In a feat of creative ingenuity, he spreads the dramatization of the audacious daytime theft with post-prison testimonials from the real criminals who organized the heist, who end up serving the narrative like a Greek chorus commenting on the action taking place.

This sets the narrative stage as Layton and co. take the audience down a painfully truthful path of the fraudulent American dream that the millennials have all but taken as biblical.

Ideologically, it is a prophetic story of a lost and increasingly individualistic generation fed on a mantra that its lives would end up being interesting and remarkable in some way, only to one day realize that reality is much harsher than the fantastical virtual world they live in.

AMERICAN ANIMALS is the millennials’ version of Icarus.

In the myth, it is young Icarus’s ego and his blind outlook on freedom and life that brings him to his fall, and in Layton’s film, it is that same blindness and reluctance to let go of their fantasy that causes the four friends to fall as well.

The film’s narrative is not the only thing that makes it easily one of the best films of the year so far.

Layton’s vision and choice to incorporate elements of documentary filmmaking alongside tropes from the fictional movies the young men emulated in the heist, mirrors the protagonists’ increasing detachment from reality – taking the audience further and further down the rabbit hole of delusion, and ultimately the rather hopeless and heartbreaking end of the film.

The audience knowing that this story is actually not fictional, though it is being told in a fictional manner, pulls the audience in and brings them that much closer to the characters – and this is why the film succeeds.

Everything about the film is grounded in a reality – this is certain – the way it is presented however is where the artistry comes into play.

The cast is just beyond superb.

Evan Peters steals the show once more, there is nothing this young man can’t do. Peters is a thinking person's actor — and this is clear in the way that he delicately brings out a character's nuances.

Barry Keoghan, whose performance in THE KILLING OF A SACRED DEER horrified audiences, returns to another awkward and albeit internally and emotionally torn character.

Both actors play off of each other with such great ease that it is hard to believe that they are not the characters that they have embodied.

Structurally, the film’s execution is a home run.

Never has a film infused fiction and reality with such an emotional and genuine punch, where no decision comes off as gimmicky or forced. On the contrary, every decision, every visual echo, and every word spoken was organic and more importantly necessary in order to deliver the film’s overall theme.

AMERICAN ANIMALS is not for the faint of heart, it is not for the idealists, and it is not for the dreamers – it is a much-needed wakeup call.

Millennials have been brainwashed into believing they are special, they can take on the world, that their uniqueness, and not how much effort they put in, is their ticket to success, and when they finally realize how difficult life is and how merciless reality is, they come crashing down as their wings burst into flames.

Layton’s film gives voice to the generation of young people who are unable to express their individuality and end up turning to the corruption of the American dream.

Cinematographically, Ole Bratt Birkeland, the film’s director of photography, delivers on every level keeping up with the cast’s charisma and emotional power, the narrative’s high energy tension, as well as its shifts in perspectives and accounts.

Not one shot in this film is bland, and not one camera move redundant, but rather educated and purposeful.

Lastly, AMERICAN ANIMALS has one of the most interesting soundscapes since A QUIET PLACE, from earlier this year.

Just as the visuals shift between narrative and documentary, so does the sound shift from diegetic to nondiegetic adding to the blurring of fiction and reality.

Though, 2018 has been a rather dull year so far in the box office there have been some out-of-this-world powerful films, and AMERICAN ANIMALS is one of them.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

All this user's reviews

7

3ebfan511May 13, 2019

Its a good, but not great, movie whose signature is combining narrative with shots of the real life individuals occasionally speaking about the incidents. Its much like what is done in a true-crime show, so it is nothing revolutionary orIts a good, but not great, movie whose signature is combining narrative with shots of the real life individuals occasionally speaking about the incidents. Its much like what is done in a true-crime show, so it is nothing revolutionary or anything, and more impact could be had by just waiting to show the real people until the end. But the film was enjoyable for the most part, until towards the end when imo the drama of their heist did not match the serious tone, and felt over-done and overly dramatic at that point. It was not quite a life-or-death experience which rendered it less impactful, although it was still enjoyable to watch, especially if you enjoy heist films, and the planning and such.… Expand