American Animals

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stuartboy
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American Animals

#1 Post by stuartboy » Sun Sep 02, 2018 10:19 pm

Saw this early as the Screen Unseen unfortunately as I already have tickets for Tuesday. I remember thinking during the film that I probably didn't want to bother seeing it again. Now I come to write a review and....I have absolutely no recollection of the film whatsoever! All I can say is that it's not particularly American...nor particularly about animals.
Even during writing this nothing has sprung to mind (ok I could google it) so it looks like I'm probably going to see it again.

Oh, and before you ask - I didn't sleep through it. Nor was I the worse for drink!)
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Re: American Animals

#2 Post by McG » Sun Sep 02, 2018 10:36 pm

:rofl2: :rofl2: :rofl2: :typing: Now that has to be the most original review of any film I've ever read, sb . . .but no help as to whether to see it! :p
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Re: American Animals

#3 Post by stuartboy » Sun Sep 02, 2018 10:48 pm

I still have not recollected a single thing about it! Either that means it's Meh, or that my brain has died a little bit. (Or that I'm under the affluence of incohol - which I'm most definitely not!)
Member No. 49 of the "100 free films in 2017" club. 20 different films seen.
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Re: American Animals

#4 Post by The Sparrow » Mon Sep 03, 2018 1:11 pm

It's a brilliant film and after watching it, I did some fact finding which I would advise others to do too.

I can't wait to see it again.
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Re: American Animals

#5 Post by RevKeith39 » Mon Sep 03, 2018 4:36 pm

By some considerable distance, this is my film of the year so far. A quite brilliant take on a heist movie, but blended with documentary style real life inserts. Laugh out loud moments mixed with open mouth incredulity. Also so topical in view of ongoing debate about so-called fake news. When two film characters describe a scene which is then followed by the real life characters articulating different recollections of the same events, you know you are watching a really interesting film. Uniformally excellent performances from the cast, terrific soundtrack, and masterly direction. 10/10
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Re: American Animals

#6 Post by stuartboy » Tue Sep 04, 2018 10:28 pm

Very very much better on second viewing. I can only say that my initial opinion was very much coloured by my awareness of having pa*d for a film that I already had for free.
I really loved the way that the scenes melted between the story and the "documentary" footage, including dialogue. Very well edited indeed.
Definitely one of the better heist movies.
Member No. 49 of the "100 free films in 2017" club. 20 different films seen.
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Re: American Animals

#7 Post by biggins » Wed Sep 05, 2018 8:15 am

Slow start and didn't think I was going to enjoy it with the "real people" being introduced at the beginning and throughout instead of the usual very end of film credits. But it picked up and you could see the obvious mistakes they were making and on retelling each had their own version of events.
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Re: American Animals

#8 Post by ladams888 » Wed Sep 05, 2018 12:16 pm

Saw this last night at the Vue Piccadilly (nearly walked right past the cinema entrance, as it now appears to be disguised as a building site!). I was expecting a typical bank robbery-type drama full of blood, gore and very little plot. What we got, however, was a very original story (a true story, I might add) about a charismatic and controlling student who controls and cajoles three friends to join him in stealing some priceless books from a university library. What made the film so different was that it interspersed the actual people involved with the actors portraying them. So, rather than see a couple of stills of the actual perpetrators at the end of the film, we saw as much of them as the actors. This is the first time I have seen this very clever technique. It’s good that film-makers are still coming up with very original ideas.

Evan Peters (the multi-talented multiple role player of American Horror Story) was perfectly cast as Warren Lipka, the mastermind behind the heist.

After a fairly slow start I became completely wrapped up in the film and left, having really enjoyed it, wanting to know more about the characters. 9/10

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Re: American Animals

#9 Post by alythonian » Wed Sep 05, 2018 9:05 pm

A compelling twist on the heist movie. Knowing it was a real story and the film being interspersed with clips of the real protagonists, I was glued with an appalled fascination.
A very good film That should appeal to all groups.
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Re: American Animals

#10 Post by chelle1973 » Wed Sep 05, 2018 10:15 pm

Still thinking about this movie now, absolutely fascinating! Definitely a compelling watch!

10/10 o/
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