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American Animals

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68
Metascore
 40 reviews
7.7
User Score
 116 ratings

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Director: Bart Layton
Writer: Bart Layton Jacob Secher Schulsinger Jon Croker
Production: Film4
Movie Details: Lexington, Kentucky, 2004: Spencer and Warren dream of remarkable lives beyond their middle-class
Lexington, Kentucky, 2004: Spencer and Warren dream of remarkable lives beyond their middle-class suburban existence. They head off to colleges in the same town, haunted by the fear they may never be special in any way. Spencer is given a tour of his school’s incredibly valuable rare book collection and describes it all to Warren. Suddenly, it hits them—they could pull off one of the most audacious art thefts in recent history, from the university’s special collections library. ConvincedLexington, Kentucky, 2004: Spencer and Warren dream of remarkable lives beyond their middle-class suburban existence. They head off to colleges in the same town, haunted by the fear they may never be special in any way. Spencer is given a tour of his school’s incredibly valuable rare book collection and describes it all to Warren. Suddenly, it hits them—they could pull off one of the most audacious art thefts in recent history, from the university’s special collections library. Convinced they can get away with it, they recruit two other friends. Suddenly, the dance of knowing what happens if they cross the line becomes all-consuming. [Sundance]… Expand
Genre(s): Drama Crime
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Production: Film4
Runtime: 116 min
Home Release Date: Aug 28, 2018
Official Site: https://www.americananimals.film/
Countries: GB US
Language: English
Director: Bart Layton
Writer: Bart Layton Jacob Secher Schulsinger Jon Croker
Starring:
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  • American Animals (Trailer 2)

    American Animals (Trailer 2)

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  • American Animals

    American Animals

  • American Animals: True Story (Featurette)

    American Animals: True Story (F...

  • American Animals: Eric (Featurette)

    American Animals: Eric (Feature...

  • American Animals: Spencer (Featurette)

    American Animals: Spencer (Feat...

  • American Animals: Warren (Featurette)

    American Animals: Warren (Featu...

  • American Animals: Chas (Featurette)

    American Animals: Chas (Feature...

  • American Animals (Opening Scene)

    American Animals (Opening Scene)

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Critic Reviews
(40)
68
Metascore Generally favorable reviews
27 Positive Ratings 67%
11 Mixed Ratings 27%
2 Negative Ratings 5%
Based on 40 Critic Reviews View All
100
The Guardian
Peter Bradshaw | Sep 5, 2018
"I was utterly absorbed in this teeth-clenchingly exciting story and the “heist” sequence itself stands up really well – as well as anything I’ve seen." ... Read full review
90
Screen Daily
Fionnuala Halligan
"American Animals requires many cuts and perspectives which are second-nature to an accomplished documentarian, yet the drama here also seems effortless and seamlessly integrated." ... Read full review
80
The Telegraph
Tim Robey | Sep 6, 2018
"It’s really the style and performances, more than the pseudo-experimental structure Layton has chosen, that keep the film grabby." ... Read full review
75
New York Post
Sara Stewart | May 30, 2018
"American Animals takes an appropriately wild approach to its subject, biting off a little more than it can chew, but nevertheless coming up with a truly novel entry in the overcrowded heist genre." ... Read full review
63
The Globe and Mail (Toronto)
Barry Hertz | Jun 21, 2018
"When Keoghan and Peters are onscreen, their performances are compelling enough, as is most of Layton’s narrative script – adding in the doc footage feels less revolutionary, and more like easy filler. It’s enough to feel, well, a bit robbed." ... Read full review
50
Wall Street Journal
John Anderson | May 31, 2018
"The robbery isn’t sophisticated enough on its own to hold one’s interest." ... Read full review
25
The Atlantic
David Sims | Jun 1, 2018
"It’s a film that tosses questions at the viewer with no interest in answering them, one that can’t decide if it feels for its subjects or just wants to mock their incompetence." ... Read full review
Critic Reviews
User Reviews
(27)
7.7
User Score Generally favorable reviews
97 Positive Ratings 83%
16 Mixed Ratings 13%
3 Negative Ratings 2%
Based on 116 Ratings and 27 Reviews View All
10
teddywyman
Jul 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 theI 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
9
Gggg8888
Jun 12, 2019
Ottimo! Regia brillante ed evoluzione della trama di spessore. Evan sublime
9
netflic
Jun 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 myHeist 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
8
jswriteman
Jun 7, 2018
This is a serviceable and quite possibly thoughtful film that blends documentary and conventional movie "heist." No doubt about the plotThis is a serviceable and quite possibly thoughtful film that blends documentary and conventional movie "heist." No doubt about the plot outcomes, even if you do not know anything about the "score," going in. And the filmmakers are willing to make the leads the object of fun and pity in equal parts. When the inevitable finally occurs, in just a few short strokes, the terror/reality of a federal felony arrest is accurately portrayed. If you are looking for pure entertainment, go for it. If it is insights that you want, you might look elsewhere. A law enforcement person watching this film laughed out loud throughout the screening and had the best time. She didn't know the case but she knew the drill.… Expand
8
cameronhalmans
Oct 3, 2018
American Animals is an incredibly entertaining watch. It takes the documentary style from I, Tonya but uses the real people involved. WithAmerican Animals is an incredibly entertaining watch. It takes the documentary style from I, Tonya but uses the real people involved. With good performances all around, the film builds and builds until you're salivating for that final moment. A must see

79/100… Expand
7
CoKronakan
Jun 8, 2019
This movie felt like it was exaggeration at times and feels really deep and emotional at others.
The acting was really great though, but sadlyThis movie felt like it was exaggeration at times and feels really deep and emotional at others.
The acting was really great though, but sadly not even the actor's performance can carry this bad writing and sometimes sloppy camera angles and cinematography. The only good thing in the directing is the way the story unfolds and reaches it's crux. The true events and the real characters are the real rescuers of this movie. It's a morally grey story that is driven by greed and depicts very well some inner conflicts we are having withing ourselves some times. The protagonists are also antagonists, which fits great in to the story.
Overall it's and good movie which could have been so much more if handled well, written and shot better.… Expand
4
Mauro_Lanari
Oct 26, 2019
(Mauro Lanari)
How to turn to cinema the spatio-temporally accomplished nihilism of postmodernity, in its planetary contagiousness and in its(Mauro Lanari)
How to turn to cinema the spatio-temporally accomplished nihilism of postmodernity, in its planetary contagiousness and in its historical acuteness? We have a deluge of examples, indeed perhaps the problem is the exact opposite: there are no longer exceptions. The absurd of the twentieth century has exited from the niche culture and has now become a mass, popular and mainstream one. The mentioned "Reservoir Dogs" (1992) is an explicit statement of a plausible turning point. Then the director heads to the parts of "The Bling Ring" (Sofia Coppola, 2013) or "Posh" (Lone Scherfig, 2014), adding a pleonastic elusiveness of the truth to this umpteenth apologia of nothingness.… Expand
User Reviews