American Animals

Name: American Animals
Genre: Drama, Crime
Released: June 1, 2018
Duration: 116 min
Rating: 68
Cast: Ann Dowd, Barry Keoghan, Blake Jenner, Cowboy, Drew Starkey

2018

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 40 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 109 Ratings

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7.8

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7.8	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 109 Ratings

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American Animals (Trailer 2)

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Movie Details & Credits

Ascot Elite Entertainment Group | Release Date: June 1, 2018 | Not Rated

Starring: Ann Dowd, Barry Keoghan, Blake Jenner, Cowboy, Drew Starkey, Evan Peters, Gary Basaraba, Jane McNeill, Jared Abrahamson, Jason Caceres, Kevin L. Johnson, Lara Grice, Udo Kier, Wayne Duvall, Whitney Goin

Summary: 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,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. 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

Director: Bart Layton

Genre(s): Drama, Crime

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 116 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

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

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

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

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

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

John Anderson

May 31, 2018

The robbery isn’t sophisticated enough on its own to hold one’s interest. Read full review

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

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User Reviews

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 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 toI 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 1 users found this helpful01

Gggg8888

Jun 12, 2019

Ottimo! Regia brillante ed evoluzione della trama di spessore. Evan sublime

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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 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. NotHeist 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

jswriteman

Jun 7, 2018

This 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 inThis 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

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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. With good performances all around, the film builds and builds until you're salivating for that final moment. A must see

79/100

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

3ebfan511

May 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 or anything, and more impact could be had by justIts 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

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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 historical acuteness? We have a deluge of examples, indeed perhaps the problem is the exact opposite: there are no longer exceptions. The absurd of(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

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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