Neil Abramson:Director, Eric Schmit's first screenplay (perfection)
A Review From Sundance, by Dayle Record
American Son
Now showing at The Sundance Film Festival. This is an independent film, a uniquely American Drama, set in Bakersfield California.
Directed by Neil Abramson, and Eric Schmid’s first screenplay, this is an intimate look into the lives of people, in both the most tender, and agonizing moments. This film shines the light on a pair of “Star Crossed Lovers”, who are the hope of both of their families. Nick Cannon does a remarkable performance as Mike Holland, who faced with the futility of his future in Bakersfield, opts to join the Marines, and in the 96 hours before his deployment to Iraq, comes home to take stock of his choices, and to celebrate Thanksgiving with his family. Mike, the young marine meets the beautiful Christina on the bus home from Camp Pendleton. An immediate bond is formed between the two, and as their interest in each other unfolds, there is never a contrived moment, their graceful courtship stays solid and well played. There is never a moment that the two young actors at the center of this drama, strain in their roles, the performances are elegant and flawless.
As the film progresses you realize that Mike has not told anyone in his life about his deployment, and in this suspended state between his old life, and his Man Up departure, we are party to the intimacies of his all too typical family, split between two parents, who agonize over the fate of their sons. Tom Sizemore plays a flat affect step parent, who has never lived up to Mike’s standards, and he plays it by creating functional barriers to Mike‘s visit. Mike’s best friend, Jake, is in the process of descent into drug induced madness, and grieves the loss of his best friend in the only way he can, at near terminal velocity, on the scale of emotions. Matt O’Leary delivers a high energy performance.
Artfully, the lives of working class families are in sharp focus.
Christina’s family wants her to finish college, and dismayed by her choice of a Marine, to date, they make Mike and Christina pay a visit to Junior the Latino neighbor, whose wounds from the war in Iraq, have devastated him on several levels. Another seamless performance is given, by Jay Hernandez.
Bakersfield is a front yard, and convenience stores, there is one drive down Chester in the old town. A day taken at a beachfront motel, on the Mid-California Coast is very typical of how young people from Bakersfield spend their time. This film is so poignantly down home, so deftly crafted, it is absolutely engaging. Nothing sags in this film, the score is exactly right, the scenario is crafted to perfection, nothing interferes with the human focus of this film.
American Son never moralizes about the war, but it shows the cracks in the American families that give their hopes up to war, and who in households all over this country wait for the safe return of their American sons, and daughters.
Dayle Record
January 24, 2008 Sundance Film Festival
Posted on 01/25/08 by:
Oyeah
01:10 AM
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