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American Made
(Universal Pictures)
By Lucas Allen
“American Made” is one of those movies that’s based on a true story so crazy that you think someone made it up while drunk. Films like “Lord of War” and “War Dogs” handle these stories by balancing humor and straight-forward drama, but this one is a little different. “American Made” reunites actor Tom Cruise and director Doug Liman from the 2014 crowd-pleaser “Edge of Tomorrow,” but more in the style of a documentary narrated by the main character who’s seen it all. This Cruise movie is much better than last summer’s “The Mummy,” by the way.
Barry Seal (Cruise) was a TWA pilot bored with his job, though it supports his wife Lucy (Sarah Wright Olsen) and kids. But when he’s caught smuggling Cuban cigars in his plane, the CIA agent Schaefer (Domhnall Gleeson) offers him a job taking photos over Central America for evidence of drug cartel activity.
During a routine trip, Seal gets taken to the notorious cartel led by Pablo Escobar (Mauricio Mejia) where he’s told he can use his CIA cover to deliver drugs to the United States.
Seal ends up working in two jobs simultaneously and, for the next several years, he’s able to rake enough cash to give his family a better life. Naturally, things start to fall apart after he hired his wife’s hick brother JB (Caleb Landry Jones) while attracting the attention of a local sheriff (Jesse Plemons), the DEA and the FBI. But like any outrageous true story, things take a different turn for both the better and the worse.
Anyone who’s studied late-20th century American history can predict that the events taking place in this movie ultimately lead to the Iran-Contra affair, which was a huge scandal that rocked Washington D.C. The movie doesn’t delve too deeply into the subject, instead it focuses mainly on Seal’s highs and lows while juggling his business ventures. It’s amazing how crazy things get throughout the movie, which is all true. It still makes for a very good movie that’s different from what you’ve seen before.
Liman brings a stylish direction to every scene, including some kinetic editing and retro-style cinematography. Combine that with the feel of a documentary, and you get a hard-hitting, realistic portrayal of business and war on a global scale. It’s also very funny, which it’s exactly what you need for a movie that shows the crazy side of politics and drug running. No matter what you feel about the current political climate, you’ll still find yourself tickled by what you see on the screen.
Love him or hate him, there’s something about Cruise’s swagger that works even for characters like Seal. His charming personality and charismatic endeavor once again carries this movie from beginning to end much like the other more action-packed films in the actor’s filmography. He also overshadows the movie’s talented supporting cast, but at least he’s kind enough to give them free reign.
As far as outrageous true stories go, “American Made” is both entertaining and satisfying in all the right places. Anyone looking for some good old-fashioned fun time at the movies will surely enjoy this.
THE MOVIE’S RATING: R (for language throughout and some sexuality/nudity)
THE CRITIC’S RATING: 3.5 Stars (Out of Four)
