American Son (2008)

User Rating:

5.4/10   

Director:

Neil Abramson

Writers:

Eric Schmid (screenplay)
Neil Abramson (story) ...

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

The story of a young Marine, fresh from Camp Pendleton, who is forced to confront the complexities of adulthood and a volatile home life during a four-day Thanksgiving leave. |

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Nick Cannon	...	Mike
Melonie Diaz	...	Cristina
Matt O'Leary	...	Jake
Jay Hernandez	...	Junior
April Grace	...	Donna
Chi McBride	...	Eddie
Tom Sizemore	...	Dale
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Dotan Baer	...	Marine Sargeant Baer
Danielle Barbosa	...	Cristina's Mother
Carlos Caliz	...	Gang Banger
Percy Daggs III	...	Shawn
Dennis D'Antin	...	Alex
Eurydice Davis	...	Amber
Erick Florez	...	Gang banger
Erica Gluck	...	Tricia
Wade Harlan	...	Marine - Corporal Rogers
Jolene Hjerleid	...	Dawn
Jumper Lark	...	Kyle
Sal Lopez	...	Cristina's Father
Sean Marquette	...	Darcy
Bryan Marsh	...	Redneck
Robert T. Parker	...	Marine LCPL Parker
Alex Perez	...	Marine - Private
Jose Perez	...	Marine
Ray Santiago	...	Miguelito
Diana Terranova	...	Tammy
Michael Welch	...	Goldie
Herman Wilkins	...	Aaron

MPAA:

Rated R for pervasive language, some sexual content and drug use.

Runtime:

USA:90 min (Sundance Film Festival)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Certification:

New Zealand:R16 | USA:R (certificate #45363) | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Bakersfield, California, USA

Company:

Map Point Pictures

Soundtrack:

God Damn

Rough cut screening - very powerful

I saw a rough cut of this movie in Los Angeles. A friend of mine was involved with post- production and he invited me to a screening. I didn't know what to expect -- I'd only seen Nick Cannon in Drumline and thought he was kind of lightweight. Not so in this movie. Basically, the story follows him for a few days before he's about to be sent of to Iraq, and in this short time, he falls in love with a girl he's just met.

The movie is very powerful and heartbreaking but it somehow doesn't feel depressing. I've seen a few other Iraq war movies, but this one all takes place in the US, and it's not really a war movie. It's more like a coming of age film.

The performances were great -- especially the kid who plays Nick Cannon's best friend -- and the story is gripping as hell. The cut i saw was terrific and i am really looking forward to seeing the final version.