American Star

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James B @RT54975811 Jan 23 This one is definitely a slow build. Most of the action happens in the last 30 minutes of the movie. That last half hour is intense. Without giving too much away I just felt like the ending was just lacking. It's one of those movies where the ending is kind of up to interpretation and I just felt that the ending should have provided additional info. See more Ian R @RT90115375 Sep 30 Excellent performance by McShane, beautiful photography and a slow thoughtful look at someone looking for peace in life, but finally finding he - and others - can’t escape the past. I thoroughly enjoyed this film. See more michael d @RT16138633 05/11/2025 Ian McShane was one of those actors that has either "good" or amazing performances. His acting in this beautifully-shot thriller set in the majestic Canary Islands was nothing short of outstanding. His character-acting was one of the finest I've seen in the industry. While his character was the center of this film, the smart acting of the supporting characters complimented so well with the rest because it provided such stability to the quality of the performances which was essential in keeping this slow-burn thriller from being too boring or too overwhelming to watch. The cinematography was one of the bests I've seen this year. See more Eric D @RT55727521 01/18/2025 There's a little mystery here but it should not be listed as a thriller. The best part of the movie was the interaction with Max, the boy from the hotel. Great acting and not a bad story but slow... really slow. Mislabeled as a mystery thriller. See more Haley S @PortsideCritic 01/16/2025 The main characters opposite personalities balance each other out for a beautiful film that leaves you at peace. Which is exactly what the main character was looking for all along. His counterparts wanderlust and free spirit is well accompanied to his wisdom, hardships and his yearning to finally stand still - making for a striking story of acceptance, insight and discovery of an aging man. See more Peaches S @RT34607436 01/12/2025 Put aside your phones because a close watch is needed to appreciate the subtlety of the cinematic style of AMERICAN STAR. Gonzalo López-Gallego’s direction is so contemplative and Nacho Faerna’s script is so pared-down, you wonder at first if anything is happening at all. But then you catch on, and the story reveals itself as a deeply emotional study on survivor’s guilt. We see how it is possible for one person to destroy multiple generations of lives by denying the life he himself could have lived if he had allowed it. There is very little dialogue. McShane is known for his voice but in this film his every thought is expressed on his rugged, handsome face. He carries the film almost single-handedly with his unique charisma. And for a man in his 80s, he is incredibly fit. The rest of the small cast is perfectly cast, each actor stands out in his or her way representing aspects of the family McShane’s character might have had in another time and place. See more Read all reviews

American Star

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