Hollywood's fascination with films based on true stories continues and is virtually never ending. Anymore, Hollywood slips in fictional stories once in a while within all the films based on true stories or events. And more to the point, there have been several films about drugs and arms: "Traffic" 2000, "Lord of War" '05, "Kill the Messenger" '14 and now we have tossed to us "American Made".
Barry Seal (Tom Cruise) was just an ordinary commercial pilot who worked for TWA before he was recruited by one, Monty 'Schafer' (Domhnall Gleeson) of the CIA in 1978. Seal's work in South America eventually caught the eye of the Medellin Cartel, associated with Pablo Escobar (Mauricio Mejia), who needed a man with his skill set. Barry subsequently became a drug trafficker, gun smuggler and money launderer, soon acquiring the title, "The gringo that always delivers". The 1980's clandestine operation would later be exposed as the Iran-Contra Affair, and this all comes crashing down after a new administraton has moved into the white house.
Others to round out the cast are Sarah Wright as Lucy Seal, Barry's wife, Jesse Plemons as Sheriff Downing, Caleb Landry Jones as JB, Lucy's brother, Jayma Mays as Diana Sibota, Lola Kirke as Judy Downing, Alejandro Edda as Jorge Ochoa, Benito Martinez as James Rangel, E. Roger Mitchell as Agent Craig McCall, Jed Rees as Louis Finkle, Fredy Yate Escobar as Carlos Ledher and Robert Farrio as Oliver North.
This was directed by the incomparable of action movies Doug Liman ("Getting In" '94, "Swingers" '96, "Go" '99, "The Bourne Identity" '02, "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" '05, "Jumper" '08, "Fair Game" '10, "Edge of Tomorrow" '14, "The Wall" '17) plus TV. The way this filmmaker incorporates his actors, cinematographers and editors within his projects so as to reach his target audience with that level of ultimate action is phenomenal, as with this film as well. This is one busy guy with "Chaos Walking" being filmed for a 2019 release, "Live Die Repeat and Repeat" and "Attica" both in pre-production and "Luna Park" being announced. There is no stopping this director. It was written by relative newcomer Gary Spinelli ("Stash House" '12). Considering this writer is new to feature films, this was exemplary screenwriting. With all that was going on with Cruise's character, Barry, this plot could've been easily convoluted and confusing, but Spinelli simply stayed to following out the time sequences as planned so it didn't meander. Although there were a couple of places of slowness--this could've been cut a good five minutes, it still was compelling and showcased this writer as someone to contend with. He has worked with Liman again with "Chaos Walking" which he wrote and is being filmed.
Even though this is certainly a vehicle we've seen Cruise in more than once, he is still able to woo us to the multiplex as with others characters he has played. This, like a lot of his other projects, is a great popcorn film. It would be nice to see Cruise sink his teeth into more meatier roles like in "Born on the Fourth of July" or "Magnolia", but maybe we'll see.
Out of 4 Stars: 3.5 Rated: R 114mins.
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