Customer Reviews

Americano

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

Kevin Noland makes a fine debut in both writing and directing this colorful, insightful, low-key exploration of the age old Apollonian Dionysian conflict. For a first film, despite some minor technical glitches (overexposed photography at key moments, a soundtrack that eats the dialogue before it is audible), Noland proves himself a keen observer of life, of philosophy, and of character studies. He is definitely an artist to watch.

Chris McKinley (Joshua Jackson in yet another fine performance) has just finished college and is ending his summer holiday in Spain with only three days before he returns to an important corporate position in the US. He is traveling with two friends, Ryan (Timm Sharp) and Michelle (Ruthanna Hopper) who are lovers, and they end their holiday in Pamplona, Spain just as the festival of the bulls is happening. Chris' backpack is stolen and with it his passport, credit cards, all semblances of civilization..., and he plunges out of despair into the wildness of the running of the bulls. He meets two important influences: American expatriate bar owner Riccardo who spouts forth 'live for the moment' concepts, and the beautiful and intoxicating Adela (Leonor Varela) who embodies all that is fascinating about the beauty of Spain. The four young people set out on a hike to fly fish, carouse, and live with nature, and this excursion into Spain's gorgeous countryside affects the foursome: Ryan and Michelle decide to part ways and Chris and Adela...well, the story has a fine ending!

Noland respects the viewer and offers his tale of discovery with minimal dialogue, some terrific music, exciting footage of the running of the bulls and bullfights, and some hallucinogenic views of nature. Both Joshua Jackson and Leonor Varela light up the screen. Ruthanna Hopper (Dennis Hopper's daughter) not only acts well, she also has been part of this project since its inception, is one of the producers, and adds a credibility to the story. So despite the occasional technical flaws, this is a little film of joy, a celebration of discovery the important facts of living. Grady Harp, May 06

Anyone who travels internationally will get it, those who don't travel may miss the internal combustion of excitement this movie brings to the viewer. Director/writer Kevin Noland's first feature depicting the pensiveness of a young graduate on his first trip abroad to Spain truly captures the raw emotion and confusion that come with choosing life's path, or letting life's path choose you.

I agree with another reviewer - if you've been there you will get it. I was in Spain this summer and went to Pamplona and did El Camino de Santiago. I can see why the lack of an exciting storyline or a twist can disappoint many used to Hollywood cinema. In the words of Adela, "Nothing is as predictable as Hollywood". This movie is genuine, except for the gorgeous woman. The footage is excellent, especially the running of the bulls. I wish they would have shown more of El Camino. But this movie is not meant to close the loop, just show us the questions that arise in all of us.

Americano was a very enjoyable movie. A fun, funny and sensuous trek through some of Hemingway's old haunts. It reminded me of my collage days. I immediately wanted to head to Europe and hike through Spain, Italy, France or Croatia. In life sometimes we have to make a decision we will regret later in life . . . Great move!

I saw AMERICANO in the theater (it played for exactly one week in a small art-houre here in NY, and there was absolutely no advertizing in the local media) and now have bought the DVD. To be sure it will not be everyone's cup of tea. It does not have much of a plot, true - but then again neither does Proust's IN SEARCH OF LOST TIME. What we have are a series of vignettes hung around the vestigal plot of: confused, naieve American boy (Jackson) meets clever, world-wise, and a slightly wild & eccentric Spanish woman (Varela). The chemistry between Jackson & Varela is real. I think as a romantic comedy it works quite well, and I thnk it's a great film for couples to watch together - preferably by candle-light, with some wine and some tapas snacks on hand. Tim Sharp & Ruthanna Hopper were fine as the "comic" couple played against the serious (Jackson & Varela) couple. I'll admit the Dennis Hopper character was a bit of a problem: his portentious oracular pronouncements ("Be wary!") were a bit hard to swallow. But that's a minor complaint. The cinematagrophy was first rate; the sights & sounds of Spain, of the drunken blow-out that is the running of the bulls are captured quite well indeed. What, for me, made the film completely worthwhile was the presence of beautiful Chilean actress Leonor Varela. She is a fine actress, has proven herself a first rate dramatic actress (the recent INNOCENT VOICES), and now has shown herself to be also a first rate comedic actress. Her fans will want to own this film.

I'm not sure what compelled me to seek out "Americano," written and directed by Kevin Noland. It's not as if I was dying to check up on the career of Joshua Jackson, a star of TV's "Dawson's Creek." Perhaps I was intrigued by Dennis Hopper's inclusion in such a small scale production--I mean the man is always interesting even when his material is less than stellar. Here, however, the lure for him seems to have been his daughter Ruthanna, who has a supporting role and serves as a producer on this film. Maybe it was international star Leonor Varela, a beauty who is surely one good role away from making it big in America. Most likely, though, it was the idea of seeing the movie as a travelogue of Spain. With great scenery, bull fights, Hemingway, hard drinking and partying, the Running of the Bulls--the atmosphere alone might have made intriguing viewing.

However, I am going to be rather hard in my assessment of this film. I think Noland has talent and I look forward to other works. The film is photographed well and has good performances. My problem stems from the fact that there is absolutely no drama in this familiar coming-of-age story. With an astounding lack of real character insight, this little production about characters at a crossroads falls absolutely flat.

The setup is simple. As recent college graduates, Jackson and two pals (who bicker comically) are spending the last few days of their vacation in Spain before Jackson must return to the "real" world and a new job. Facing the eternal struggles between childhood and adulthood, work and independence, freedom and monotony, dreams and reality--Jackson falls into lust with a local played by Varela. Should he ditch it all for this worldwind romance? Should he abandon responsibility for a life of leisure? Should he stay in Spain? These are legitimate questions and a legitimate, albeit familiar, story path. What makes "Americano" so tedious and uninvolving, however, is that the film doesn't allow you to know its characters. A character study with no genuine character development seems a hard concept to pull off--and "Americano" doesn't succeed in doing anything remotely deeper than the superficial presentation of friends on vacation. We never know anything about Jackson's job or life in America, or his dreams, passions, interests, etc...aside from this fleeting romance. Sure, the film goes through the requisite motions--Jackson writes pretentious poetry and talks to statues of Hemingway, what else would you expect in Spain? If he has artistic aspirations, however, the screenplay surely never develops this. Lacking any real guidance as to what Jackson envisions for his life, I simply fell into the camp of "who cares?"

There are plenty of authentic moments in the depiction of Spanish culture. Dennis Hopper's role, however, as a club host is a complete misfire. Ultimately, though, my genuine disinterest in the film comes from a screenplay that asks me to care but never goes beneath the surface for emotional truth and character depth. Sure, Jackson's at a crossroads--but lacking any understanding of what he wants, it made no difference to me what he chose. Sorry, but that's a big problem when it is your film's central theme. KGHarris, 02/07.

Great movie! First time I watched it in TV and I knew some day have to get it . Simple story,great soundtrack. 5 on 5

This is a movie that to some might not think is very well written but if you start watching this movie as if you are watching a documentary of a college student's last trip before entering the real world, your standards will not be set high & you will very much enjoy this film. I enjoyed it so much that I purchased it.

Americano is a fun, fantastic movie!

Kevin Noland is a superb Writer and Director. The casting was perfect!

I would urge everyone to grab their own copy of the movie.

You know when something is greater than the sum of its parts? Well this movie is. The acting is so good that it's hard to separate the actor from the character sometimes. The story is great. The writing is great. The scenery is beautiful. The ending is surprising and powerful and beautiful. The actors and cameraman actually ran with the bulls to get that scene. The Spanish culture depiction is realistic.

This movie is a masterpiece and unbelievably underrated and under-popularized.