Art + Life = Chaos|Oct. 01, 2021|Italy|123 Min.|R
Genre: Action;Adventure;Crime;Drama;History;Horror;Mystery;Romance;Thriller
Description: “American Night” is a dark comedy that brings together gangsters, artists, and art dealers in a chaotic night in New York City. While it aims to evoke the spirit of “Pulp Fiction,” it leans more toward the erratic and exaggerated style of “Heavy Metal,” with its over-the-top neon visuals, chaotic storytelling, and nonsensical plot. The story revolves around a famous Andy Warhol painting of Marilyn Monroe, which is stolen, forged, sold, and stolen again in a series of absurd events. The film seems intent on becoming a cinematic version of a Warhol painting itself, though it struggles to maintain coherence or purpose.
Emile Hirsch stars as Michael Rubino, a young mob boss with a passion for art, who inherits the Marilyn painting from his father. When it goes missing, he becomes obsessed with retrieving it. Jonathan Rhys Meyers plays John Kaplan, an art dealer indebted to the mob, who teams up with Jeremy Piven’s character, a washed-up actor, to track down the painting. Piven’s role, while fitting, feels largely unnecessary to the plot.
The movie suffers from poor production quality, with its cheap sets and questionable acting, leaving viewers to wonder if the shortcomings are intentional or just a result of its low budget. The director, known for short films, appears out of their depth here, as “American Night” feels more like a disjointed collection of scenes rather than a cohesive feature. At over two hours, it drags on far too long, failing to deliver on its potential despite its quirky premise.
Cast director: Alessio Della Valle
Cast actor: Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Paz Vega, Emile Hirsch, Michael Madsen, Jeremy Piven, Maria Grazia Cucinotta, Mara Lane, Marco Leonardi, Fortunato Cerlino, Manal El-Feitury
Original name: American Night