Film Review - American Made (15)

Haven't you ever wanted something more, Barry?

Mention Tom Cruise and it's not normally his films people start discussing. But films are what this blog is all about, so there's only question to ask: 'Is this latest TC star vehicle any good?' Simple answer: 'It's up there with his best.'

Cruise plays Barry Seal - a real-life product of American capitalism, who in the 1970s and '80s became an airborne delivery guy for just about anyone who would hire him - no matter how dubious the cargo. Pitched as a combination of fact and fiction, American Made has a sufficient foundation in truth to make it truly astonishing. Any embellishments can be put down to the aura of legend surrounding the real-life figure. 

The film opens with Barry as a long-serving airline pilot, grown bored with his career. When approached with an opportunity to serve the US government by CIA operative Monty Schafer (Domhnall Gleeson, son of Brendan, being excellent - again), Seal takes to the skies in a light aircraft and ends up making very different kinds of delivery to Central and South America. Nor do his career developments end there. Certain shady Columbian businessmen want to enlist Barry's flying services too, and out of lust for both life and money, he proves only too willing. Cue a series of freewheeling amoral adventures in sky and on land, with Barry risking everything to sustain a lavish new lifestyle.

The pleasures of American Made are considerable. Cruise has worked with director Doug Liman before on the thrilling Edge of Tomorrow and the rapport they've developed is apparent here throughout. The Mission: Impossible star is at his most authentic, mixing Seal's devil-may-care verve with a growing sense of desperation and weariness. Combine that with the fact that Cruise does all his own flying stunts and it makes Barry a much more dynamic and appealing character than he has any right to be. 

Speaking of dynamism, the whole film is a fine-tuned and pacy piece of storytelling, reminiscent of Martin Scorsese at his sharply-edited best. (Think of Goodfellas or Wolf of Wall Street with their autobiographical framework, use of voiceover and wildly veering plot developments.) The dialogue is funny and smart to match, while the action sequences are tense and exhilarating. Along with Gleeson we have Sarah Wright, adding convincing support as Barry's loyal but morally compromised wife Lucy. The family scenes flesh out Barry as a character, only adding to our conflicted feelings about the guy.

The movie also has a satisfying satirical edge. Seal's double-dealing with US governmental agencies and Columbian criminals reveals a lot about American foreign policy during the Reagan era and about their attitude to the so-called 'war on drugs'. The storytelling is inter-cut at points with genuine news footage, tying action to the divisive international politics of the time. Barry's tale is of one man flying in the currents of much wider events, even if he's only interested in his own personal gain.

American Made is part biopic, part tall tail, but it's all entertaining. It's have-your-cake-and-eat-it stuff, serving as a critique of the politics of supply and demand, while making Barry's wild ride, complete with insane stunt-flying, seem very exciting indeed. We really shouldn't like this man - but we kind of can't help it.

Gut Reaction: Laughter and cringing in tension. One explosion of mirth at the craziest escapade. At least one out-of-seat moment.

Ed's Verdict: An outrageous tale part truth, part legend, this serves as a wild anti-heroic adventure with some dramatic meat on its bones.