American Son

I found this movie absorbing and it has left me exhausted having just watched it. I have read some of the other reviews and I do agree you have to get through the first ten minutes and allow the mum to be annoying, thats kind of the point. People often say somehting was a rollercoaster and this truly was. I lost count of how many times I thought, well thats a terrible stereotypical point of view only for one of the characters to call the other character out on it and thats how it goes on. If you fast forwarded through it, if you didn't finish it then it is no wonder you found it boring or didn't understand it. It is from a play and is filmed as a play so there's no fighting or shoot outs or any real action of any kind. But the emotional turmoil is no less effective. The acting is top notch - actually if you do find the mum really annoying then that is really a compliment - and the ending is handled perfectly. It makes you think, it makes you wonder, it really is worth a look.

I totally get the point the director tried to make, but after some time the whole "I'm black, you're white, you don't get it" thing got annoying. This story could've been told with a different dialogue. More educational, and less defensive.

... about stereotypes, prejudice, selective perception, (mis)interpretation and racism from everyone to everyone.

I love many different kinds of film. And I didn't read or see anything about this one before watching. So i had no expectations at all.

For me it was an emotional roller coaster from start to end. The acting, the script, even the simple setting were perfect. Of course you need to appreciate much dialogue. This movie uses words, and words only, to make you feel. There are no crime, no action scenes or the like at all. It doesn't need it!

Maybe some negative- reviewers don't get this movie and it's clear statement, because they didn't watch it till the end?!

To those who felt repulsed or annoyed by who- or whatever: try to get through these uncomfortable feelings open-minded, because:

YOU NEED TO WATCH IT TILL THE END TO FULLY UNDERSTAND!

By the way to dislike a well played annoying character doesn't make the play/ movie bad. Maybe on the contrary: isn't it a possibility to reflect?!

And to those who felt nothing but bored: i feel sorry for your lack of empathy!

Brilliant script! Great actors! A simple yet powerful script, only 4 actors, one room.

Loved it! Kerry Washington, always powerful!

Kerry's depiction of a mother worries for her missing son is highly believable. The fact that she, who is black, is met by a young police officer, who is white, and that they have to grapple with their individual reactions to each other i.e. inexperience and all too common micro aggressions on his part and a different lived experience and suspicion on her part made for uncomfortable but riveting scenes. Also loved the scene between her and the more seasoned cop which, besides displaying an overuse of force by a black officer, also delivered some difficult truths.

I love that there were so many layers to the plot besides the scenes between the mother and the police officers. The film also succeeds in showing the aftermath of a marriage that has completely broken down and just how far people can drift from those first blissful moments in a relationship. Anyone whose ever been through a bitter break-up will surely recognize the truths in these scenes.

The transition from Broadway to television was, in my opinion, extremely well done. The focus was squarely on the four performers which is where it should be and not on a whole lot of Hollywood-type frills. Makes me wish I had seen the original play.