American Animals (2018)

Director: Bart Layton
Stars: Evan Peters, Ann Dowd, Barry Keoghan
Runtime: 116 minutes

Synopsis: The true story of a heist committed by a group of young men, and the planning that preceded it. 

Performances: 8/10
Screenplay: 8/10
Special Effects: N.A.
Costumes/Makeup: 8/10
Editing: 7/10
Cinematography: 7/10
Score/Soundtrack: 6/10

Verdict: I have been excited to see Bart Layton's directorial debut ever since the first trailer was released a few months ago. And I'm relieved to say that it did not disappoint. The film felt like such a breath of fresh air in a blockbuster dominated summer. Layton opted to make the movie look like a documentary since the story he chose to adapt is based on real events, and completed it with interviews with the real characters, as well as a very documentary-esque cinematography that worked well considering the intentions of the director. The editing also gave the movie a unique presentation that I absolutely loved, and helped a lot with the pacing of the movie. The film, while being described mainly as a crime drama, works also as a hilarious comedy carried by top performances by two very promising actors that are slowly becoming big names in Hollywood: Evan Peters and Barry Keoghan. However, I did feel that the film could've been a lot shorter, and that some scenes could've easily been left on the editing room's floor. Despite that, I have to recommend "American Animals" to anyone wanting to watch a fun heist film topped with great performances and interesting directing, or anyone just tired of mediocre, repetitive summer blockbusters.

Final Grade: 8/10