Dir. Doug Liman (trailer)
Starring Tom Cruise, American Made is a fun biopic that flew under the radar when it first came out. Based on the true story of Barry Seal, a pilot turned CIA operative and drug runner, this film features Cruise doing his own piloting stunts and generally having a great time with the absurdity of the film's plot. Set in the 1980s, the movie has a great soundtrack and leans into the over-the-top aesthetic of the time.
Clearly drawing from influences like Goodfellas, Boogie Nights, and the Netflix show Narcos, the film follows Seal as he continually avoids jail time by agreeing to more and more CIA work. Like all "gangster"-style movies, the film revels in the good times when Seal is making more money than he knows what to do with and follows him through the paranoia of losing it all. Seal's CIA handler, played by Domhnall Gleeson, brings a comical and mysterious element to the movie and leaves the audience questioning whether Barry's CIA connection is actually real or not.
Fans of Tom Cruise who enjoy seeing his daring stunts will love this movie. I recommend this film to fans of practical effects and adventurous storytelling, and for fans of director Peter Weir.
Rating: ★★★★☆
Recommended for fans of: War Dogs (2016), action/adventure, Sicario (2015), Triple Frontier (2019), drama
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