SourceDuring the previews for the movie Eddingtion, they played a trailer for a film called Americana. I knew from the preview that I'd be watching this movie when it hit theatres, and this past weekend, I got my chance. Americana is another movie in the "modern western" genre, which I'm enjoying quite a bit these days. The whole telling a Western-style story in a modern setting has been a recipe for some pretty entertaining movies lately.
Americana is a classic Outlaw Western story set in modern times. This movie has murder, robbery, family drama, twisted morals, and a variety of other elements that make for a compelling Western. And they do all of these things without making the story corny.
This movie was cast well. All of the actors were great in their roles. All of the main characters in the film were misfits who showed desperation in their own ways. Whether it was to find love, to share their talent with the world, to prove that their self-perception is valid, to reclaim what is theirs, or to get rich, their desperation determined how they moved through the story. Do to their desperation, they were all drawn to the Lokota Ghost Shirt based on how possessing the Ghost Shirt could help them achieve their goals.
The movie has a little blonde dreamer played by Sydney Sweeney. A gritty female character willing to do whatever it takes to survive, played by Halsey. A good guy played by Paul Walter Hauser. The two thugs in the movie, played by Eric Dane and Kevin Wiggins, were good and intense in their roles. The leader of the Native American group, played by Zahn McClarnon, was cool. But the little boy stole the show in my opinion. He had the most to prove in the movie, and his character was hilarious.
The quest for the Lakota ghost shirt brings out the best in the worst in the characters. A lot of the characters end up doing things that you wouldn't expect based on how they were introduced. A lot of the decisions they make seem understandable based on what people do when presented a problem while having their backs against the wall. The story is presented in an interesting way, and you also get some good action through the film. There's plenty there to keep you entertained throughout the movie.
If you like classic Westerns or dramas with a good story, Americana is worth watching. The story picks up quickly and is entertaining throughout the entirety of the film. I found myself empathizing with a lot of the characters and wanting things to work out for them. There were times I got a good laugh, times I got an intense standoff, and other times I got a good old-fashioned shootout, and I enjoyed all of it. Overall, I rate the movie Americana
8.1/10
Bonus Content: The quest for the Lakota Ghost Shirt reminded me of a Podcast I listened to a while back about a fight over the Lakota language. Check out Code Switch: Who does culture belong to? A fight over the Lakota Language
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