King Of Devil’S Island
Review by LondonFilmFan
Stars: Stellan Skarsgård, Benjamin Helstad, Kristoffer Joner, Trond Nilssen, Morten Løvstad, Daniel Berg | Written by Dennis Magnusson, Eric Schmid | Directed by Marius Holst
Norwegian thriller King of Devil’s Island tells the true story of the country’s Bastøy Island, once utilised as a “home” for maladjusted young men. Directed by Marius Holst, the correctional institution’s harsh conditions are the focus of the film that depicts the level of brutality and oppression that pushed many to their breaking points. Perpetually bleak, but buoyed by stirring and strong performances from its predominately youthful cast, King of Devil’s Island is yet another solid Scandinavian import to hit the UK over the past few years.
Carrying the film is Benjamin Helstad as the rebellious Erling, or C-19 as he is branded by the institution. Little is revealed about Erling’s past as King...
Review by LondonFilmFan
Stars: Stellan Skarsgård, Benjamin Helstad, Kristoffer Joner, Trond Nilssen, Morten Løvstad, Daniel Berg | Written by Dennis Magnusson, Eric Schmid | Directed by Marius Holst
Norwegian thriller King of Devil’s Island tells the true story of the country’s Bastøy Island, once utilised as a “home” for maladjusted young men. Directed by Marius Holst, the correctional institution’s harsh conditions are the focus of the film that depicts the level of brutality and oppression that pushed many to their breaking points. Perpetually bleak, but buoyed by stirring and strong performances from its predominately youthful cast, King of Devil’s Island is yet another solid Scandinavian import to hit the UK over the past few years.
Carrying the film is Benjamin Helstad as the rebellious Erling, or C-19 as he is branded by the institution. Little is revealed about Erling’s past as King...
- 6/26/2012
- by Guest
- Nerdly
This summer saw the release of one of the best Iraq War-related films ever made and one of the best movies of the summer. Of course, I’m talking about The Hurt Locker, Kathryn Bigelow’s white-knuckle thriller about a bomb disposal unit stationed in Baghdad. The film succeeds not only on the strength of the disarmament sequences but also because it never questions the role of the men at war. It’s almost as if it wants to say, “You’re in the suck…now deal with it.” American Son, an indie feature seeing release on DVD, is in a similar boat but makes its points with considerably less bombast but also a lack of grace. A slow moving film that mistakes subtlety for substance, American Son nevertheless has something to offer discerning viewers.
Unlike most war films, American Son takes place in the 96 hours prior to the deployment...
Unlike most war films, American Son takes place in the 96 hours prior to the deployment...
- 9/1/2009
- by Mark Zhuravsky
- JustPressPlay.net
Sundance Film Festival
PARK CITY -- No fortunate son, this U.S. Marine is one of the unheralded grunts soon to be sent to Iraq. It is a sobering depiction of the hard background that many of our front-line soldiers shoulder.
Stirringly told, American Son dramatizes a harsh social reality and tributes this nation's fighting force. Fittingly, it was saluted with a warm audience reception at Sundance.
With a documentarylike structure, this sharp drama focuses on a Marine's 96-hour liberty. On leave for Thanksgiving from Camp Pendleton, Pvt. Mike Holland (Nick Cannon) Greyhounds to a much-needed R&R at his home in Bakersfield. Getting into the spirit, Mike connects with an attractive fellow traveler, Cristina (Melonie Diaz), who also lives in Bakersfield. Mike sets her in his sights for the long weekend, realizing there might be resistance -- he is black, she is Latino.
But rest and relaxation are not the operative words for Mike's home life and environment: His older brother is a druggie on the way to his third strike, his father is a distant bad apple, and his best friend is an out-of-control pusher.
Yearning for a restorative, romantic weekend, Mike is ambushed by family uncertainties and friends' resentments. He gets little respect for his enlistment, rejected by those who begrudge him his ambition to better himself. He also harbors a frightening secret: He's headed out to Iraq.
Keenly depicting personal challenges that many of our enlisted soldiers must endure, American Son reverberates with its blunt insights into Mike's situation; he is putting himself on the line for family and friends who belittle his integrity or ridicule his pride. Screenwriters Neil Abramson and Eric Schmid rivet us to Mike's world and inspire our appreciation for him. Interspersing romance, teenage misadventure and family hardship, American Son inspires emotions that a documentary film on the same subject matter would be hard-pressed to duplicate. A front-and-center medal to Abramson for his exemplary direction, distilling a representative story though the power of the personal scope.
As the most honorable young Marine, Cannon exudes a confident charm and a steely will. It's a terrific and sympathetic performance. Diaz blends uncertainty with passion as Mike's new girlfriend, while Matt O'Leary is aptly frightening as his hell-raising buddy.
Under Abramson's caring hand, technical contributions are inspection-perfect. A deserved salute to cinematographer Kris Kachikis' sharp scopings and editor Karen Schmeer's crisp cuts.
AMERICAN SON
Map Point Pictures, Nightand Day Pictures, Winghead Films
Credits:
Director: Neil Abramson
Screenwriters: Neil Abramson, Eric Schmid
Producers: Danielle Renfrew, Michael Roiff
Executive producer: Chris Frisina
Director of photography: Kris Kachikis
Editor: Karen Schmeer
Cast:
Mike Holland: Nick Cannon
Cristina: Melonie Diaz
Jake: Matt O'Leary
Junior Morales: Jay Hernandez
Dale: Tom Sizemore
Eddie: Chi McBride
Donna: April Grace
Running time -- 87 minutes
No MPAA rating...
PARK CITY -- No fortunate son, this U.S. Marine is one of the unheralded grunts soon to be sent to Iraq. It is a sobering depiction of the hard background that many of our front-line soldiers shoulder.
Stirringly told, American Son dramatizes a harsh social reality and tributes this nation's fighting force. Fittingly, it was saluted with a warm audience reception at Sundance.
With a documentarylike structure, this sharp drama focuses on a Marine's 96-hour liberty. On leave for Thanksgiving from Camp Pendleton, Pvt. Mike Holland (Nick Cannon) Greyhounds to a much-needed R&R at his home in Bakersfield. Getting into the spirit, Mike connects with an attractive fellow traveler, Cristina (Melonie Diaz), who also lives in Bakersfield. Mike sets her in his sights for the long weekend, realizing there might be resistance -- he is black, she is Latino.
But rest and relaxation are not the operative words for Mike's home life and environment: His older brother is a druggie on the way to his third strike, his father is a distant bad apple, and his best friend is an out-of-control pusher.
Yearning for a restorative, romantic weekend, Mike is ambushed by family uncertainties and friends' resentments. He gets little respect for his enlistment, rejected by those who begrudge him his ambition to better himself. He also harbors a frightening secret: He's headed out to Iraq.
Keenly depicting personal challenges that many of our enlisted soldiers must endure, American Son reverberates with its blunt insights into Mike's situation; he is putting himself on the line for family and friends who belittle his integrity or ridicule his pride. Screenwriters Neil Abramson and Eric Schmid rivet us to Mike's world and inspire our appreciation for him. Interspersing romance, teenage misadventure and family hardship, American Son inspires emotions that a documentary film on the same subject matter would be hard-pressed to duplicate. A front-and-center medal to Abramson for his exemplary direction, distilling a representative story though the power of the personal scope.
As the most honorable young Marine, Cannon exudes a confident charm and a steely will. It's a terrific and sympathetic performance. Diaz blends uncertainty with passion as Mike's new girlfriend, while Matt O'Leary is aptly frightening as his hell-raising buddy.
Under Abramson's caring hand, technical contributions are inspection-perfect. A deserved salute to cinematographer Kris Kachikis' sharp scopings and editor Karen Schmeer's crisp cuts.
AMERICAN SON
Map Point Pictures, Nightand Day Pictures, Winghead Films
Credits:
Director: Neil Abramson
Screenwriters: Neil Abramson, Eric Schmid
Producers: Danielle Renfrew, Michael Roiff
Executive producer: Chris Frisina
Director of photography: Kris Kachikis
Editor: Karen Schmeer
Cast:
Mike Holland: Nick Cannon
Cristina: Melonie Diaz
Jake: Matt O'Leary
Junior Morales: Jay Hernandez
Dale: Tom Sizemore
Eddie: Chi McBride
Donna: April Grace
Running time -- 87 minutes
No MPAA rating...
- 1/24/2008
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Sundance is nothing if not complicated. This year, over eleven days, a total of 125 feature films--selected from a pool of 3,624 submissions from 34 countries--will be screened to an estimated 50,000 visitors in Park City, Utah. Keeping all those films straight is hard enough for the professionals, so here's a quick list to keep you up-to-date. Dramatic Competition American Son (Director: Neil Abramson; Screenwriter: Eric Schmid) Anywhere, USA (Director:...
- 1/18/2008
- AMC News: Film Festivals
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