AMERICAN NIGHT
Directed by: Alessio Della Valle
Starring: Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Jeremy Piven, Emile Hirsch, Paz Vega, Michael Madsen
A covert courier brings Andy Warhol's famous "Pink Marilyn" to New York City, however it brings with it chaos and mayhem as numerous people try to get their hands on it…
Working from his own script, Alessio Della Valle delivers a very unique thriller set in and around the art world.
Divided into three chapters, the film has two main protagonists and numerous key supporting players. Our more sympathetic hero is art forger and wannabe gallery owner, Jonathan Kaplan, on the verge of both opening his own gallery and being bankrupt at the same time. He has had issues with the Mob in the past, especially when they caught him selling a forged painting. On the other side of the fence is Michael Rubino, a struggling artist and newly appointed head of the Rubino crime family, following the recent passing of his father.
At least we know where the film’s title comes from!
Rubino claims that the Marilyn painting belonged to him and that he is reclaiming it. However there are others who also want it for themselves, including the agent Rubino tasked with finding it. She hires a courier called Shakey to deliver the painting to a martial arts gym, however he gets involved in a shootout on the way there and further violent hijinks ensue.
American Night is a sumptuously visual film and a delight to bask in its artistic design. The camera work switches from meticulously precises shot compositions to urgent hand-held shots (such as when a shocking fate befalls kaplan's gallery). This is a film made to be presented in the best resolution with a real depth to its colours.
Where the film loses points is in its script, which is too repetitive for its own good, going over well-trodden ground to eke out a little twist in the tale. At two hours duration it also feels too long for its own good. There's a whole sequence containing a performance by singer Anastasia which doesn't really add anything. There is also the annoying trope of having title cards for each character (although considering the size of the cast I can see the appeal of this approach). While I felt the script was too padded, I did at least appreciate that the monologuing was kept to a minimum and none of the characters (outside of Michael Rubino) seemed particularly cartoonish. The film is also peppered with a little bit of action - car chases, shoot outs etc, which is all well-handled.
The cast across the board is excellent, with Emile Hirsch and Jeremy Piven standing out from the crowd. Piven in particular is great here as the stuntman/martial artist who gets to put his skills to good use - especially in a scene where he has to jump blindfolded from one building ledge to another. As the art-obsessed Michael Rambino, Hirsch is really good although his character does launch into a couple of monologues, the second of which makes him seem like a bargain basement Bond villain. Paz Vega also gives a good performance as Sarah Flores, an art restorer who has a past with Kaplan.
THE VERDICT
American Night is a sumptuously visual film - fitting as its McGuffin is a famous piece of pop art. It's also easy on the ear with a decent soundtrack. However its chapter cards and character intros aren't going to age well, and there are times where scenes are revisited without justification, padding out an already bloated running time. Enjoyable, nevertheless.