AMERICAN HONEY (2016)

Written & Directed By: Andrea Arnold 
Cinematography By: Robbie Ryan 
Editor: Joe Bini 

Cast: Sasha Lane, Shia LeBouf, Riley Keough, Arielle Holmes, McCaul Lombardi, Will Patton 


Star, a teenage girl with nothing to lose, joins a traveling magazine sales crew, and gets caught up in a whirlwind of hard partying, law bending and young love as she criss-crosses the Midwest with a band of misfits


The making of this film is almost as extraordinary as the ramshackle material.

Director Andrea Arnold wanted to work with unknown actors. She would often approach teenagers on the street whom she thought would be good for the movie, and hold impromptu auditions in parking lots.

Star Sasha Lane was the second choice for Star. The director had originally cast and rehearsed with a completely different girl, but she backed out two weeks before filming started. Director Andrea Arnold had to slightly rewrite the scripts for Star and Jake due to this. Supposedly When Sasha Lane was approached on the beach in Panama City, her friend with her thought they were being scouted for porn, and walked away. Then realizing that was not the intent; she ended up cast as the lead.

The movie was filmed in Chronological order and much of the dialogue and script were improvised. Where the director split the scripts into parts and gave each actor their daily script on the day of filming. Keeping their scripts a mystery was done to prevent them from planning too much and overacting. The movie was filmed with only natural and available light and the scenes all filmed mostly hand held

Going into this movie I had high hopes after hearing all the praise for it. The film is good enough but also comes off as slightly disappointing.

It's obvious the director see's the main characters journey as an American odyssey. That involves plenty of distractions and traps along the way but keeps moving forward even if the characters are not fully intact emotionally. So that leaves it open for several ways it can go.

This is ultimately a coming of age story. That involves Learning about life. Even though the main characters all seem to already have had bad upbringings. Though they still have so much ahead of them, especially her and don want to see her get trapped. While there are always options on the open road. We see why she is escaping from her old life as well as why she seems to stay with the group. The fellow lost boys and girls.

The film also seems to have an underlying theme of capitalism. The boarding and training as well as travel is free but still had to pay to survive. Paying back for what is used. We also get to see the power structure that exists in the group. That becomes repetitious at pints hammering home certain points over and over. Which also makes the film feel long.

The film is three hours long and could have. Even cut down somewhat, but that would have made the film seem less epic and maybe not have hot all the notes it seeks in It's symphony. As the film desperately wants to cover a lot of ground as well as put in as many situations as it can.

It seems like the group gets more put into the background as the film goes along. They are meant to be supporting players as most are non professional actors, but they also seem to disappear to a degree and might as well be props. As the film focuses more on the main characters. That the background characters work as a slight Greek chorus or props. As every once in a while they will be introduced and have some dramatic or comedic scene purpose than fade away. This even happens to ACTRESS Arielle Holmes. As her character is introduced and seems like she will be vital only to disappear into the background. As they can happen in life someone you believe will have a big impact as a friend. Becomes more of a casual acquaintance thorough no ones fault you might have shared some deep times but each of your focus relies elsewhere.

The film introduced thing like loser parties and the character Pagan only to drop it just as quick. As we hear about a loser party but never get to see one.

Despite all this movie is beautifully filmed. It feels like a Terrence Malik film in that it feels more improved and like it is all meant to be wrapped up as some kind of statement on the human condition and artfully be a poem of sorts. Though not as much of a fascination with nature.
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Sasha Blane is a breath of fresh air. She is a natural actress. As it seems she is having the same type of experience as her character. You can see her thinking and reacting on screen and it doesn't feel practiced or like a choice.

She is quite amazing In scenes where she goes into dangerous situations blind and open to what could happen, but seems to maintain a knowledgeable innocence. Though just as she is a screen novice and unpolished not only is the film also but she has a certain innocence we can identify with and travel with her into this shaky type of experience and see it all through her eyes.

The film manages to show there is good and bad everywhere it all depends how you read it. And really what the intentions are they lay behind and below.

The film stays hopeful as there seems to be no point. It just seems to end.

The ending is ambiguous as the film constantly has music and dialogue in the background. And her saving animals. So the ending leaves us to wonder had she been saved. As it is obvious time for a new beginning. Was it all a trap, so the GANG could leave and move on? Did Jake sacrifice himself into servitude for her. Knowing he is in it for life. She has a chance at something different and better? Does she know it's time to move on?

It's one of those rare films that feels hopeful and can be easily made fun of and taken to task for, but chooses to be more matter of fact about the world. Though there is Hope for anyone, anywhere. It's all about survival

The film is likeable but so far though the most high profile of her films it feels almost the least of her work so far, but is more open to interpretation as there is so much going on. That while at times there is focus. It feels distracted at times. Though that seems to be the point. Shia LeBouf is charismatic in this performance. He is scary but also gentle at times. Where he shows a sensitivity and sweetness. While also showing his range. As his character is Like fagan in OLIVER a representative, right hand man and confidante who is stuck but see's more in her. He is her first love not necessarily the first man or by she has been with though it seems this might be the first time it is her choice. This seems to be his type of film where he can create a character more than just play it as written or as it lays. As these days he seems more interested in artistic projects and method acting rather than Hollywood films.

Riley Keough plays the wrangler boss of this group. She also works as the villain but seems to be on screen as the brains behind the operation and that apparition of danger in the background for her and her romance. Though her character is not as in the foreground. She seems to showcase the money as well as be the more sexualized character to makes a point to show her strength by inviting star's character to her room to watch her get oiled and massaged by her right hand man in front of her and later on for her to see the many lovers she has to replace LeBouf’s character as lover and right hand man. So to let star know she Isn't safe nor anything special.

The characters keep listening to rap music so the film offer cultural appropriation though the songs, themes are like mantras of their dream lives. They would like to live and the harsh backgrounds that might be similar to the ones they are running away from

The film is very raw at times. It offers no sugar coating. Nothing gets as bad as it could.

This is a film worth watching. As it has a hippie, crunchy granola vibe it feels earnest and is definitely something different and original. It has a youthful spirit that is full of promise even when it runs against the harsh reality and outcomes the world offers.


Grade: B