User reviews

I totally get the point the director tried to make, but after some time the whole "I'm black, you're white, you don't get it" thing got annoying. This story could've been told with a different dialogue. More educational, and less defensive.

I read a few reviews and got the story of this being a broadway play. First off knowing this you'll kind of be pulled into a theatre play environment. The actors were great. But what I loved more than anything was the use of mostly 1 location. For a film to be able to keep someone drawn to the story and using only 1 locations I have to say is great work by the writers and production team.

I feel that this film has a lot of hidden messages. Race being a main one but it will slowly slide into other factors privileged vs. poor, police vs. citizen, and fear vs safety. I hate to say I was hoping it would end the way it did early on. It is heart breaking ending but I feel it was needed I feel to portray the ultimate goal of the film. Seeing this makes me really want to see the broadway play in a theatre setting.

The film sets a subject that everyone wants to see and no body really wants to admit. It hit on a lot of social factors. I want to end on that the actors were amazing at depicting there characters the production picked a great group that really made this film what it is. And on another note got to see Jeremy Jordan who plays Wynn on super girl take the cop role.

Who green lit this? I don't usually leave reviews but i have to...

Every single character was annoying AF! The name of this should be American Extra cuz some of the arguments was just extra as hell.

As a young black dude I can appreciate what the movie was trying to do/say but it was just a Little much. Kerry Washington was the most annoying and it pains me to say that cuz I really like her. Like they went so overboard wit the black/white dynamic that she has to make a a disgusted sound cuz her husband ordered black coffee?!!! Cut that s*** all the way out! That was corny and just one of the many times I smh cuz of the stupid way theses arguments came about.

Overly dramatic trash forreal and i can honestly tell y'all that after I saw about 40 mins of this and saw the set up I put in my headphones and listened to it like an audio book at work. That's The only reason I gave it an extra star (3) is cuz that made it a little more tolerable!

The plot and the acting will blow you away.here. This is a play-turned-movie and it will punch you in the guts! It is aimed at today's interracial conflicts between young black men and white cops. It covers both sides of the issue beautifully and sensitively. Washington is never better. A speech of frustration from a black cop towards the end of the story says it all. We get it. Plenty to think about after you've seen this. Watch it for sure.

... about stereotypes, prejudice, selective perception, (mis)interpretation and racism from everyone to everyone.

I love many different kinds of film. And I didn't read or see anything about this one before watching. So i had no expectations at all.

For me it was an emotional roller coaster from start to end. The acting, the script, even the simple setting were perfect. Of course you need to appreciate much dialogue. This movie uses words, and words only, to make you feel. There are no crime, no action scenes or the like at all. It doesn't need it!

Maybe some negative- reviewers don't get this movie and it's clear statement, because they didn't watch it till the end?!

To those who felt repulsed or annoyed by who- or whatever: try to get through these uncomfortable feelings open-minded, because:

YOU NEED TO WATCH IT TILL THE END TO FULLY UNDERSTAND!

By the way to dislike a well played annoying character doesn't make the play/ movie bad. Maybe on the contrary: isn't it a possibility to reflect?!

And to those who felt nothing but bored: i feel sorry for your lack of empathy!

Brilliant script! Great actors! A simple yet powerful script, only 4 actors, one room.

Loved it! Kerry Washington, always powerful!

Strong performance by Washington, intense and authentic dialogues, heartbreaking and educating. Must-watch.

What do we make of a movie that has love it or hate it reviews? Possibly reviewers are judging two different aspects: content and portrayal. American Son raises many important issues that society is struggling with. And the film does show that these issues are not as clear-cut as we might think. It encourages the viewer to see the other person's perspective. If these elements of the film were instead those of an article or a non-fiction book, they would be top-notch.

But this is a film, one adapted from a play. And as a film, it languishes beneath its interesting premise. The most glaring fault lies in the conversation between the parents. Although they were married for many years, they now speak about race issues as if the topic was something new. Is the viewer meant to believe that a biracial couple never explored their views of racial relations? They do not have a credible conversation, but instead make statements for the benefit of the viewer. Rather than believable character dialogue, we get parallel monologues. It is of no surprise, then, that the writer uses amateur contrivances such as that used to bring up the shameful history of segregated water fountains. 'Can I get you anything?' 'Water' 'There's a water fountain down the hall, well actually there are two...' And so on. Such clumsy attempts to invite a soapbox moment is just bad film. Indeed the bulk of the screenplay is replete with such contrived moments. It is the type of faux pas made by Creative Writing students. If it were a fluffy action movie, it could get by with inconsistent, superficial stock characters--the viewer would still enjoy the exciting car chases. But this is meant to be serious drama. It is not the acting that is the problem, but the writing. Sadly, a missed opportunity to prompt a meaningful discussion on the issues it reduces to cliché.

Anyone that says this movie was one sided clearly lives a one sided life. At first the movie seems to be a cop smashing, white hating movie but it's not. This was one of the best middle ground, both sides represented movie I've ever seen. It explains both sides of the equation and I highly recommend all people see it it would be good to get a perspective from law enforcement as well as the African American side of life

I totally get what this movie is attempting to do and bring light to. The problem is that Scott and Kendra are so drastically different on such a fundamental level, it is inconceivable that they would've been attracted to one another; let alone, marry and have a son.

I had no expectations about this movie and was happily surprised. There is absolutely no action yet I couldn't stop watching it even if I wanted to stop. I was really invested in it. Constant tense and suspense mood. Its a movie that feels like a play (it is adapted after a play) and it is mostly dialogue. All actors are really good in it. Kerry Washington comes off as a bit annoying but it is a realistic portrait of a sleepless mother in distress.

Not an action movie, more of an emotional journey.

I started this movie with high hopes. But all I got to see was this black mother squaring off with just about every white person she came in to contact with (including her son's white father). and I have one word for this movie! PERPETUATING. As a black woman I am am all too familiar with how our black men are treated. But this was way over the top and a waste! The delivery of this movie was so disappointing. I the word play and overblown racism made my stomach hurt! Half way throw the movie and I've seen only 3 ppl! And once of them ---the mother! Has flatlined me!

They wanted to show how wrong a interracial couple can be. All they had to do was listen, wait, and she did none of the sort. The FBI guy could have went over all their heads and used his authority. That was a little falsified in the movie. But then again jurisdiction comes into play.

I would give this a zero if I could! Such a waste of time, Washington is so annoying in her performance especially with the repetitive emotional face-making.

Good movie. Not spectacular actions, but dramatic human crisis

18 min and 34 sec into this hysterical and over acting garbage I had to shut it off. Simply drove me crazy, especially Washington got on my nerves. There was no slowly evolving character involved. It felt like being thrown into a damn washing machine or blender resp. - even the staccato and artificial sound of her voice resembling those...nuff said...

This movie is an outstanding piece of cinema. Only 4 actors, 1 room, nothing but Oscar worthy acting in the most classic style of theatre. Those who rated this poorly just dont get it...they should go watch Sharknado instead.

I struggled through the first 25 minutes or so watching Kerry Washington's character argue with the white cop for so long. I felt like this part didn't need to go on for so long. Once the husband showed up, the storyline began to form a little more and I became more invested in it, the whole time anticipating what happened to the son, Jamal It definately left me thinking about race and humanity in general afterwards. I did not know until after I watched the movie that this was originally a Broadway play that was adapted to the big screen and it definately felt like watching a play with the solo set and dialogue-filled scenes. I think it is worth the watch though. Gives you different perspectives and a lot to think about.

I never leave reviews, but I felt strongly enticed to leave one here.

The movie is literally two people arguing about race for 90 minutes. It's more of a highlight reel of CNN and FOX or a monologue than a movie.

The movie makes no sense at all legally or logically and attempts create a "realistic" movie, but the actions portrayed are not the steps/protocol police officers would ever take.

Spoilers*

Let me get this straight... a bystander takes a video of the police shooting someone, and this doesn't get released to public in a matter of seconds?

You now read someone their Miranda rights when detaining them? What do you know too, they are out in a jiffy at 4 a.m.? That Miami police department is top notch.

The husband in a federal agent, and doesn't realize he should probably contact a defense attorney?

There are countless things to add here with how the movie portrays literally the worst way ever to handle this situation, but why would you sit and listen to someone ramble on for 90 mins about the English language or race when your son is missing? I don't know man... seems like a weird platform for a race debate.

The difference in viewpoints was spot on. Great writing!

This movie is so boring! And Washington is very annoying. I couldn't even finish it.