American Son

2019

1h 30m

Drama

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List

46%

26 Reviews

Tomatometer

64%

500+ Ratings

Audience Score

An estranged couple reunite in a Florida police station to help find their missing teenage son.

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Critics Consensus

Kerry Washington capably anchors American Son with her nervy turn as a concerned mother, but the staginess of the production ill-serves its heavy-handed social commentary.

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Jeff M

I absolutely HATE reviewing movies like this! The intentions here are so good and the subject matter so topical and important, but if I'm judging it as a film, it's borderline bad. And it breaks my heart because this topic deserves better. This is based on a play, and I would have loved to see it in that capacity, where long speeches and powerful monologues resonate. But there is nothing cinematic in the rendering here. The characters don't talk to each other, they preach. The same four actors who originated the parts on stage recreate their performances here, and I think that's another problem. They are overly theatrical, often playing to the back row. I wish the filmmakers had tried to open it up a bit, allowing us to learn more about the backgrounds of these characters and the other characters we just hear about but don't know. This is literally a four character movie, not a single other human is on screen, and the fact that we don't get to meet Washington and Pasquale's son diminishes the impact of what we are experiencing. In the case of this movie, good intentions can't save the day. Such a shame!

Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars

02/11/24

Full Review

Jo J

Good movie. Good to kill time! Nice!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/04/23

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Camus C

"American Son" is a powerful and thought-provoking drama that explores the systemic racism and police brutality that continue to plague American society. The film takes place entirely in a Miami police station, where a mother is desperately trying to find out what happened to her missing son. The tension builds throughout the film as the mother, a white FBI agent, clashes with the black police officer on duty, revealing deep-seated racial biases and personal traumas. What makes "American Son" worth watching is its exceptional cast, including Kerry Washington, Steven Pasquale, and Jeremy Jordan, who deliver gripping performances that draw viewers into the story. The film also features a skillfully written script that tackles complex issues with nuance and sensitivity, making it a must-see for anyone interested in exploring the ongoing struggle for racial justice in America.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

04/06/23

Full Review

Jerod S

90 minutes of Kerry Washington fake crying but never producing a tear over the possible where-abouts of her biracial son. This social commentary movie is heavy handed on the fragility of children and a mess of a look into mixed race marriage.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

01/19/23

Full Review

easton h

Kerry Washington finds herself in a gut, wrenching, theatrical performance. The movie became over eccentric at times. However, it's a story that America tries to sweep under the rug. This movie Find itself at the center of a life or death American truth. This movie will keep you at the edge of your seat from start to finish. Expect to feel a gamut of emotions from sad to happy to enraged to stroke.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

MsLark

I felt like I was watching a stage play and loved that aspect of its presentation. There was an edginess to the plot that kept me engaged throughout. The dialog was interesting with its themes of racial inequality and social justice. Great character development in all. It is a memorable movie.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/19/22

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Kenny Leon

Director

Kerry Washington

Kendra

Jeremy Jordan

Larkin

Steven Pasquale

Scott Connor

Eugene Lee

Lt. John Stokes

Christopher Demos-Brown

Screenwriter

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American Son: Trailer 1

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American Son: Teaser Trailer 1

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Alissa Wilkinson

Vox

American Son doesn't really work as a movie. Its theatricality comes across as forced and curiously inert on screen, at close range to the actors, and its conversations about race and policing in particular feel stilted and contrive

Nov 4, 2019

Full Review

Brian Lowry

CNN.com

American Son possesses considerable power in its premise, while wrestling with the claustrophobic aspects of transferring a stage play to the screen. Ultimately, the subject matter wins out, yielding a flawed but brisk 90-minute Netflix presentation.

Nov 1, 2019

Full Review

Glenn Kenny

RogerEbert.com

Almost all the acting here is pointedly overstated, as if the performers are trying to project past an especially long proscenium.

Rated: 1.5/4

Nov 1, 2019

Full Review

Nick Levine

NME (New Musical Express)

This no-frills Broadway adaptation should have stayed on stage...

Rated: 2/5

May 11, 2021

Full Review

Marty Brown

Common Sense Media

Stage adaptation superficially grapples with complex issues.

Rated: 2/5

Apr 24, 2020

Full Review

Sarah Gorr

The Spool

American Son has all the subtlety and nuance of Driving Miss Daisy (which is to say almost none), albeit with a more interesting and complex message.

Jan 23, 2020

Full Review

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Synopsis

An estranged couple reunite in a Florida police station to help find their missing teenage son.

Director: Kenny Leon
Screenwriter: Christopher Demos-Brown
Production Co: Simpson Street
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 1, 2019
Runtime: 1h 30m

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