American Star

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American Star

R

Released Jan 26

1h 47m

Mystery & Thriller

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Popcornmeter

78%

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32 Reviews

46%

Popcornmeter

50+ Ratings

An assassin (Ian McShane) on a final assignment in Fuerteventura, to kill a man he has never met. When his target is delayed, he finds himself drawn to the island, people and a ghostly shipwreck.

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Critics Consensus

Thanks in large part to the ever-watchable Ian McShane, American Star entertains as a slow-burning albeit somewhat standard thriller.

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Leslie Felperin

Guardian

Although the script is a bit formulaic and fairly predictable, the treat here is seeing McShane do what he does best, which is to project a lively mind ticking away under the placid surface of a snake-like visage.

Rated: 3/5

Feb 21, 2024

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Rex Reed

Observer

Movies about professional assassins have an obligation to be juicier and more consistently fascinating than this.

Rated: 1/4

Jan 29, 2024

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Matt Zoller Seitz

RogerEbert.com

This is an unusually intelligent and purposeful movie that doesn't say much but is full of feeling.

Rated: 3/4

Jan 26, 2024

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Seb Jenkins

Loud and Clear Reviews

An action thriller, American Star is not. [...] What Gonzalo Lopez-Gallego (Apollo 18, The Hollow Point) has created is a far more subtle and introspective look into the toll violence and isolation can take on the human mind.

Rated: 4/5

Aug 7, 2024

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Calum Baker

Radio Times

Director Gonzalo López-Gallego keeps the rest of his film compelling by smartly building every scene around McShane's craggy charisma and dry charm, all set against a nicely shot succession of beautiful Canarian locations.

Rated: 3/5

Jun 7, 2024

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Kevin Wight

The Wee Review

Almost serene hitman drama is an incredible vessel for a vintage Ian McShane performance. Rich in texture and melancholy , but deliberately sparse in rollicking gun play

Rated: 4

Mar 21, 2024

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Avindu G

An aging assassin and a sinking wreckage comes comes face to face with realities in a tiny spot off the coast of the great cradle. It's a thriller no doubt but the movie has it's spellbinding ways to distract audience and suddenly snap them off with the killer's nerve tense encounters. Excellent performance by the cast. Stunning visuals of the Fuerteventura. Great cinematography that captures the lonely coasts of late age and the dusty desert of it's present existence. Love and lost is for soldiers of world that's what the message this tale brings to us. American star is a hitman tale from a lovingly unique and a heartbreaking perspective.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

12/01/24

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Cyns Corner

2.75 STARS - I feel like 3 stars is a bit much, to be honest. This film dragged more often than not, and I didn't get the point of some characters (like the little boy he befriended). The location itself seemed to be almost as much of a character as the humans. The stuck/sinking ship was an interesting landmark, but the timeframe was all wrong. There were some decent enough moments, but the momentum of the story just felt bogged down by this film being longer than it needed to be. It probably would have worked better as a short film. Ian McShane did fine; he was the main reason I watched this. Video review: https://youtube.com/shorts/NPB9ZL7WPMg

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

11/26/24

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Anne J

So…..long….and….boring…..!!! The relationships are implausible, there is no storyline, what a complete waste of time! The only saving grace is the scenery. Honestly, how do these people get the money to produce such shitty movies?

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

08/25/24

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Aaron H

Despite its ambitions to probe profound themes such as isolation, regret, and the ephemeral nature of life, American Star is somewhat marred by its protracted pacing and a tendency towards minimalism in both sound and dialogue. The film aspires to a certain artistic gravitas, which it achieves to a degree, but the slow burn and lack of rewatch value might not resonate with everyone. While it's not without merit, its introspective journey through the life of a man on the fringe might not beckon for a second viewing.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

08/24/24

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Bruce H

I love everything this guy is in but.....This was soooo slow and dull.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

07/04/24

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Zak S

Woeful. Slow and boring. Literally nothing interesting happens until the last 10 mins. Total waste of time.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

06/29/24

Full Review

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Gonzalo López-Gallego

Director

Ian McShane

Wilson

Nora Arnezeder

Gloria

Fanny Ardant

Anne

Thomas Kretschmann

Thomas

Adam Nagaitis

Ryan

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Synopsis

An assassin (Ian McShane) on a final assignment in Fuerteventura, to kill a man he has never met. When his target is delayed, he finds himself drawn to the island, people and a ghostly shipwreck.

Director: Gonzalo López-Gallego
Producer: Michael Elliott, Ian McShane
Screenwriter: Nacho Faerna
Distributor: IFC Films
Production Co: EMU Films, Head Gear Films, Cayuga Ficción, Metrol Technology
Rating: R (Language|Some Bloody Violence)
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 26, 2024, Limited
Box Office (Gross USA): $9.4K
Runtime: 1h 47m

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