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Just an American Boy

Play trailer Poster for Just an American Boy Released Jul 7, 2003 1h 34m Documentary Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
54% Tomatometer 13 Reviews 57% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
Filmmaker Amos Poe follows singer/songwriter Steve Earle as he rehearses and performs in the studio and in concert.

Critics Reviews

View All (13) Critics Reviews
Richard Harrington Washington Post Decidedly low-tech and not always particularly coherent or cohesive. Dec 12, 2003 Full Review Frank Scheck The Hollywood Reporter While the film's coziness toward its subject is ultimately frustrating, it does provide a welcome portrait of one of the music industry's genuine and rare iconoclasts. Dec 10, 2003 Full Review Monica Eng Chicago Tribune Even for a big fan like me, parts of this documentary (especially musical performances) just go on too long. Rated: 2/4 Dec 4, 2003 Full Review Film Threat Rated: 3/5 Dec 6, 2005 Full Review Chris Hewitt St. Paul Pioneer Press Dull and ugly. Rated: 2/4 Jun 4, 2004 Full Review Dan Jardine Cinemania In Just an American Boy, Steve Earle proves that he just may be the most important American troubadour of his generation Rated: 76/100 Apr 20, 2004 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (3) audience reviews
Audience Member Not overly ambitious in scope this film doesn't try to be definitive in any way but it does give a glimpse at Steve Earle during the Jerusalem tour and addressing the controversy over his ballad to John Walker Lindhn, 'John Walkers Blues. We also get to see Steve on stage and on the road with his son who has become an acclaimed artist in his own right. The video of the performances isn't exactly quality but it does include a powerful rendition of 'Billy Austin, Steve's anti death penalty song. More of a snapshot than a chronicle but enjoyable enough. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/17/23 Full Review Audience Member I couldn't bear giving this less than 3 stars just because it is Steve Earle, and the guy's work has never been about "smooth and polished," but always about emotional intensity, uncompromising artistic integrity and thought provoking lyrics. That comes through here to some degree, but not much. I agree with James Paul, "good content cannot out-weigh a bad sound mix, poor editing and video effects that range from middling to terrible." Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/20/23 Full Review Audience Member A disappointing documentary which proves that good content cannot out-weigh a bad sound mix, poor editing and video effects that range from middling to terrible. Also, more interviews would have helped as the film can't seem to decide whether it is a documentary or a concert pic. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/14/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Just an American Boy

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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

Synopsis Filmmaker Amos Poe follows singer/songwriter Steve Earle as he rehearses and performs in the studio and in concert.
Director
Amos Poe
Distributor
Cowboy Pictures
Genre
Documentary
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jul 7, 2003, Wide
Release Date (DVD)
Feb 10, 2004
Runtime
1h 34m