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Review

American Animals

5 out of 5 stars

Part-thriller, part-documentary, Bart Layton’s latest shakes up the medium to thrilling, true-life effect.

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Time Out says

Most of us at some point have wished for a quick solution to life’s banalities. A lottery win, maybe, or a surprise inheritance. In 2004, four unremarkable college students in Lexington, Kentucky wanted a quick fix so badly they came up with a mad idea. They would steal a collection of antique books from the university library, valued at $10 million. What follows is a heist story like no other which, remarkably, is all true.

You might remember director Bart Layton from his 2012 doc ‘The Imposter’ – an equally eye-opening tale of a Frenchman who successfully impersonates a missing Texan child. Layton is fascinated by the way that truth and storytelling intermingle. Here he blends drama and documentary. It could have been a mess, but by injecting interviews with the real people into the unfolding drama he pulls it off with panache.

The performances are terrific, too. Irish actor Barry Keoghan is remarkable as awkward stoner Spencer. His face, often blank and unreadable, occasionally reveals the growing enormity of the group’s plan. Evan Peters as off-the-rails Warren is equally compelling – his charisma driving the group to their final, ridiculous conclusion.

You might roll your eyes at another story of rich kids gone wild. Layton, though, finds unexpected depths here. These kids were bewitched by the idea of fast-tracking themselves to a more exciting life (rather than, you know, working their arses off for it). And from all this comes a subtle comment on privilege that’s suddenly very relevant. But social commentary aside, it’s a brilliant story, expertly told. It’ll have you asking yourself, ‘What the hell were they thinking?’

Release Details

  • Rated:15
  • Release date:Friday 7 September 2018
  • Duration:117 mins

Cast and crew

  • Director:Bart Layton
  • Screenwriter:Bart Layton
  • Cast:
    • Barry Keoghan
    • Evan Peters
    • Ann Dowd
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