Acting in American Woman makes it a nice outing for the ladies or even a date night. The drama centers on a woman who finds herself caught up in her past and looking for answers. It’s probably not an uncommon story about single mothers, but this one has an edge and a twist that makes it different.
Deb (Sienna Miller) has raised her teenage daughter Bridget (Sky Ferreira) alone from her high school years. It’s been a task, but a loving one that she cherishes even with the advent of Jay, Bridget’s baby. Her sister Katherine (Christina Hendricks) lives across the street with her husband Terry (Will Sasso) and a son Jessie (Aidan Fiske) so when Deb works nights she’s always been there for her.
One evening when Bridget does not come home Deb gets worried, even calling Tyler (Alex Neustaedter) who’s’ Bridget’s baby daddy. The next day she reports it to the police and they are not able to find her. Director Jake Scott (Welcome to the Rileys) takes his film from there delving into Deb’s life that has just been turned upside-down. He follows quickly with the search and keeps that in the background as he deals out Deb’s life with the added task of raising another child.
If it weren’t for the acting, I’d call “TV” movie, but Sienna Miller and Christina Hendricks give it some depth and keep it viable for the big screen. The film turns into a woman on the edge as Director Scott plows through Deb’s chaotic life covering several years beyond the ill-fated day her daughter went missing. Miller plays the unpredictable woman as she deals with several upheavals and keeps the film compelling even though the audience is still left to bear in mind, her missing daughter. It’s a valiant performance and one of which I am really pleased.
As her sister Christina Hendricks’s (TV’s “Good Girls”) perfect for the role, comforting Deb, getting her to go on dates and keeping their dotting mother (played by Amy Madigan) at bay. She’s a consummate actress and she shows it here taking command when Deb flies off the chain and keeping her sister going forward in the worst of times.
American Woman has been rated R for language, sexual content and brief drug use. The sexual material contains dialogue that’s mostly innuendos and there is a couple of scene of brutality.
FINAL ANALYSIS: A good film for a rainy day afternoon or a girl’s night out. (3 out of 5 Stars)
Additional Film Information:
Cast: Christina Hendricks, Aaron Paul, Sienna Miller, Amy Madigan, Sky Ferreira, Alex Neustaedter, Will Sasso, Kelly Golden
Directed by: Jake Scott
Genre: Drama
MPAA Rating: R for language, sexual content and brief drug use
Running Time: 1 hr. 51 min.
Opening Date: June 14, 2019
Distributed by: Roadside Attractions
Released in: Standard, Color
Writer, critic, film editor John Delia, Sr. has been on all sides of the movie business from publications to film making. He has worked as a film critic with ACED Magazine for more than 20 years and other publications for a total of 40 years. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Florida. John is a member of the Southeastern Film Critics Association and Critics Association of Central Florida Send John a message at jdelia@acedmagazine.com
