AMERICAN NIGHT

Italy, 2021, 123 minutes, Colour.

Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Emile Hirsch, Paz Vega, Jeremy Piven, Fortunato Cerlino, Michael Madsen, Alba Amira, Anastacia, Marco Leonardi.

Directed by Alessio Della Valle.

Here is a drama that is definitely intended for cult status. However, is irritated quite a number of critics spurring them to negative reviews. On the other hand, it won over quite a number of fans.

Despite the title, which refers to a club in New York, this is an Italian film. The Dir, Alessio Della Valle, as an artistic background, a music background, with much time spent in the United States as well as travelling internationally. And, one would suspect, that he has a great admiration for the films of Quentin Tarantino (in complex structure, and strange characters and behaviour, in some flashy visuals, music…).

One of the problems, or challenges, is to make sense of the time eras in which the action takes place, especially since it seems to be moving backwards and forwards rapidly. And repeating some sequences, offering further information and background to central characters and conflicts.

There are two principal stories, one focusing on an art dealer played by Jonathan Rhys Meyers, the other on the son of a New York gangster, played by Emile Hirsch. At the centre is a painting by Andy war whole, the Pink Marilyn Munro, in process of deals by the dealer, promise to the young gangster by his father.

Initially we are introduced to a character called Shaky, who is a courier for the art dealers, women, and with connections to Asia which crop up throughout the narrative. He visits a bar, encountering a stuntman, friend of the art dealer, played by Jeremy Pippin. Each has a similar bag – which leads to all kinds of complications, the destiny of the painting and his changing hands.

There is quite a lot of visual violence, especially in connection with the Mafia types. There is also a lot of characters outwitting the other, including, surprisingly, Shaky.

But, all is not well at the end, violence and greed begetting betrayals, violence and greed.

A cult film.

1. The title? The club? American night life? An Italian film, an Italian perspective on the US?
2. The recreation of New York City? Exteriors, streets, clubs, lights? Mansions and interiors? The art world, galleries? The world of gangsters and the Mafia? The musical score, the title song, Anastasia singing it during the film?
3. The screenplay, hints of Tarantino, time shifts, beginnings, ends, middles? Intertwining of John’s story, Michael’s story?
4. The focus on the art world, Andy Warhol’s Pink Marilyn? Possession, smuggling, copies, greed? Galleries and finances? Art forgery? International art dealers?
5. Michael’s story, as a boy, with his father, the Mafia influence, guns, Michael’s art, his father’s despising it, the role of his mother? Grown-up, seen painting, throwing the paint on the canvas, shooting the bullets? His Gallery of his paintings, the comment on his art? His wilfulness, behaviour towards women, Sarah, the threats, sadistic? The dealers, his thugs?
6. John’s story, his art background, his ambitions, working with Sarah, her skills with art and detection, the relationship, with other women, Sarah unmasking him? The Gallery, the finances, the Asian influences and contacts? The art dealers? Confrontations with Michael? The burning of his Gallery? His aim with Pink Marilyn?
7. Shakey, the courier, plane trips, keys and deposit boxes, the painting, the travelling bag, the commission by the art dealer? Going to the bar, the encounters, Vincent at the bar, his case, mixed identities? The thugs, the shootings?
8. Vincent, friendship with John, the bonds, his work as a stuntman, the scene at the studio, his failure with the stunt? Money, dependents, going to John, the promises? The scene on the wall of the building, using his stunt skills to escape? His bag, the painting?
9. Sarah, her skills, the relationship with John, the encounters with Michael? The scorpion story, the attack on her, her being rescued?
10. The Asian presence, with John, finances, his dealings with paintings? The Pink Marilyn? The two women, art dealing, commissioning Shakey? The attack in the streets, their deaths?
11. The coming together of the two stories, Shakey and his continued presence and links, the bar, the bag, the painting, his meeting with Michael, the violence threat, his escape? The women dealers and their deaths? Sarah being taken by Michael? Michael and his shaving his head, sinister, mad? John, the betrayal of Sara, is rescuing her, the burning of his Gallery?
12. John and Michael, violence, art, deaths?
13. The film as something of a cult film, many audiences liking, critics very critical?