The American Side (2016)

Best movie ever!

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

Some reviewers complain that it's hard to follow the plot – but isn't this typical for film noir? Besides, if you watch the movie again (or only the scenes that made no sense to you), you will notice that there is no puzzle. The whole thing about barrel-crossing the Niagara over the American side is just a subplot that is not important for the main plot. The main plot goes like that: we have several parties that want to obtain both parts of Tesla's note. Some might want to destroy them, some are seeking for the knowledge of how they fit together and what they mean. In the end we see that Charlie has both parts in his lighter: one on the front, the other on the back. Of course Nikki Meeker has put it in there. Remember? She "stole" the lighter from him before. Now the light of the pinball machine and ta-da: Tesla's potentially "world-changing" note in it's entirety. Then the phone call for Charlie. But that's part of The American Side II ... which, of course, will never be realised. I kind of liked the movie, but it was not enough serious Tesla in it. I give it a 7.

I read some good critics about this, and despite that I don't like all those Tesla conspiracy and suppressed inventions theories (rather sick fantasies), I decided to watch it - hey, Camilla Belle is in, and she made some good choices (scenarios). It was just pain to watch. Almost nothing made sense, and I will remember nothing (except bad taste) in month from now. Will not talk about plot, acting - does not deserve it. Just few words about some Tesla related things said: Main character did not hear about Tesla before getting involved in this - someone can believe that ? "Tesla invented 20-th Century" - that was less stupid, because may be seen as partially right - electricity is base of most modern technology. But then some talked about computers, cellar phones and like. No, no way that Tesla could imagine whole cellar phone concept over 100 years ago. It is possible only with digital technology. Then that unlimited free energy - beloved topic all time. But they screwed even that, turning to some supersoldier, with code name Tin Man. That was lowest part, together with abysmal and unoriginal final scene.

It's hard to know how to react to this movie. I guess the most accurate description I could give it is that the experience of watching it was like having one of those dreams that's almost coherent and even approaches being cinematic, but has just a few too many non sequitur peculiarities, so intrinsic to any dream, that the whole mess just doesn't quite hold together.Bizarrely, this movie has no shortage of reasonably name-brand actors. Matthew Broderick, Robert Forster, strangely beautiful Camilla Bell and even a small cameo with the legendary Robert Vaughn are in this movie, and they make no more impact upon it than a collection of talking head shots. Even Janeane Garofalo, whose presence in a movie usually elicits SOME sort of emotional response from me by virtue of the fact I find her so detestable as a person and an actor, doesn't make a dent in this picture.And who is Greg Stuhr, the lead, and how did he get to BE the lead with so many recognizable actors relegated behind him as background scenery?Only adding to the Kafkaesque sense of this movie are the collection of sparkling reviews from other viewers. Some of them as much as admit that they gave the movie a high review because they are either from or really like Buffalo or both. Alrighty then.So how does such a peculiar, oddly distorted movie get made? I have a theory. Of course I do.There are certain topics that just naturally result in cinematic peculiarities. UFOs, Loch Ness, Bigfoot and so on are just frequently going to result in movies that are a little pressed off- center. The organizers behind the movie are possessed of certain thinking patterns and cherished belief systems that are a little half-baked resulting in plot lines that are a little half-baked resulting in depictions that are a little half-baked. The underlying thinking is not rigorous or structured, with lots of gaps and holes that if carefully examined might result in some undesirable questions or illuminations, and so goes the picture that gets made. Nonlinear thinking and disconnected thought patterns unfettered by the notions of cause and effect, basic physics or plain old reality tend to result in peculiar scripts and, shall we say, "innovative filmography".Nikola Tesla is DEFINITELY one such topic. His inventions, his insights, his intelligence and the events of his life are equal parts genius and nutcase. SOME of what he did was genius and so amongst the true-believers EVERYTHING he did was genius. SOME dirty tricks and manipulation and subterfuge were perpetrated upon him and so ALL his unrealized miracle inventions have been suppressed by "evil echelons". Lather, rinse, ad nauseam. People believe in Tesla like they believe in UFOs and Bigfoot and angels and a seemingly endless parade of conspiracies. The fact that a handful are true constitutes all the veracity needed for ALL the rest.And you end up with a movie that was made by true-believers for true-believers. All the appropriate conspiracy checkboxes get ticked off in the context of the canon scenery. And then it's called "noir" to spackle over all the holes. And the crowd goes wild.And while they may be name brand, if you re-examine that cast list, none of the "big" names are really all that big anymore. I'm guessing some of them needed the money. Looking at many of the scenes with the name-brand actors in them, and making note of the isolated context and the blocking, I often get a distinct sense of, "I go on, I get off, I get paid."Watch the scene with Robert Vaughn and see what feeling YOU get about it.As an exercise, see if you can get a grip on what the "unlimited energy of the ionosphere" and their description of the use of "the life energy" in the "tin man" project actually MEANS. Had to get an insider reference to Kirlian auras in there SOMEHOW, didn't we? And for bonus credit, stand on any busy street corner and yell "free energy" and watch what happens.If you're a fan of this kind of "thinking", I BELIEVE you'll probably love this movie. Proof is for party poopers. Say it with me.For the rest of us, it's pretty much confusing or irritating or both.

"That's a gene pool screamin' for chlorine." That is just one of many one liners I enjoyed in this film. And I have to like a middle aged balding guy who writes a film about the designs of Nicola Tesla and places it in his hometown of Buffalo. And he plays the lead - a churlish hardboiled detective (slightly Bruce Willis inspired). Good for you Greg Stuhr! His character reminds me of Bosch - if you have seen that Series.Buffalo and Niagara Falls make interesting locations. There are a lot of great shots of the Falls. There are four decent female roles which I like. Plus some major talent with Matthew Broderick and a few old stars like Robert Vaughn and Robert Forster, who has 177 credits to his name. Both cinematography and the sound track are excellent. It is slightly too long. The plot is a somewhat convoluted but I don't care. I like this movie and I like the aspiration of making such a film on a small budget. And would love to see Greg Stuhr playing a detective on one of the cable or network cop shows.