American Ultra
American Ultrais not quite the sum of its eclectic parts, but is strangely entertaining, nonetheless.
American Ultrarevolves around Mike Howell ( Jesse Eisenberg ) , a small town stoner who make for at a crummy " Cash - N - Carry " toilet facility mart , and spends his off time of day doting on his girl Phoebe ( Kristen Stewart ) , in between joints . For as long as he can remember , Mike ’s had disabling anxiousness trouble that forestall him from showing Phoebe the life of adventure she deserves , force her to nail down for a muzzy and mundane existence in their crappy town , doing the same workaday daytime in and out .
Mike ’s bombilation gets harshed the night a mysterious adult female identify Victoria Lasseter ( Connie Britton ) appears in Cash - N - Carry dropping some bewildering codewords along with a warning : Mike is the target of some very regretful authorities agents . At first Mike is too stoned to really grasp the harshness of the berth , but when demented assassin start pop up out of the woodwork , the only thing more shocking than the guns indicate at Mike ’s heading is his sudden ability to turn the tables . With Phoebe as dazed and mixed-up as he is , Mike sets out to find oneself answers about his past and the unknown science he begins attest - even as a snarky CIA administrative official ( Topher Grace ) close up in for the kill .
The brainchild ofChroniclewriter Max Landis and orchestrate byProject Xdirector Nima Nourizadeh , American Ultrais not quite the sum of its eclectic part , but is funnily entertaining , yet . The moving picture is distinctly the work of its writer ( Landis ) , with a voice and rhythm that is - for good and worse - unlike any other motion picture in recent computer memory . It reminds one of Tarantino ’s former day write scripts for films likeTrue Romance -which is in all likelihood the most accurate comparison that can be made to Landis ' undercover agent natural process stoner love dramedy .
The oddity ofAmerican Ultrais that it assist each of the single genre in the commixture , but never quite feels like an organic and smooth blend of the material . The stoner love life story between Mike and Phoebe is as affecting as a really good indie film ; the over - the - top action bits feel like a spy genre love - letter in the vein ofKingsman ; and the comedy is funny . And yet , transitions where the stoner love tale skid into action or clowning mostly feel clunky , as if the movie has personality upset rather than wide - straddle taste .
The question is whether or not the clash part ofAmerican Ultrafailed to gel on the pageandthe screen - or just on the screen . There ’s a strong case to be made for the latter , as Nourizadeh ’s direction prove to be spotty - an unsure handwriting that only amplifies the disjointed feeling of the stuff . chronological succession of action and laughable book - style violence are live up to and fun in the way they are staged and pip ; but quieter quieter moments of persona building ( like Mike and Phoebe ’s human relationship subplot ) look low - budget indie , complete with dark and grainy motion-picture photography by Michael Bonvillain ( Hansel & Gretel : Witch Hunters ) . There are a few interesting visual experiments that Nourizadeh throws in ( a dramatic / action fit in a drug bargainer ’s blacklight rumpus room ) , but outside of some nice stuntwork in engagement sequences , it ’s not a peculiarly interesting or pretty film to look at .
On a quality spirit level , Landis ' script gets a boost from a great cast , which makes the journeying ( and all the lusus naturae we conform to ) an enjoyable drive for the most part . Eisenberg and Stewart ( reunite after the 2009 filmAdventureland ) , are amazingly sorcerous and affect as an onscreen mates , to the compass point that the Mike / Phoebe storyline feel potent enough to have been a more straightforward and serious indie Latinian language picture show . That ’s not to take away from both lead player on the comedy or action fronts ; both get nod for tart humour and pratfalls - not to remark , telling chops in the conflict / shootout sequence . Together , they make it seem easy to buy these two lapidator characters caught up in a crazy lot of circumstances .
The support cast is a collection of quality ( if not star index ) . John Leguizamo anchors the goose part ( imitation ? ) that is Rose , Mike ’s drug monger ; Connie Britton take on on herFriday Night Lightsmother biddy persona , dropping nasty - mouthed banter and even some smackdown muscularity as Lasseter . Topher Grace walk a o.k. ( and likely divisive ) agate line as the snarky Adrian Yates , a character that ’s sure to grind on some viewers ' nerves with every line spoken . in the end , Justifiedstar Walton Goggins once again slip the spotlight , play Yates ' uproariously unbalanced and psychotic asset , " Laugher " .
In the ending , American Ultrais a music genre - bending experiment that yields middle results . For spectator willing to take the strange drive with little expectation in idea , it will probably be a playfulness journey . Those hoping for one aspect of the cinema to dominate ( the action , comedy or romance ) , will feel the unvarying hops between all three somewhat disappointing . As for theatrical screening ? It ’s definitely not a must . But for matinee price , you could definitely do worse in August ( see : Hitman ) .
American Ultrais now in theaters . It is 95 minutes long , and is Rated universal gas constant for strong blinking force , language throughout , drug use and some sexual content .
Released in 2015, American Ultra is an action comedy starring Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart, Walter Goggins, Topher Grace, and Connie Britton. The film centers on Mike Howell (Eisenberg), a stoner who discovers he is actually a skilled secret agent for the CIA. American Ultra received mixed reviews upon release and only made a few million dollars at the box office.
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Released in 2015 , American Ultra is an action drollery starring Jesse Eisenberg , Kristen Stewart , Walter Goggins , Topher Grace , and Connie Britton . The film centers on Mike Howell ( Eisenberg ) , a stoner who discovers he is really a skilled secret agent for the CIA . American Ultra received sundry review upon release and only made a few million dollars at the box office staff .
