American Woman — Review
This review was originally published on Cinemusings on June 14, 2019
Source: Roadside Attractions
On the surface, Jake Scott’s American Woman might seem like a run-of-the-mill film, between its generic title and familiar premise. Rather than make this a movie about a woman trying to figure out what happened to her missing daughter, Brad Ingelsby’s script turns this into a deeper story about life itself. It beautifully captures the cyclical nature of life’s tragedies and triumphs.
American Woman is an impressive showcase for Sienna Miller, who delivers what is indisputably the best performance of her career. She stars as Debra, a young single mother (and grandmother). She had her daughter Bridget (Sky Ferreira) when she was 16 years old. Bridget is also a single mother, having had a son with her stoner ex-boyfriend Tyler (Alex Neustaedter). Debra often helps take care of her grandson, Jesse.
Deb’s sister Katherine (Christina Hendricks) conveniently lives across the street. She criticizes Deb for her promiscuous behavior, especially for having an affair with a married man. When we first meet Deb she’s confident and unapologetic about her sexuality, but she’s frequently the recipient of slut-shaming. She’s a little bit reckless but she feels like a real person and not some stereotype, thanks in large part to Sienna Miller’s knockout performance.
Source: Roadside Attractions
Things take a dramatic turn when Bridget goes out with Tyler one night and never makes it back home. Naturally, Deb assumes Tyler’s to blame. Search parties ensue and Deb understandably spirals out of control. Miller’s depiction of a grieving mother is realistic and heart-wrenching without ever becoming melodramatic.
When the married man she’s been sleeping with blows her off, she shows up at his home and causes a scene. On the drive home, she swerves all over the road before closing her eyes and removing her hands from the steering wheel. It’s a careless decision, but it accurately embodies that feeling of hitting rock bottom.
After the crash, we see Deb walking away. It’s one of many memorable shots in the movie, thanks to John Mathieson’s remarkable cinematography. Deb slowly walks in a daze, with blood across her face. Then suddenly, the film moves forward in time. It’s a testament to Joi McMillon’s masterful editing. There are quite a few noteworthy transitions in the film, especially when the story jumps ahead a few years. There’s no need for the film to specify the jumps in time, Scott’s adept direction makes it easy for viewers to understand the timeline. But this scene of Deb walking away from the car crash is what marks the moment when American Woman turns into something truly special.
Source: Roadside Attractions
When we see Deb and Jesse a few years later, we’re still left wondering what happened to Bridget. It soon becomes clear that this isn’t a thriller or mystery, but a character study. Deb has one of the most expansive character arcs out of any film in recent memory. American Woman is a masterclass in how to write multifaceted characters who actually grow and develop over the course of the film. This is heightened by Miller’s ability to really bring the character of Deb to life.
American Woman captures the way in which tragedy can alter our lives. How we can break down or pick ourselves back up. It’s also about how life doesn’t occur in a straight line, it’s packed with ups and downs and all we can really do is try to overcome the obstacles life throws at us. The film is also evocative of the famous Steve Maraboli quote, “Life doesn’t get easier or more forgiving, we get stronger and more resilient.” There are subtle moments in the film where Deb sees a photograph of Bridget, and even though Deb’s life seems to be going well we can still feel her pain. It’s obvious that losing her daughter isn’t something she can simply move on from, but she has no choice except to try and press forward and make a better life for herself and Jesse.
The film strikes a perfect blend of light and dark moments. The comedic relief is effective and there are plenty of joyful moments to balance out the devastating ones. The movie mirrors the ever-changing nature of life. It’s an honest look at what it means to experience love and loss and to have the courage to start over again.
American Woman features a career-best performance from Sienna Miller. Christina Hendricks is also fantastic and Aaron Paul is as charming as ever. It’s arguably the best feature film that Jake Scott has directed thus far, as well as Brad Ingelsby’s strongest screenplay to date. John Mathieson’s cinematography and Joi McMillon’s editing really work to elevate the film. American Woman is an engaging and deeply moving portrait of a woman’s struggles, maturation, and perseverance.
