AMERICAN SON Out On Netflix Today

The film adaptation of AMERICAN SON was released on Netflix this morning.I watched it and it definitely does not benefit from being filmed up close and in their faces. I liked the play as a whole, however thin and idea-driven it was, but it feels like the acting was not toned down for the screen AT ALL and that they are still performing to the back of the Booth.

one of the most manipulative pieces of theater I have ever seen,. the end was absolutely disgusting

I think they should have just filmed it when it was on Broadway. I watched it for Steven and Jeremy, but it's really not a good play. However, I hope Netflix continues doing this for theater lovers. I look forward to The Prom and The Boys in the Band.

Updated On: 11/1/19 at 04:08 PM

On Broadway meaning in front of an audience.

I didn't see the play, but I thought the film was pretty decent. I agree the acting's kinda stagey, but Kerry Washington and Steven Pasquale's performances are pretty great, and kinda carry the film.

I think the presentation's pretty good too. I like the idea of a film taking place in one room. With a play, you don't even think about it taking place on one set, but a film set in one place gives it a claustrophobic, almost purgatoryesque aesthetic, and I really like it.

The claustrophobic setting also feeds into the tension the direction is able to create, especially in the final third of the movie, when everyone's arguing and fighting, it's pretty dicey.

Spoiler wise:

I don't regret seeing it, and I think you should check it out if you want. Again, I didn't see the play, so I don't know how it measures up, but I liked it fine.

Dear Lord,did people PAY to listen to two people scream at each other?

This was 10mins of over acting and some of it really bad[especially the husband] and if I were the cop I would have slapped her.

Fast forward to the ending for the wrap up and final scream then to start season 6 of The Walking Dead[well, I have been busy].

AS sure needed a few zombies to lighten the mood.

I just watched this and enjoyed it for the most part. The rain machine was EXTREMELY obvious (obnoxiously fake looking) to the point of being just distracting. I hated the scenes that took you out of the world of the play (i.e. where they first met and the final shot of film). I think that this would have been much better if they just filmed the play live, or filmed this directly on the set without the weird occasional cuts that just made this feel like a Lifetime movie... Also, FWIW, I loved the play when I saw it on Broadway.

Call_me_jorge said: "I’m watching this right now and I honestly can’t stand Kerry Washington. I mean. I’m not sure if it’s her or the character, but she’s giving me way too much anxiety. Like I wish her character was just a bit more patient instead bullying Jeremy Jordan’s character around. "

Look, I hated this on Broadway and I hated the movie but calling Washington’s character a bully to Jordan’s character is RIDICULOUS. Jordan’s character was blatantly racist to her multiple times.

n2nbaby said: "Call_me_jorge said: "I’m watching this right now and I honestly can’t stand Kerry Washington. I mean. I’m not sure if it’s her or the character, but she’s giving me way too much anxiety. Like I wish her character was just a bit more patient instead bullying Jeremy Jordan’s character around. "

Look, I hated this on Broadway and I hated the movie but calling Washington’s character a bully to Jordan’s character is RIDICULOUS. Jordan’s character was blatantly racist to her multiple times."

This became clear after I posted this. Jordan’s one line regarding the water fountains was uncomfortable to say the least.

If someone, black or white were screaming in my face,relentlessly, I would certainly lash out, more in anger than racist.

And the water fountain?--it was already there from times past. Could have been removed but left for, drum roll, more racial tension. Even the lighting went sub dungeon.

The whole thing was a nightmare on elm street--until the bodies at the end.