163 minutes, Adventure/Drama 

At some point in your life, have you ever found yourself fantasising how life could be if you were to flee? That fantasy becomes a reality right from the opening scenes of AMERICAN HONEY for Star (Sasha Lane). It is evident that this free-spirited 18 year-old has found herself stuck in a lifestyle that she is not ready to live, nor willing to continue living in. When Star crosses paths with an opportunity to escape and start over, by way of a bus-full of young guys and girls who sell magazine subscriptions for a living and encouraged by a definite attraction to Jake (Shia LeBeouf), she packs her bag and hits the road.

Acclaimed Writer & Director Andrea Arnold’s first film to be made outside of the UK picked up the Jury Prize at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival and features a mostly unknown cast, most of whom she would approach on the street and offer an impromptu audition in parking lots to! The casting, and the fact that Arnold’s film is heavily improvised completely benefit the films organic nature and compliment the anything-goes vibe happening here, immediately producing an irresistibly refreshing and relaxing journey to sit back and take in.

If you are at all concerned that AMERICAN HONEY will just be meandering and meaningless, as it is largely improvised and almost three hours length, don’t be. Arnold’s screenplay, which features a number of scenarios throughout that are starkly realistic and intimate, is continually developing characterisation and devising plot that carries right through until the final scenes. The differences in and depiction of character is especially impressive, showing just how in touch with the youth of today (minus the social media craze) the writing really is.

Further complimenting these characters and the infectiously carefree tone of the film is the handheld filming of AMERICAN HONEY, which is shot in chronological order. The use of natural lighting, a very absorbing performance from first time actor Sasha Lane (approached by Arnold during spring break at a beach!) in the pivotal role and the sex scenes further enhance the movie’s purity. Performances from up-and-coming star Riley Keough (MAGIC MIKE, MAD MAX: FURY ROAD) and Shia LeBeouf, who blends in effortlessly with unknown actors, polish this wonderfully assembled and arranged cross-country marathon.

4 out of 5 

Trailer 
AMERICAN HONEY

Viewer Discretion
MA15+ – Strong Coarse Language, Sex Scenes and Nudity 
The sex scenes are very realistically simulated and the nudity is graphic. There is also drug and alcohol abuse throughout, all of which involves teenagers. 

Moviedoc wishes to thank Universal Pictures and the Cinema NOVA for the invitation to the Melbourne Preview screening of AMERICAN HONEY. 

Review by Moviedoc 
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