David Carradine’s ‘American Reel’ is no ‘Crazy Heart’
The late David Carradine turns in one of his final performances in American Reel, now available on DVD from MVD Visual. The story feels like a cousin to Crazy Heart, the down-on-his-luck singer tale that won Jeff Bridges a well-deserved Oscar. Carradine’s take is much less successful.
James Lee Springer (Carradine) has been playing pitiful clubs for years, and his music prospects look bleak. Older and wiser, he decides to become a school teacher to pay the bills. It’s only when a song he wrote back in the 1970s (“American Reel”) hits it big that his life begins to change. All of a sudden he’s sitting pretty with the #1 single in the United States, a plethora of possible record deals and a sold-out concert tour.
Michael Maloney plays his manager, while Mariel Hemingway turns up as his assistant. Director Mark Archer keeps the action focused on these three main stars, but there’s not enough drama to pique our interest. Everything is so-so, including the acting, the sound, the visuals and even Carradine’s original songs for the film. In Crazy Heart, it was obvious that the main character deserved recognition. In American Reel, James Lee Springer doesn’t bring the chops. His lyrics are obvious, and his sound is basic. This guy earns a #1 single? The creative team behind the movie needs to take a look at the meteoric rise of Justin Bieber and Gotye. That’s overnight success. James Lee Springer wouldn’t last long in the spotlight.
Carradine is decent as the aging singer, but there is no scene to let him show his full acting ability. Hemingway is given a horrible part and is unable to do much with the material. Maloney is the most effective, even though his manager role grows cliche and tiresome after the first 20 minutes.
The entire film hovers in a world of its own making. Although some elements are meant to be comedic, the vast majority of content feels fabricated. This is not how record deals are struck. This is not how music careers begin (or end). This is not a true story.
It’s a shame that Carradine’s life was cut too short. He had great potential in his later years, but only when coupled with a first-rate script and worthy project (like the Kill Bill films). American Reel is just ordinary — a film that feels needlessly dated.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
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American Reel
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2010
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Directed by Mark Archer
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Written by Scott Fivelson and Junior Burke
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Starring David Carradine, Mariel Hemingway and Michael Maloney
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Running time: 100 minutes
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Rating:
