American Animals

In June 2019, I watched American Animals at Kadokawa Cinema Yurakucho in Tokyo. I had expected it to be a comedy because I had known that it was based on the foolish case which four American college students actually caused. It, however, was unexpectedly serious, so I was kind of tired after watching it. 

In March 2020, I watched it again on DVD. I had already known how serious it is and I had prepared mentally and physically, so I could enjoy it more than the last time. 

I was basically impressed with the thought-provoking film. It provoked these thoughts. I must carefully choose a friend. I must always hold on to myself. I must never be scared at a critical moment. I must never do things halfway. Those are all natural things. Everybody, however, makes a mistake, then, a thing goes wrong. 

The real former college students, who had actually caused the case, appeared and were talking in interviews in the film. It showed originality. 

The climax scenes became slow motion when I felt that the direction was quite exaggerated for the stupid case. I even chuckled in spite of myself. I then did not know whether the director made them dramatic or whether he made them ironic so as to make the viewers laugh. I now bet that he tried to make us laugh. 

I understand the feelings of young men who want to overly show off, yet the young men seem really foolish. Most of them realize it when they get old. Sadly, however, some of them age without noticing it. Their life might be happy, though I do not want to be friends with the kind of men.