(spoiler free)
Warren Lipka, Spencer Reinhard, Eric Borsuk and Chas Allen. The four men responsible for the 2004 Transylvania University Heist in Kentucky and the subject for new film ‘American Animals’. The film tells the story of how they planned, executed and dealt with the aftermath of the heist. With the target of the heist not money or jewels but rare book, ‘The Birds of America’ by John James Audubon would this be a by the numbers entry into the genre or something more notable?
One of the most unique and surely divisive elements to this film is the featuring of the real men who carried out this heist. All four members of the heist are interviewed offering specific insight into the real life events, these interviews are dispersed amongst the films drama portrayed by the cast. This is an initially jarring decision, as an audience member you’re not quite sure what to do with this set up. Is it a documentary, is it film, can it be both? However, once you become accustomed to this dual method of storytelling, which really takes no time at all, this becomes one of the films many many strengths.
This allows only second time director Bart Layton to be extremely creative in his storytelling. He’s able to showcase the differences in how the four men remember the details of the planning, execution and aftermath of the heist, not in a dissimilar fashion to the interview style of ‘I Tonya’ that we saw earlier this year. However, it’s the featuring of the real life figures that makes his storytelling even more effective in conveying the emotions of these men and for understanding their motives. Without their involvement this would have just been exposition in the film and not nearly as convincing. Albeit two of the four, Warren & Spencer, are explored much more than the remaining members, Chas & Eric. This does make sense as the heist idea comes from Warren & Spencer and it’s truly fascinating to see how it originates and develops however it feels like Chas & Eric are left slightly under explored which is a slight shame.
The performances from the young cast help you to forget about this potential flaw though as they are completely absorbing in telling this story. Evan Peters (Warren) is fantastic and he leads the group with this infectious energy, portraying the unpredictable nature of his character so entertainingly. Similarly Barry Keoghan (Spencer) is really brilliant, continuing his impressive string of recent roles. It’s so good to see both of these performers in leading roles and their work here showcases their talent excellently providing audiences with a dynamic on screen atmosphere and much anticipation of their future in this industry. Jared Abrahamson (Eric) and Blake Jenner (Chase) contribute nicely too, completing a quad of super performances, their screen time is limited compared to the others but they prove valuable additions to the cast and have excellent chemistry with their fellow actors.
‘American Animals’ is really a film of two halves, the first is exactly what you’d expect it to be. It’s a fun, comedic heist movie. It’s littered with glorious film references paying special tribute to the heist films this genre knows and loves. It does all this in above average fashion and if the film simply continued on like this it would have been fantastic regardless. However in its second half, the film chooses to develop into this powerful and stirring drama. The heist sequence itself will truly have your heart in your mouth and your jaw on the ground, with some moments even hard to watch. It decides to focus on elements that other heist movies wouldn’t give a second thought to and it’s decisions like these that make ‘American Animals’ the success it is. The aftermath of the heist is so affecting serving as a case study in guilt and paranoia. The use of the interviews in these moments is so carefully executed allowing the film to go much deeper than its predecessors in the genre, resulting in an utterly emotional and involving experience.
‘American Animals’ achieves the rare feat of actually reinventing its genre. I’ve never seen a heist movie so complex and carefully layered. It only just misses out on being a masterpiece, however with some time to process and appreciate it coupled with rewatches it wouldn’t surprise me if I was calling it so a few months down the line. Bart Layton has accomplished a complete triumph effortlessly merging an enthusiastic and extremely talented young cast with the raw emotions and insights of the real life men who carried out this heist. ‘American Animals’ is a creative, emotional and endlessly entertaining film/documentary hybrid that’s the new bench mark for everything in this genre.
Written by Hamish Calvert
Rating – 9/10
Question: What are your top three heist films?
(Leave your answers in the comments section below!)
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