March 6, 2024
FILM: AMERICAN DREAMER
DIRECTED BY: PAUL DEKTOR
STARRING: PETER DINKLAGE, SHIRLEY MACLAINE, MATT DILLON
RATING: 3 out of 4 stars
By Dan Pal
There’s something really sad about the film industry that doesn’t know how to market and release a film that might appeal to an older audience. Paul Dektor’s American Dreamer has garnered very little attention since it played at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2022. While it’s not a perfect film, it does offer some light comedy and a couple of terrific performances. Plus, isn’t it a gift to have Shirley MacLaine still doing her best to make us laugh and feel something after 70 years on film?
At the center of the film though is Peter Dinklage in a wonderfully comedic role as Phil Loder, an adjunct economics professor at a major university in Massachusetts who dreams of a better life. At the start, he drives a car from the 1980s and lives in a small run-down apartment building. He’s alone as his wife died several years earlier. As much as he blasts society’s over-emphasis on money and material things, what he really wants is a big and better home where he can write his novel. His sleazy realtor friend Dell, played by Matt Dillon, shows him the mansions he fantasizes about that are far beyond his price range. When Phil sees an ad for a live in situation at a waterside estate, he seeks Dell’s help to inquire about purchasing it using the incredibly small resources Phil currently has to his name. Wealthy Astrid Fanelli, played by MacLaine, owns and still lives on the property but she’s said to be on her last legs, which bodes well for Phil and his dreams.
The tone of the film is lightly humorous with Dinklage doing some physical comedy falling down, breaking things, and generally making some bad decisions on a day-to-day basis. Dinklage is one of the great reasons to see this film. If you know him mostly from Game of Thrones it’s quite a pleasure to see him showing off his many comic chops. In addition to his physical prowess, it is enjoyable to watch his non-verbal communication and witty line deliveries. He commands this central role.
MacLaine is definitely up there in age. Her voice isn’t what it once was but there are some great moments when she bonds with Dinklage’s Phil and even gets a chance to do a little dancing (at the age of 89.) There is some great chemistry between the actors that really makes the film work. The script does have some holes in it but what we’re most interested in is seeing these great actors at work.
Matt Dillon’s role is a bit more one-dimensional but he has a few good moments. The cast also boasts Danny Pudi and Danny Glover in smaller parts that don’t add up to anything particularly substantive. More interesting is Kimberly Quinn as Maggie, Astrid’s daughter. The role is a bit underdeveloped but she has a strong screen presence and her scenes with Dinklage are quite effective.
There are some plot details that could be given more attention. For instance, a number of characters are referred to as Astrid’s kids but the film takes a bit too much time revealing exactly what their role is in her life. Prior to this, there’s some curious mystery as to why none of them seem to be in line to inherit the house. Fantasies that Phil has don’t amount to much either, except to maybe point out that he strives for a certain perfection in women and cultural status.
Plot holes aside, it is Dinklage and MacLaine who make the film worth seeing. They’re both expert at playing the kind of roles Hollywood isn’t interested in showcasing any more. To support this film is to tell the industry that there are still people interested in multi-layered characters played by charismatic actors.
American Dreamer opens in limited release on March 8th, followed by a larger theatrical roll out on March 15th.
FILM: AMERICAN DREAMER
DIRECTED BY: PAUL DEKTOR
STARRING: PETER DINKLAGE, SHIRLEY MACLAINE, MATT DILLON
RATING: 3 out of 4 stars
By Dan Pal
There’s something really sad about the film industry that doesn’t know how to market and release a film that might appeal to an older audience. Paul Dektor’s American Dreamer has garnered very little attention since it played at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2022. While it’s not a perfect film, it does offer some light comedy and a couple of terrific performances. Plus, isn’t it a gift to have Shirley MacLaine still doing her best to make us laugh and feel something after 70 years on film?
At the center of the film though is Peter Dinklage in a wonderfully comedic role as Phil Loder, an adjunct economics professor at a major university in Massachusetts who dreams of a better life. At the start, he drives a car from the 1980s and lives in a small run-down apartment building. He’s alone as his wife died several years earlier. As much as he blasts society’s over-emphasis on money and material things, what he really wants is a big and better home where he can write his novel. His sleazy realtor friend Dell, played by Matt Dillon, shows him the mansions he fantasizes about that are far beyond his price range. When Phil sees an ad for a live in situation at a waterside estate, he seeks Dell’s help to inquire about purchasing it using the incredibly small resources Phil currently has to his name. Wealthy Astrid Fanelli, played by MacLaine, owns and still lives on the property but she’s said to be on her last legs, which bodes well for Phil and his dreams.
The tone of the film is lightly humorous with Dinklage doing some physical comedy falling down, breaking things, and generally making some bad decisions on a day-to-day basis. Dinklage is one of the great reasons to see this film. If you know him mostly from Game of Thrones it’s quite a pleasure to see him showing off his many comic chops. In addition to his physical prowess, it is enjoyable to watch his non-verbal communication and witty line deliveries. He commands this central role.
MacLaine is definitely up there in age. Her voice isn’t what it once was but there are some great moments when she bonds with Dinklage’s Phil and even gets a chance to do a little dancing (at the age of 89.) There is some great chemistry between the actors that really makes the film work. The script does have some holes in it but what we’re most interested in is seeing these great actors at work.
Matt Dillon’s role is a bit more one-dimensional but he has a few good moments. The cast also boasts Danny Pudi and Danny Glover in smaller parts that don’t add up to anything particularly substantive. More interesting is Kimberly Quinn as Maggie, Astrid’s daughter. The role is a bit underdeveloped but she has a strong screen presence and her scenes with Dinklage are quite effective.
There are some plot details that could be given more attention. For instance, a number of characters are referred to as Astrid’s kids but the film takes a bit too much time revealing exactly what their role is in her life. Prior to this, there’s some curious mystery as to why none of them seem to be in line to inherit the house. Fantasies that Phil has don’t amount to much either, except to maybe point out that he strives for a certain perfection in women and cultural status.
Plot holes aside, it is Dinklage and MacLaine who make the film worth seeing. They’re both expert at playing the kind of roles Hollywood isn’t interested in showcasing any more. To support this film is to tell the industry that there are still people interested in multi-layered characters played by charismatic actors.
American Dreamer opens in limited release on March 8th, followed by a larger theatrical roll out on March 15th.