American Heart (1992)

Director:

Martin Bell

Writers (WGA):

Peter Silverman (story) &
Martin Bell (story) ...

Release Date:

7 May 1993 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Tagline:

Jack's only hope was a dream... Nick's only hope was jack.

Plot:

Jack is now out of jail and he meets Nick, his adolescent son. Their relationship will be complicated, because Jack has a problem with alcohol. But his love for Nick will help him to get over the past and reach his dreams.

Plot Keywords:

Prison | Beer | Joint | Transvestite | Female Frontal Nudity

Awards:

1 win & 4 nominations

Cast

John Boylan	...	Janitor
Jeff Bridges	...	Jack Kelson
Edward Furlong	...	Nick Kelson
Greg Sevigny	...	Young Jack
Jayne Entwistle	...	Monique
Willie Williams	...	The Gospel Fireballs
Roosevelt Franklin	...	The Gospel Fireballs
Melvyn Hayward	...	Normandy
Don Harvey	...	Rainey
Kit McDonough	...	Landlady
Wren Walker	...	Lisa
Cristine McMurdo-Wallis	...	School Administrator
Lucinda Jenney	...	Charlotte
Charlotte London	...	Flo
Loyd Catlett	...	Vernon the Bartender

Runtime:

113 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Finland:K-16 | USA:TV-MA (cable rating) | Iceland:L | Spain:13 | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Seattle, Washington, USA

Company:

American Heart Productions

Trivia:

Eddie Bunker was hired as an on-set adviser for Jeff Bridges.

Quotes:

Nick Kelson: My crib's upstairs.
Molly: You sleep in a crib?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Big City Dick: Richard Peterson's First Movie (2004)

Soundtrack:

Do You Wanna Touch Me

Good performances; intelligent story.

This movie features another great performance from Jeff Bridges, as a convicted felon whose son wants to have a relationship with him. It's a rare cinematic look at the strained father-teenage son relationship. Edward Furlong is sympathetic as Bridges' persistent son. The ending bothered me a bit - almost too anti-Hollywood, but this film is not driven by plot. The characters are the meat of this story. Makes a worthwhile rental.