American Perfekt (1997)

Sandra meets a shrink on the way to picking up her sister at a desert town to continue to their mom. He decides by flipping a coin. The coin flipping gets psycho.

Director:

Paul Chart

Writer:

Paul Chart

Stars:

Amanda Plummer, Robert Forster, David Thewlis

2 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Amanda Plummer	...	Sandra
Robert Forster	...	Jake
David Thewlis	...	Santini
Fairuza Balk	...	Alice
Paul Sorvino	...	Frank
Joanna Gleason	...	Shirley
Geoffrey Lewis	...	Willy
Chris Sarandon	...	Sammy
Jay Patterson	...	Bernie
Judson Mills	...	Junior
Rutanya Alda	...	Gloria
Paul Henry	...	Pete / Trucker #1
Belinda Balaski	...	Rita
Jack Breschard	...	Trucker #2
Nathan Le Grand	...	Freddie

Storyline

Criminal psychiatrist Jake Nyman is taking a much needed vacation from responsibility with an experimental road trip during which every decision will be made on a flip of a coin. Meanwhile Sandra Thomas, disenchanted professional, is en route to pick up her flunked out sister, Alice, at a cheap motel before continuing on to visit their ailing mother. After being forced off the road by a mysterious assailant however, Sandra is picked up by Jake, whose coin flipping amoral attitude quickly excites her own desire to break a few rules. Or worse. Jake and Sandra's romance is soon driven by chance acts of crime and kindness, all governed by the flip of a coin - at least until Sandra mysteriously disappears and Jake unwittingly picks up her suspicious sister, Alice ...

---

Plot Keywords:

psychiatrist | male full frontal nudity | pubic hair | male pubic hair | coin | 

---

Taglines:

The Road to Hell is Paved with Good Intentions

---

Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for grisly violence, strong sexuality/nudity and language

Did You Know?

Trivia

This reteams David Thewlis and Fairuza Balk after the notoriously troubled The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996).

---

Goofs

When Santini stops at the motel, the boom mic can be seen briefly in the upper left corner.

---

Crazy Credits

End credits run backwards

---

Soundtracks

Lay It Down
Written by Michael Timmins
Performed by Cowboy Junkies
Courtesy of Geffen Records
By arrangement with Universal Music Special Markets
1996 By Paz Junk Music/ BMG Songs, Inc. (ASCAP)

User Reviews

Never trust a shrink

Robert Forster is good as Jake, a psychiatrist who picks up a woman named Sandra, after her car is run off a desert road. Jake likes to make most of his decisions on the toss of a coin. The duo run into a confidence trickster named Santini, and that's when the fun and games begin.

Jake soon hooks up with Sandra's sister Alice, who is supposed to meet Sandra in a diner. Jake then has a few surprises in store for Alice. The film isn't very long, and doesn't out stay its welcome. A blackly humourous road movie that is well worth seeing. The film clearly has its tongue firmly planted in its cheek.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 September 1997 (Singapore)

Also Known As:

American Perfekt

Filming Locations:

Pearblossom, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Destiny Entertainment, Millennium Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1