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IMDbPro

American Son

  • 20192019
  • TV-MATV-MA
  • 1h 30m
IMDb RATING
5.9/10
7.2K
YOUR RATING
Kerry Washington, Steven Pasquale, and Jeremy Jordan in American Son (2019)
It's 3am on a rainy night in South Florida, and mother Kendra Ellis-Connor (Kerry Washington) paces anxiously in a police station waiting room as she tries to piece together what may have happened to her missing son. Faced with a series of infuriating unanswered questions, she navigates a system of unconscious bias, interweaving perspectives, and a tense marital dynamic with her ex-husband (Steven Pasquale) as they try to uncover the truth about their son's whereabouts.  Based on the acclaimed Broadway play, and also featuring reprised roles by Jeremy Jordan and Eugene Lee, AMERICAN SON is an emotional depiction of modern day race dynamics and systemic tensions.
Play trailer1:49
2 Videos
8 Photos
Drama
An estranged couple reunite in a Florida police station to help find their missing teenage son.An estranged couple reunite in a Florida police station to help find their missing teenage son.An estranged couple reunite in a Florida police station to help find their missing teenage son.
IMDb RATING
5.9/10
7.2K
YOUR RATING
    • Kenny Leon
    • Christopher Demos-Brown(by)
  • Stars
    • Kerry Washington
    • Steven Pasquale
    • Jeremy Jordan
    • Kenny Leon
    • Christopher Demos-Brown(by)
  • Stars
    • Kerry Washington
    • Steven Pasquale
    • Jeremy Jordan
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 330User reviews
    • 24Critic reviews
    • 34Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy

    Videos2

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:49
    Watch Official Trailer
    Official Trailer
    Trailer 0:41
    Watch Official Trailer

    Photos8

    American Son (2019)
    Kerry Washington, Steven Pasquale, and Jeremy Jordan in American Son (2019)
    Kerry Washington and Steven Pasquale in American Son (2019)
    Kerry Washington and Steven Pasquale in American Son (2019)
    Kerry Washington in American Son (2019)
    Kerry Washington and Steven Pasquale in American Son (2019)
    Kerry Washington in American Son (2019)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Kerry Washington
    Kerry Washington
    • Kendra
    Steven Pasquale
    Steven Pasquale
    • Scott Connor
    Jeremy Jordan
    Jeremy Jordan
    • Paul Larkin
    Eugene Lee
    Eugene Lee
    • Lt. John Stokes
      • Kenny Leon
      • Christopher Demos-Brown(by)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This film is an adaptation of a Broadway play, of the same name, with the same cast.
    • Quotes

      Paul Larkin: Ma'am, I have kids too.

      Kendra: Any of them black?

    • Connections
      Featured in The 2020 Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards (2020)
    • Soundtracks
      Idea
      Written by Maceo Vidal-Haymes, Nicholas Hennessey, Chance the Rapper (as Chancelor Bennett), Boyang Matsapola and Noam Wallenberg

      Performed by The O'My's feat. Chance the Rapper

      Courtesy of Bleed101 and Chance the Rapper LLC

    User reviews330

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    4/10
    Important ideas, disappointing writing
    What do we make of a movie that has love it or hate it reviews? Possibly reviewers are judging two different aspects: content and portrayal. American Son raises many important issues that society is struggling with. And the film does show that these issues are not as clear-cut as we might think. It encourages the viewer to see the other person's perspective. If these elements of the film were instead those of an article or a non-fiction book, they would be top-notch.

    But this is a film, one adapted from a play. And as a film, it languishes beneath its interesting premise. The most glaring fault lies in the conversation between the parents. Although they were married for many years, they now speak about race issues as if the topic was something new. Is the viewer meant to believe that a biracial couple never explored their views of racial relations? They do not have a credible conversation, but instead make statements for the benefit of the viewer. Rather than believable character dialogue, we get parallel monologues. It is of no surprise, then, that the writer uses amateur contrivances such as that used to bring up the shameful history of segregated water fountains. 'Can I get you anything?' 'Water' 'There's a water fountain down the hall, well actually there are two...' And so on. Such clumsy attempts to invite a soapbox moment is just bad film. Indeed the bulk of the screenplay is replete with such contrived moments. It is the type of faux pas made by Creative Writing students. If it were a fluffy action movie, it could get by with inconsistent, superficial stock characters--the viewer would still enjoy the exciting car chases. But this is meant to be serious drama. It is not the acting that is the problem, but the writing. Sadly, a missed opportunity to prompt a meaningful discussion on the issues it reduces to cliché.
    helpful•56
    32
    • MyContribution
    • Nov 3, 2019

    Details

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    • Release date
      • November 1, 2019 (United States)
      • United States
      • English
    • Also known as
    • Production companies
      • Netflix
      • Simpson Street
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • 1 hour 30 minutes
      • Color

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