| "Truth, Justice...” |
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American Way, The
DVD/APPROX. 92 MINS/1986/USA M
DVD/APPROX. 92 MINS/1986/USA M
5.5
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Dennis Hopper (Mad Dog Morgan, Blue Velvet) stars in this tale of some Vietnam Vets that fly around in a B-29 airplane as they broadcast a pirate
television station and wreaking havoc on American audiences and their televisions. The film is a comedy but is laced with tons of political slant and
humor. There main threat is a Mrs. Westinghouse who is running a campaign for Senator and is trying to get the U.S. involved in taking aggression
against South America by launching nuclear missiles at them. The goofball vets have chosen to use all their resources of the station to thwart her
campaign and plans.
Get ready for tons of crappy 80’s new wave music and some interesting montages of images chosen for transmission by the SM television network.
This film came out during the Reagan years and there is a large amount of commentary and subtle and not-so-subtle critique of his decisions that
Americans were affected by. If one knows nothing about politics or simply chooses not to follow them because they dislike the subject, The
American Way can still be quite an amusing film to view. There is some pretty funny edits and use of pop culture footage of the era and reminded
me of a cross between UHF and Pump Up the Volume, which are the only two films I can think of having seen right off the top of my head to
reference that come close to the style and off-beat flow and also come nowhere near this film’s style. I compare those films lead characters as
leading a revolution using video and music and/or imagery as their weapons of choice against the senses.
This film seems right up Dennis Hopper’s alley, as he was brilliant in Apocalypse Now, a film that really had a lot to say on the Vietnam war and
judging from how Hopper’s character was so twisted and warped by the harsh realities of the war, I would suffice to say that his portrayal as The
Captain in this movie may be a realistic development in his post-Vietnam stress psyche now possessed. The film really goes against everything the
Republicans stand for and believe in. There are no subjects in this film that are taboo and I am curious if this film even was shown in American
theaters when it came out.
The film was directed by Maurice Phillips, which you may remember as having directed a large amount of television shows, most memorable to me
was Max Headroom. I guess there are a fair amount of elements that Phillips used in The American Way that were also used in Max Headroom.
The story was written by Scott Roberts.
The televangelists are picked on as well as the corrupt politicians of the age and any age, for that matter. Hopper’s right-hand man in the whole
outfit is Doc (Michael J. Pollard, Bonnie and Clyde) and he gave quite a quirky performance, as I always remember him to give. Hopper is seen
wearing an array of cool t-shirts, my favorite being the one that said, “I wish I was deep instead of macho”. The film really was fairly amusing, but
may be dated as most of the satire and humor is most pertinent to the ‘80’s and may be lost on those that are too young or just didn’t give a crap
about politics ever.
If not for Dennis Hopper and his charming off-beat style of acting, I do not think I would have enjoyed this film as much as I did. The films focus on
attacking the U.S.’s foreign policy of invading countries that piss them off is well portrayed. I particularly enjoyed watching the film mock and attack
the religious Right and showing just how greedy politics, religion, and corporate America really is and I do not think that has changed one iota to
this day.
The DVD was put out by Umbrella Entertainment and was a nice copy of the print. The DVD comes bare-bones and is only in Dolby 2.0, with no
subtitles, and is full-screen. Maybe the film was grow in its popularity and get released in a letterbox version with some audio commentaries, one
by Dennis Hopper and director Maurice Phillips, which would be very cool.
I recommend viewing this film for its potential cult appeal and a crash course in politics and religion bashing circa 1986. If anything, view it for a
pretty solid performance by Dennis Hopper and seeing him wearing some cool t-shirts.
television station and wreaking havoc on American audiences and their televisions. The film is a comedy but is laced with tons of political slant and
humor. There main threat is a Mrs. Westinghouse who is running a campaign for Senator and is trying to get the U.S. involved in taking aggression
against South America by launching nuclear missiles at them. The goofball vets have chosen to use all their resources of the station to thwart her
campaign and plans.
Get ready for tons of crappy 80’s new wave music and some interesting montages of images chosen for transmission by the SM television network.
This film came out during the Reagan years and there is a large amount of commentary and subtle and not-so-subtle critique of his decisions that
Americans were affected by. If one knows nothing about politics or simply chooses not to follow them because they dislike the subject, The
American Way can still be quite an amusing film to view. There is some pretty funny edits and use of pop culture footage of the era and reminded
me of a cross between UHF and Pump Up the Volume, which are the only two films I can think of having seen right off the top of my head to
reference that come close to the style and off-beat flow and also come nowhere near this film’s style. I compare those films lead characters as
leading a revolution using video and music and/or imagery as their weapons of choice against the senses.
This film seems right up Dennis Hopper’s alley, as he was brilliant in Apocalypse Now, a film that really had a lot to say on the Vietnam war and
judging from how Hopper’s character was so twisted and warped by the harsh realities of the war, I would suffice to say that his portrayal as The
Captain in this movie may be a realistic development in his post-Vietnam stress psyche now possessed. The film really goes against everything the
Republicans stand for and believe in. There are no subjects in this film that are taboo and I am curious if this film even was shown in American
theaters when it came out.
The film was directed by Maurice Phillips, which you may remember as having directed a large amount of television shows, most memorable to me
was Max Headroom. I guess there are a fair amount of elements that Phillips used in The American Way that were also used in Max Headroom.
The story was written by Scott Roberts.
The televangelists are picked on as well as the corrupt politicians of the age and any age, for that matter. Hopper’s right-hand man in the whole
outfit is Doc (Michael J. Pollard, Bonnie and Clyde) and he gave quite a quirky performance, as I always remember him to give. Hopper is seen
wearing an array of cool t-shirts, my favorite being the one that said, “I wish I was deep instead of macho”. The film really was fairly amusing, but
may be dated as most of the satire and humor is most pertinent to the ‘80’s and may be lost on those that are too young or just didn’t give a crap
about politics ever.
If not for Dennis Hopper and his charming off-beat style of acting, I do not think I would have enjoyed this film as much as I did. The films focus on
attacking the U.S.’s foreign policy of invading countries that piss them off is well portrayed. I particularly enjoyed watching the film mock and attack
the religious Right and showing just how greedy politics, religion, and corporate America really is and I do not think that has changed one iota to
this day.
The DVD was put out by Umbrella Entertainment and was a nice copy of the print. The DVD comes bare-bones and is only in Dolby 2.0, with no
subtitles, and is full-screen. Maybe the film was grow in its popularity and get released in a letterbox version with some audio commentaries, one
by Dennis Hopper and director Maurice Phillips, which would be very cool.
I recommend viewing this film for its potential cult appeal and a crash course in politics and religion bashing circa 1986. If anything, view it for a
pretty solid performance by Dennis Hopper and seeing him wearing some cool t-shirts.
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