American Made | Cruise, Cartels, and Chaos

We're taking off with American Made, Doug Liman’s breezy crime drama starring Tom Cruise as Barry Seal, a pilot whose life turns into a high-altitude juggling act of drug smuggling, CIA ops, and more cash than he can carry.

The movie has all the ingredients for a high-stakes thriller — cartels, covert government agencies, and a protagonist spiraling out of control — but instead of leaning into tension, it opts for charm. And to be fair, Cruise delivers. He carries the movie almost entirely, turning Barry Seal into the kind of reckless anti-hero you can’t help but root for, even as his choices get increasingly dangerous.

What Works in American Made

We both agree there’s fun to be had here.

• Cruise’s performance: A reminder that when he’s not saving the world in Mission: Impossible series, he’s still magnetic in roles that let him play flawed and charismatic.

• Doug Liman’s direction: Stylish, fast-paced, and sharp in its period detail.

• The energy: At under two hours, the movie moves quickly, never overstays its welcome, and has plenty of wild “did that really happen?” moments.

  
  

Where It Falls Short

The problem? For a story built on danger, betrayal, and greed, American Made rarely feels risky. The third act, in particular, skims over the consequences of Barry’s choices and lands more like a shrug than a gut punch. It’s fun, but it never quite sells the stakes, which makes the chaos feel more like a joyride than a thriller.

Final Thoughts

American Made isn’t a great movie, but it’s an easy one to watch. It’s entertaining, fueled by Cruise’s charisma and Liman’s slick direction, even if it doesn’t dig as deep as it could. For us, it’s less about turbulence and more about cruising altitude — smooth, fun, but missing the landing gear when it counts.

Catch our full conversation on Forgotten Cinema — available wherever you get your podcasts or on YouTube.

Bonus: Check out our latest short film: Knife Hands!