Star (Sasha Lane), a teenager with very little to lose, is charmed into joining a group of traveling misfits on their quest to sell magazines across America. While riding the turbulent waves of partying, law bending and young love, Star and the rest of her group do their best to survive, while also doing their best to have fun and experience life to its fullest. A greatly underappreciated movie in my opinion, with a lengthy but worthwhile runtime.

Director: Andrea Arnold
Writers: Andrea Arnold
Starring: Sasha Lane, Shia LaBeouf, Riley Keough

When it comes to guilty pleasures, American Honey is right at the top of my own personal list. Having seen the movie originally upon its release, I was drawn to it instantly and enjoyed it for what it was – an adventure film about a group of American teenagers from all different walks of life, who were aiming to get by, while exploring the vast, beautiful country of America. American Honey is definitely not a complex film, nor is it a flick littered with twists and turns, but if you’re in the mood for an easy to watch coming-of-age story, then give this a shot.

One aspect of the picture that impressed was the cinematography, the filmmakers did a superb job of showcasing different states and cities around the United States, some that aren’t necessarily captured in other more mainstream releases – it’s also fair to say that the flick contained a tremendous summer feel to it, which made you appreciate what you was seeing just that little bit more. Something else to mention would have to be the soundtrack, it’s heavily relied on throughout, and is almost perfect for a film of this nature.

On a deeper level, the filmmakers injected several subplots, many of which attempt to make the viewer question how they look at certain people within society, while not forgetting the exploration of young love too. If you’re a viewer that can appreciate the sociological aspect of life, especially from a young persons point of view, then you’ll be able to appreciate what the filmmakers have done with American Honey.

In terms of the casting, Sasha Lane adopted the role of Star, a largely unknown actress prior to this film, while Shia LaBeouf and Riley Keough are the more established actors that portray Jake and Krystal respectively. Despite the strong performances from all involved, it’s fair to say that this is most definitely a movie where the acting didn’t necessarily have to take center stage, especially as it’s been reported that the filmmakers weren’t too strict with the script put forward and employed a large percentage of the support cast rather spontaneously.

Ultimately, American Honey is a really impressive and at times thought-provoking flick, albeit a flick with a mammoth three-hour runtime that may be too much for some viewers to endure. I regard this as one to watch, especially if you’re hoping to just sit back and get lost in a world that isn’t quite as divided and chaotic as some would have you believe.

“I think the devil has a hold of your daughter…”

Star – American Honey