Directed by Cory McAbee
Review Copyright © 2002 Aaron M. Renn
Conclusion: Recommended
Certainly one of the strangest films I've seen recently, The American Astronaut is sure to completely turn off a large segment of its viewers, though luckily I'm not one of them. This 90 minute comedy flick parodies several genres, with 50's B-movie camp sci-fi at the core, then progressing onward to the western, the musical (!), and film noir. While occasionally painful, this wacky combo had me laughing out loud frequently. Ed Wood would be proud.
Rascal trader Samuel Curtis wins a dance contest and hatches a plot in a bar on Ceres. He'll trade a girl for a boy on Jupiter, then trade the boy to the all-female planet of Venus in return for the body of their deceased stud male, then trade it back to said stud male's family for a whole lot of cash. All while he's pursued by the evil professor Ness, who's hell bent on revenge against Curtis.
Yes, folks, this film is at least partially a musical. The soundtrack is excellent too, with a variety of genres including a couple surf tunes (a nod to Man or Astroman? perhaps?) Yes, this film is shot in black and white. No, this film does not have special effects to speak of. Yes, Curtis' space ship is a locomotive. You get the picture.
This film was developed in conjunction with the Sundance Institute. It is in very limited release currently but I very much suggest seeking it out if it makes it to your town. This film is playing through Thursday March 21, 2002 in Chicago at the Art Institute's Film Center at State and Randolph.
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