American Night

American Night, a stylish neo-noir film set in New York City's contemporary art world. It is the feature film debut of director Alessio Della Valle who also wrote the screenplay. The film had its World Premiere during the 78th Venice Film Festival on September 9th 2021 with a special screening at Campari Boat – In Cinema, on a spectacular floating platform built for the occasion on the Venice lagoon.[1][2][3][4][5] Before the screening it was held the inauguration at the Venice Arsenale of the exhibition of all the paintings and sculptures that are in the film. Then the international pop star Anastacia performed live on the floating stage in the Venice lagoon the title song “American Night”, which she wrote for the film.[6][7][8][9]

American Night
Poster
Directed byAlessio Della Valle
Written byAlessio Della Valle
Produced byMartha Capello
StarringJonathan Rhys Meyers
Emile Hirsch
Paz Vega
Jeremy Piven
Michael Madsen
Production
companies
Martha Production
QMI
RAI Cinema
Distributed bySaban Films
Lionsgate
Release date
  • October 1, 2021 (2021-10-01) (United States)
Running time
123 minutes
CountryItaly
LanguageEnglish

Screenplay

In October 2021 the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences requested a copy of the screenplay to preserve it in its collection. The screenplay of American Night is now part of the permanent Core Collection, Margaret Herrick Library, of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.[10]

Release

In August 2021, it was announced that Saban Films acquired North American distribution rights to the film.[11] It premiered at the Venice Film Festival in September 2021 and was released in select theaters including in New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Orlando, Phoenix, Houston, Detroit, Dallas, Philadelphia, Kansas City and Minneapolis. [12][13][14]

Plot

A courier carrying Andy Warhol’s famous “Pink Marilyn” arrives in New York City. Art and life collide as John Kaplan (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) tries to juggle the mob and his talent as an art forger with his love for Sarah Flores (Paz Vega). Chaos with style ensues.[15][16]

Cast

Golden Globe winner Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Emile Hirsch play the two lead characters, along with Paz Vega. Also starring Golden Globe and three Emmy Awards winner Jeremy Piven, the popular Italian actor Fortunato Cerlino, the French icon of style, Annabelle Belmondo, the Asian actress Mara Lane Rhys Meyers and for the first time on screen Alba Amira and super model Lee Levi.

With cameo appearances featuring Michael Madsen, Maria Grazia Cucinotta, Marco Leonardi, and the international music pop star Anastacia, who wrote and performed the title song for the film, "American Night”.[17][18]

Art

The film features every existing form of art: paintings (Andy Warhol, Mario Schifano), sculptures (Jeff Koons, Davide Dall’Osso, Andrea Roggi), poetry (John Kaplan’s article in Time Magazine), live music (Anastacia performing the song “American Night” in the Digital Disorder Club scene), performance art (masked people in the street performance scene), video art (Simon Thompson Kouhei Nakama), amongst others.[19]

Artists

The film features real art pieces by Andy Warhol, Mario Schifano and Jeff Koons. It also features artworks by contemporary artists like Gotti Bernhoft, Tullio Crali, Davide Dall’Osso, Emanuele Giannelli, Anthony Moman, Kouhei Nakama, Andrea Roggi, and Simon Thompson amongst others.[20][21]

Production

Technical team

The technical team includes Oscar Winner editor Zach Staenberg (Matrix I, II, III, Lord of War, Mongol), Cinematographer: Ben Nott (Winchester, Danger Close: The Battle of Long Tan). The David of Donatello winner costume designer  Nicoletta Taranta (Rose Island, A Ciambra, 5 Is the Perfect Number, Romanzo criminale). Production Designer: Francesca Fezzi (Quel bravo ragazzo, Scappo a casa). Three times Academy Awards nominee Re-recording Sound Mixer: David Giammarco (Ford vs Ferrari, 3:10 to Yuma, Amazing Spiderman, Logan). Sound Designer: Laurent Kossayan (Bad boys for Life, Harry Potter Saga, Amélie) and VFX Supervisor: Craig Lyn (X-Men, The Dark Knight, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter). The film's titles are designed by the Los Angeles-based creative agency yU+co by artist and designer Garson Yu (Watchmen, Life of PI, Justice League, Mulan).[22][23]

Soundtrack

Original Score

The two times Oscar Nominee composer Marco Beltrami (The Hurt Locker, 3:10 to Yuma, Logan, World War Z, I, Robot, Venom: Let There Be Carnage) composed the original score along with Ceiri Torjussen.[23][24]

American Night Title Song

The international pop star Anastacia wrote for the film the title song “American Night”.[25][26][27]

Reception

Press
  • Cahiers des Arts gives a very positive review and says it is original, solid and fresh. Eugenio Usai wrote: "Art, winks and originality. The film is set in a New York that refers to the films of Abel Ferrara and Paul Schrader. Alessio Della Valle knows where to go in his throbbing narrative construction and shows us a film with a solid and effective script. It is fun and is pleasantly flowing; and brings with it a beautiful breath of freshness.” - Cahiers des Arts.[28]
  • The Filmaker's Eye gives it a positive review and says the film is a piece of art: “Through a superb use of montage, Alessio Della Valle creates new meanings among the associated images. Everything in the film is art. Almost every shot is conceived as a painting: the geometries, the colors, the scenic construction suggest different works of art, one above all the Nighthawks (1942) by Edward Hopper. Della Valle's cinematographic references are clear, among them Stanley Kubrick, Nicolas Winding Refn, Chistopher Nolan and Guy Ritchie. “ - The Filmmaker’s Eye.[29]
  • “Della Valle’s direction still manages to devise something that refuses to fit into a predesigned mold” - Philosophy in Film.[34]
  • “The film is art from beginning to end.” - Douban.[35]
  • “The film is an Italian giant that attracts global filmmakers. It is a hot film that has attracted much attention this year.” - People's Daily.[36]
  • “A Post modern neo-noir pop art movie!” - Film International.[37]
  • "One of the most visceral and visually vibrant films that I’ve seen this year", "This is an eye popper", "The pop culture references are outstanding" - Behind the Lens Debbie Lynn Elias[38]
  • "As a woman the creative love scene with paint just looked super classically done, very nicely done" - LRM ONLINE[39]

References
  1. della Sera, Corriere (2021-09-09). "Paz Vega in Venice: "Today there is no transgression because we are less courageous"".
  2. Magazine, Rolling Stone (2021-09-09). "Magic nights in Venice 78".
  3. Fair, Vanity (2021-09-01). "Venezia 78, all the (exclusive) Campari events".
  4. News, Metro (2021-08-17). "American Night premiered in Venice 78".
  5. 24 Ore, il Sole (2021-09-10). "Anastacia in Venice with Emile Hirsch and Piven for "American night"".
  6. Digital, Magazine (2021-09-10). "Anastacia singing in the starry night of Venice is the confirmation of the (unique) magic of this festival".
  7. Simonetti, Patrizia (2021-09-10). "American Night: between works of art, guns, Marilyn and Anastacia".
  8. "Anastacia in Venice with Emile Hirsch and Piven for "American night" | Video - Affaritaliani.it".
  9. Fair, Vanity (2021-09-09). "Passion and creativity: Campari's commitment to the 2021 Venice Film Festival".
  10. Oscars, Academy (2021-10-23). "American Night Core Collection. Scripts, Margaret Herrick Library, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences".
  11. Grobar, Matt (August 23, 2021). "'American Night': Saban Films Nabs Thriller Starring Emile Hirsch, Jonathan Rhys Meyers & Paz Vega Ahead Of Venice Premiere". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
  12. Pagan, Beatrice (2021-08-24). "American Night: Alessio Della Valle's directorial debut will be distributed in the USA".
  13. Village, Cinema (2021-10-01). "American Night".
  14. Morning News, Dallas (2021-10-01). "New This week".
  15. N’Duka, Amanda (2019-05-06). "Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Paz Vega, Emile Hirsch, Jeremy Piven & More Star In Neo-noir Thriller 'American Night'".
  16. Kay, Jeremy (2021-06-10). "First-look: Voltage boards 'American Night' starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Emile Hirsch (exclusive)".
  17. American Night (2021) - IMDb, retrieved 2021-12-08
  18. Della Valle, Alessio (2021-10-01), American Night (Action, Thriller), Martha Production, Pegasus, QMI, retrieved 2021-12-07
  19. N'Duka, Amanda; N'Duka, Amanda (2019-05-03). "Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Paz Vega, Emile Hirsch, Jeremy Piven & More Star In Neo-noir Thriller 'American Night'". Deadline. Retrieved 2021-12-12.
  20. "Mostra collettiva degli artisti presenti nel film American Night". VeneziaToday (in Italian). Retrieved 2021-12-08.
  21. Art, Exibart (2021-09-09). "Collective exhibition of the artists featured in the film American Night".
  22. EU, Spettacolo (2021-08-17). "American Night, the film with Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Emile Hirsch premiered in Venice".
  23. MUBI, MUBI (2021-08-17). "Beautiful, interesting, incredible cinema". MUBI.
  24. Reporter, Film Music (2021-08-17). "Marco Beltrami Scoring Alessio Jim Della Valle's 'American Night'".
  25. Schmelzer, Daniela (2021-09-10). "First glimpse into "American Night" movie".
  26. Schmelzer, Daniela (2021-09-10). "American Night Premiere".
  27. Tempo, Il Music (2021-09-10). "Anastacia in Venice with Emile Hirsch and Piven for "American night"".
  28. "American Night. Art, winks and originality". 2021-09-10.
  29. "American Night (2021): between violence and art. Or art as a violent gesture".
  30. "Notti magiche a Venezia 78 | Rolling Stone Italia" (in Italian). 2021-09-10. Retrieved 2021-12-07.
  31. Bordino, da Margherita. "American Night, adrenalina da furto d'arte – Cinecitta Luce Magazine" (in Italian). Retrieved 2021-12-07.
  32. Grobar, Matt; Grobar, Matt (2021-08-23). "'American Night': Saban Films Nabs Thriller Starring Emile Hirsch, Jonathan Rhys Meyers & Paz Vega Ahead Of Venice Premiere". Deadline. Retrieved 2021-12-07.
  33. {{Cite web|last=della Sera|first=Corriere|date=2021-09-09|title=Paz Vega in Venice: "Today there is no transgression because we are less courageous"|url=https://www-corriere-it.translate.goog/spettacoli/cinema-serie-tv/21_settembre_06/manca-trasgressioneperche-meno-coraggiosi-d89bbac8-0f38-11ec-9614-5f4fa1f949f6.shtml?_x_tr_sl=it&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=nui}
  34. "American Night (2021), Pop Art, Gangsters, and Metamodernism". Philosophy in Film. 2021-11-17. Retrieved 2021-12-07.
  35. "看电影惊魂夺宝有感". 豆瓣 (in Chinese). Retrieved 2021-12-07.
  36. "中国电影人赴威尼斯参加电影节活动". mbd-baidu-com.translate.goog. Retrieved 2021-12-07.
  37. "Art and Crime: Alessio Della Valle and Jonathan Rhys Meyers on American Night". FilmInt.nu. 2021-10-07. Retrieved 2021-12-07.
  38. ALESSIO DELLA VALLE talks the art, color, and scorpions of AMERICAN NIGHT - Exclusive Interview, retrieved 2021-12-16
  39. Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Alessio Della Valle Talk About Art And Acting In American Night, retrieved 2021-12-16




American Night at IMDb

  • American Night at Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
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