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Tom Cruise is back in the pilot’s seat once more, only this isn’t Top Gun: Maverick, just yet. American Made sees Cruise starring as a commercial pilot turned drug smuggler/ gun runner/ CIA agent, who quickly finds himself in over his head. Based on a true story, American Made follows Barry Seal, who turned from a regular pilot into a hustler for Pablo Escabar, renowned drugs baron. From there, the CIA recruited him to run one of the biggest covert operations in history.
American Made reunites Cruise with Doug Liman; the pair previously worked together on Edge of Tomorrow, and there’s more than a hint of the same escapades and comedy in the trailer for American Made. Billed as a crime thriller, the movie co-stars Domhnall Gleeson, Lola Kirke, Jesse Plemons, Jayma Mays and Caleb Landry Jones. Take a look at the trailer above, and the newly released poster, below.
It’s a welcome change to see Cruise in a slightly more light-hearted role; a reminder that he can do this kind of character very well. Edge of Tomorrow was enjoyable for exactly that reason, and while American Made might not win a slew of awards, it should prove to be a fun watch. The recent onslaught of superhero movies is very welcome, but there’s a core group of actors who honed their craft in the eighties and nineties before the genre was popular. These actors are capable of great characterization in their work, and of playing a wide variety of roles. Cruise would definitely count among that number.
His charm is well on display here, too, as he emerges from an airplane crash, covered in cocaine, and hands a wad of cash to a startled kid while flashing his smile. His lines are delivered in a flawless Southern accent, while his exasperated wife tries to remind him that a large amount of his actions are illegal. The trouble for Barry, is that the lure of cash, and the extravagant lifestyle that his hustling will afford him, is too tempting to resist.
American Made is released on September 29th.
Featured image: Universal
