The American Dream

"The American Dream" review
"The American Dream" plays much better than those jerky hand held camcorders and there's even a homage to that inserted in the movie. It still manage to retain an edge of professionally done, as I haven't experienced the nauseous seesaw feeling that one get from watching handheld movies. What movie does managed to succeed brilliantly is to haunt me. I kept thinking about long after the movie ended.
First, I want to mention that I am deaf. Though I have a cochlear ear implant, movies are not always understandable to me, no matter how loud it is. The product information does not mention closed captioning (CC) and/or English subtitles. I knew Mr. Walker-Smith was on Twitter and have tweeted him about the possibility of being sent a link to the movie's transcripts, as I've ordered the movie. I and a bunch of other loyal fans continue to follow the careers of the actors from Stargate Universe. Most of the time when I ask about these things, I'd get the standard response of "I'll look...

solid first time directorial effort
Jamil Walker Smit has put together a smart low-budget film that shows the reality of those who go off to fight for our country, the choices they make (have to make?) in order to do so and what happens when they are finally abroad. All without sacrificing heart and humor.

The American Dream
In their last 36 hours before embarking upon a different type of battleground, i.e., the war in Afghanistan, two best friends, Luis and Ronald, will capture on video their countdown moments leading up to their enlistment as Marine Corp. Luis (Jamil Walker Smith, Stargate Universe) and Ronald (Malcolm Goodwin, American Gangster) are polar opposites in terms of personalities; however, both share memories of growing up in Los Angeles and will leave behind families that express mixed emotions about their decision to fight in the war.

Luis is the lighthearted prankster and Ronald is the philosophical soon-to-be father. Luis was abandoned by his father at a very young age and then later in life by a girlfriend that moved to Brooklyn, NY. Although Luis dreams of being a filmmaker someday, his low grades didn't secure a scholarship to the University. Ronald, on the other hand, is shown reading a thought-provoking book while on a beach excursion and in another scene, talking to and...

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