The American Astronaut (2001)

It's hard to describe this movie even with spoilers, let alone without. It's weird like Lynch did it, and reminds me of Jarmusch too. Strange combination of old school space SF, western, noir and musical. Extremely low budget and yet very effective. Cory McAbee, in Chaplin manner, brings us one man show. He wrote the script, directed, played leading role and wrote most of the music. And music is story for itself. It is impossible to picture it verbally. This has to be seen and experienced. You have to experience it for yourself.8/10

Alternative Cinema is like an Alternative Lifestyle. Not for Everyone. What we have here is an Obnoxious, Impotent, and Gross exercise in Unbridled Movie making. There is Witless and Juvenile Dialog with Embarrassing Antics by Ugly, Unappealing Characters. This Movie is just too Queer. There is an attempt at Creative, though Self-Conscious, Composition. This Ego-Maniacal Film is Shameful and Pretentious. There are some slightly Interesting Musical Numbers that have a Modern Trend of Retro Appeal. There is a Talented Cinema-Photographer at Work and it is this that can make the Viewing Experience not a Wretched Waste of Time. On the other hand, let us Applaud Anyone, (Ed Wood), that has the Temerity and Chutzpah to Write, Produce and Direct a Film and get it On the Screen and in Front of People.

... simply the worst film I can think of at the moment.Comparisons to David Lynch's early work are unfair blemishes on his reputation. Surely the only ways in which this film resembles 'Eraserhead' are that it's low-budget and shot in B&W.There is no content or depth in this film, it is just a long set of scenes loosely strung together, held together by one running joke. What is that joke? Others have commented on it here -- professor Hess's birthday.There is nothing else. Period.Note that the lack of special effects isn't an issue. Tarkovsky's 'Solaris' and Godard's 'Alphaville' both satisfactorily represented space travel with limited technology, as does 'The American Astronaut'. The problem is that there's nothing for the space travel scenes to bind together -- the film is empty.It was difficult to believe that the film was *only* an hour and a half long. It felt like an eternity. There was a constant trickle of audience members leaving all through the session. Well, that was at MIFF, maybe the viewers were a little more discerning than the usual crowd. I stayed because I felt that there must be at least an attempt at redemption at the end. Sadly, no. Just a continuation of that joke.Maybe I'm just spoiled by the likes of Bela Tarr, Wim Wenders, Mike Figgis, Jim Jarmusch, Terrence Malick and other mind-alteringly talented directors.Then again, maybe there's a simpler answer -- that this film really is devoid of all worth.

In a just world, this film would have the cult status of (the far inferior) 'Rocky Horror.' (This bit of information has been left out of the synopsis, but those interested in the film should know that, like 'Rocky Horror,' 'American Astronaut' is a musical... sort of). The music is original and (unlike 'Rocky's') good, the acting is often great, the sets and costumes do wonders with a small budget, and while I see what the writer of the synopsis meant about the film not having a strong plot in the traditional sense, it does, in fact, have a plot and a shape that is sensible and aesthetically satisfying. Strongly recommended for those up for something different, but who don't want 'different' to be synonymous with either 'crappy' or 'pretentious.'