Americanese (2006)
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67% of critics liked it
(9 reviews) -
36% want to see it
(59 ratings)
Writer-director Eric Byler adapted his ensemble comedy drama Americanese from Shawn Wong's best-selling 1995 novel, American Knees. The film, like the novel, dramatizes the seriocomic day-to-day experiences of a number of Asian American immigrants in the City of Angels. At the story's center… More Writer-director Eric Byler adapted his ensemble comedy drama Americanese from Shawn Wong's best-selling 1995 novel, American Knees. The film, like the novel, dramatizes the seriocomic day-to-day experiences of a number of Asian American immigrants in the City of Angels. At the story's center is milquetoast-dull, middle-aged college professor and divorcé Raymond Ding (Chris Tashima) -- so ineffectual that he barely seems to have control over the events that befall him, and so emotionally distant in his relationship with his live-in lover, the Japanese-American photojournalist Aurora (Allison Sie), that his inaccessibility destroys their union. Forced to move out of their house, Raymond instead rooms with his aging father, Wood (Sab Shimono), making periodic, unannounced visits back to Aurora's home when she is absent. While Aurora kindles her own romance with American Steve (Ben Shenkman), Raymond moves into his own apartment and takes up with Vietnamese-American Betty (Joan Chen) -- a university associate plagued by deep-seated emotional and mental problems. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi
- Directed By
- Eric Byler
- Written By
- Eric Byler, Shawn Wong
- Genres
- Drama, Romance, Comedy
Unrated,
- Studio
- IFC First Take
Critic Reviews
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Kevin Crust, Los Angeles Times
Fine, understated performances and the self-assured way that Byler lets the film find its own rhythms, rather than setting into some template, result in a mature film of subtle complexity.
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Sura Wood, Hollywood Reporter
A collection of scenes in search of a coherent story, the film's characters don't develop, and plot lines fail to coalesce by the movie's conclusion.
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Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
[Director Eric] Byler deals with characters who have lived their years, learned from them, and try to apply their values to their lives. Their romances are not heedless but wary, and involve a lot of negotiation.
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Dennis Harvey, Variety
This diverting, occasionally wry seriocomedy ultimately doesn't add up to a satisfying whole.
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Walter Chaw, Film Freak Central
It's not the glacial pace that fatigues, but a lack of connection with the characters.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Chris Tashima
as Raymond Ding
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Allison Sie
as Aurora Crane
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Kelly Hu
as Brenda Nishitani
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Ben Shenkman
as Steve
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Joan Chen
as Betty Nguyen
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Sab Shimono
as Wood Ding
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Michael Paul Chan
as Jimmy Chan
- Ryan Cutrona
- Annie Katsura Rollins
- Stephen Bishop
- Takayo Fischer
- Autumn Reeser
- Greg Watanabe
- Munda Razooki
