Anna Karina, Jean-Pierre Léaud, Laszlo Szabo

Set in an alternate-universe fictional location of Atlantic-Cité, Made in U.S.A. is a typically oblique Godardian blend of political intrigue and self-referential humour in the guise of a nominal thri...( read more  read more... )ller plot. Paula Nelson (Anna Karina) is a journalist who has been covering the war in Morocco who has just returned to Atlantic-Cité. She has received a telegram from her one-time fiancé Richard, but when she arrives there she finds that he has been killed. Following various leads, while under surveillance herself by the police and other mysterious figures, she attempts to find out who killed Richard.

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825 ratings

Unrated, 90 min.

Directed by: Jean-Luc Godard

Release Date: December 3, 1966

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DVD Release Date: July 21, 2009

Stats: 80 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (80)


  • August 9, 2009
    One of Jean-Luc Godard's least seen works was "Made in USA", which was largely unavailable for four decades. Now, after a brief theatrical run in the winter of 2009, the Criterion Collection has released a beautiful transfer of the film on DVD. It's a piece from one of the most p...( read more)ivotal periods of Godard's career, 1964 to 1967, and was one of nine films that Godard finished in those three years. A film shot at the same time, "2 or 3 Things I Know About Her", has also now also been restored and released by the Criterion Collection.

    The film is a tribute to many American movies - the characters of the film have names that reference directors and actors, and the dedication at the beginning of the film is to "Nick and Sam": Nicholas Ray and Samuel Fuller. There's also a beautiful a cappella rendition of "As Tears Go By" in a diner.

    Plot isn't so much Godard's concern, although it's loosely based on a novel by Donald E. Westlake. It's sets it's focus on Paula, played by Anna Karina, who would become Godard's ex-wife around the time of the film's release. Her boyfriend, named Richard, has disappeared - we never see him, nor do we hear his last name as it's often comically drowned out by a slew of sound effects or musical cues.

    The tone of the film is not too far off from "Pierrot le fou", often cited as one of Godard's masterpieces, which both playfully delve into the detective genre. But Godard seems more invested in politics than anything else, displaying a clear distaste of the impending American war in Vietnam.

    Although the film is worth seeing if you're a fan of later Godard, it won't convert any adversaries of his work. The film was made fast, and it's quite blatant - despite some interesting ideas, it's nowhere near as subversive as "2 or 3 Things I Know About Her", which is less playful in tone but more rich in premise. Despite the simple pleasures you can derive from the playful energy and the beauty of the technicolor photography, "Made in USA" feels a bit inconsequential and extraordinarily minor.

    I'm admittedly not a big admirer of Godard's later work, however these films are certainly unique and possess an unmistakable tone that feels as though everything was done on a whim. "Made in USA" won't disappoint Godard fanatics and completists, but it won't impress anyone yet to immerse themselves within Godard's world.
  • July 16, 2009
    Not my favorite Godard, but worth watching if you are a fan. Great colors and central performance make this sometimes bracing film quite watchable.
  • September 7, 2009
    Another great film from Godard, an exceptional ride into the psychologically confused and unstable mind of Godard. This redux of a detective film is one hell of a ride into art in its glory and intrigues and is really one of his most intricate pieces of work and one of his most l...( read more)ucid, in an atypical way of course.
  • August 26, 2009
    Remind me of lines said in 'Ghost World':
    Rebecca: 'This is so bad it's almost good'...
    Enid:'This is so bad it's gone past good and back to bad again'..
    I Agree with Enid but slightly agrees on Rebecca too. (Now how messed up is that?)ITs for the purpose of giving you ideas of ...( read more)this movie.
  • July 29, 2009
    Most all Godard's take second viewings to get a better perspective to what he's trying to say but with enough research and experience in watching his films you realize his commentary is the same: socialism, consumerism, political... just all done in a different fashion each time....( read more) This is quite a take though. Loosely based on an American novel, filled with references to real political figures and the greatest of filmmakers it's something that, amidst all of its hidden meaning and politics is very fun.
  • July 23, 2009
    Um filme político bem experimental, com ótimas cenas, e que no final não te deixa com a sensação de tê-lo compreendido totalmente.
  • March 1, 2009
    I forgot this movie before I got out of my seat. The trailer is vastly more entertaining than this indulgent in-joke. With so many other, more entertaining films with saturated colors and nice looking women, why watch this? Godard said something like, "All you need to make a m...( read more)ovie is a girl and a gun." "Made in U.S.A." proves this, but it's still a piece of shit.

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  • emerson17
    May 18, 2008
    “Made in USA” is still imbued with much of Godard’s wittiness but it’s not quite as powerful or convincing as other major works he directed.

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Made in U.S.A. Trivia


  • Bill Murray made us all laugh as John Winger, a down-and-out cab driver who finds new life in the U.S. army. What was the title of the film described here?   Answer »
  • George Carlin's notorious "Seven Dirty Words" comedy routine was part of a radio censorship case that made its way to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1978.   Answer »
  • What rocker made us keep the faith in the films "U571" (as the Chief Engineer of a U.S. submarine), "Pay It Forward" (as Helen Hunt's abusive ex husband), and "Cry Wolf" (as a suspicious journalism teacher)?   Answer »
  • What rocker made us keep the faith in the films "U571" (as the Chief Engineer of a U.S. submarine), "Pay It Forward" (as Helen Hunt?s abusive ex husband), and "Cry_Wolf" (as a suspicious journalism teacher)?   Answer »

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