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The American Soldier, 1970
Ricky (Karl Scheydt) is an American-German Vietnam War veteran who returns to his hometown where three police officers, under pressure from their boss, hire him to assassinate various local criminals. Along the way he also develops a relationship with Rosa (Elga Sorbas), the girlfriend of one of the police officers.
This is a weird take on a noir-type plot, and it was very hit-or-miss for me, though I really enjoyed some parts of it. I also have the feeling that I watched some part of this film at some point, because there was one scene that I remembered. Since I didn't remember like 98% of it, I am considering it a new watch.
It might be easiest to begin with what doesn't really work, which for me was mostly when the film hit stilted or lull points that didn't feel entirely intentional. At times there is an awkwardness to the film or the line deliveries that work well with the off-kilter vibe. But in other moments it felt like it dragged a bit. There's also very little character development, and the main character isn't enough of a stoic enigma to really grip my interest.
But what did work for me was the way that the film delved into stories just adjacent to the main plot. A brief sidepan in the police station to a woman telling her lover that she is pregnant. Later, as Ricky and Rosa fall into bed together, a forlorn hotel worker who has a crush on Ricky sits at the foot of their bed and delivers a monologue. Even later there is a scene where
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It's also well, well worth mentioning that the monologue delivered by the hotel worker sounded familiar because, to a certain point, it is the plot of Ali: Fear Eats the Soul!!
This is one of those films that I was fine with watching and enjoyed in parts, but was ready for it to be done about 10 minutes from the end.
The American Soldier, 1970
Ricky (Karl Scheydt) is an American-German Vietnam War veteran who returns to his hometown where three police officers, under pressure from their boss, hire him to assassinate various local criminals. Along the way he also develops a relationship with Rosa (Elga Sorbas), the girlfriend of one of the police officers.
This is a weird take on a noir-type plot, and it was very hit-or-miss for me, though I really enjoyed some parts of it. I also have the feeling that I watched some part of this film at some point, because there was one scene that I remembered. Since I didn't remember like 98% of it, I am considering it a new watch.
It might be easiest to begin with what doesn't really work, which for me was mostly when the film hit stilted or lull points that didn't feel entirely intentional. At times there is an awkwardness to the film or the line deliveries that work well with the off-kilter vibe. But in other moments it felt like it dragged a bit. There's also very little character development, and the main character isn't enough of a stoic enigma to really grip my interest.
But what did work for me was the way that the film delved into stories just adjacent to the main plot. A brief sidepan in the police station to a woman telling her lover that she is pregnant. Later, as Ricky and Rosa fall into bed together, a forlorn hotel worker who has a crush on Ricky sits at the foot of their bed and delivers a monologue. Even later there is a scene where
WARNING: spoilers below
the same hotel worker is distraught over a phone call with her lover and stabs herself in the stomach as an indifferent Ricky and confused Rosa walk by in the hallway
It's also well, well worth mentioning that the monologue delivered by the hotel worker sounded familiar because, to a certain point, it is the plot of Ali: Fear Eats the Soul!!
This is one of those films that I was fine with watching and enjoyed in parts, but was ready for it to be done about 10 minutes from the end.