In the age of would-you-like-to-supersize-that America, it may be apt to say that there is nothing more American than taking more than you need. In this way, “American Animals” is appropriately named. The true-crime thriller, written and directed by Bart Layton—the filmmaker behind the 2012 Sundance hit documentary “The Imposter“— follows four friends as they commit a heist because, well, they want to and think they can get away with it. There is no down-on-their-luck catalyst – there is merely an opportunity coupled with the entitlement to think that alone qualifies as an invitation; they attempt to execute one of the most audacious art heists in U.S. history.
READ MORE: ‘American Animals’: A Real Life Heist Goes Wrong [Sundance Review]
“American Animals” stars Evan Peters, Barry Keoghan, Blake Jenner and Jared Abrahamson as the aforementioned four friends, who all attend the same college. When the friends discover that their school houses a ridiculously rare and valuable set of books, they figure they might as well burgle the priceless collection because, again, why not?
Here is the official synopsis:
The extraordinary and thrilling true story of four friends (Evan Peters, Barry Keoghan, Blake Jenner, and Jared Abrahamson) living an ordinary existence who brazenly attempt to execute one of the most audacious art heists in US history. But not everything is as it seems, and as the daring theft unfolds through each of their perspectives, each of them start to question whether their attempts to inject excitement and purpose into their lives is simply a misguided attempt at achieving the American Dream.
“American Animals” debuted on January at Sundance and will receive a wide-release on June 1.
