Film Review – Americana

“Americana” feels like a movie that was meant to come out in 1996. The picture (which was shot three years ago) seems like one of the many edgy indies that arrived after the unexpected success of 1994’s “Pulp Fiction,” with writer/director Tony Tost (making his helming debut) charging up his creative batteries on Quentin Tarantino energy, submitting his own take on criminal and relationship activity involving an assortment of characters. He even plays with time in the feature, which tries to deliver crime world thrills in the open world of South Dakota. “Americana” has some accomplished performances and early scenes of tension, but Tost can’t keep the endeavor upright as it moves into a meandering second half. There’s violence and a treasure multiple people are hunting for, but Tost allows the offering to slowly fall asleep instead of building to a thrilling finale. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com