In American Made, Barry Seal, played by Tom Cruise, is a hot-shot young pilot, who smuggles Cuban cigars on the side, sometime in the 1970s. The CIA spots him, hires him to take pictures of Central America’s Communist battlefields, flying really low and really risky.

Tom Cruise is at his charming best in this incredible real-life tale of greedy Americans confronting Pablo Escobar’s Medellin Cartel. It’s like Narcos meets Breaking Bad.

In Doug Liman’s biographical crime drama, Cruise plays an anti-hero in this ‘money-trumps-moral’ tale.

This is a fascinating story told in a fascinating way. Much recommended for those who crave to see Tom Cruise in films beyond the formulaic but entertaining Mission Impossible series, forgettable Jack Reacher installments and that awful Mummy reboot.

Tom Cruise has done something remarkable after spending a lot of time working for action franchises. His anti-hero is more appealing than his heroics with other characters. It’s a refreshing take on the other side of the drugs business in American continents. A fun watch you can add to the weekend to-do list.

The film is certainly entertaining — but as a fluff piece at best.

Another memorable entertainer from the house of Tom Cruise, Doug Liman…

…while the details are dazzling, the final effects of the film are mildly thrilling but yet far from tame.

American Made, written by Gary Spinelli, has glossed up the story, of course. Seal’s life wasn’t nearly so shiny as it is as played by Cruise. But then again, whose is?