Americana

Set up as a number of interlocking stories all centered around an expensive rare Native American ghost shirt and the desperately stupid people who want it, writer/director Tony Tost's Americana is an interesting exercise even if it doesn't all quite fit together such as the extended lull in the backstabbing Mandy Starr (Halsey) returning home. The highlights here are Sydney Sweeney as stuttering waitress Penny Jo (although the controversy of her American Eagle ad isn't likely to help the small independent film at the box office), Paul Walter Hauser as the lonely cowboy, and young Gavin Maddox Bergman as a mixed up kid who has watched too many cowboy movies claiming he is the reincarnation of Sitting Bull. As ridiculous and culturally inappropriate as he is, the kid proves surprisingly good with a bow and arrow.

Through robbery, assault, stabbing, really bad decisions, and a literal standoff between cowboys and Indians, possession of the shirt changes hands repeatedly as those see it as a chance to change their fortunes (overlooking the value in their lives they are putting at risk) or as a trophy to be reclaimed for their people. The film is most successful in its offbeat humor and the unexpected connections made along the way, although most of those will be derailed before we get to the end credits creating a far more melancholy tone that doesn't quite mesh with the crazy energy we began with. Even if its not completely successful, there's enough here worth checking out including some standout moments (particularly early on).

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• Title: Americana
• IMDb: link