Movie Loner

Cops versus drug dealers movies are a dime a dozen, but The Young Americans struck a nerve with me. Maybe it was the London setting, or the beautiful Thandie Newton, or the haunting song “Play Dead” by Bjork. To be truthful, I don’t know why this movie appeals to me, but I’ll watch it every time I stumble across it.

London is being overrun by a ruthless drug kingpin. DEA agent John Harris, played by Harvey Keitel, is brought aboard as an adviser. The drug trade is new to London so Harris’ expertise in this area is needed, if not welcome. The man responsible for this recent crime wave is Carl Frazer (Viggo Mortensen), another American who has brought his game across the pond.

At the center of the story is Chris O’Neill, a young bartender recruited by Frazer to join his gang of youths. Chris can’t help but be seduced by Frazer’s world. Harris knows Chris is a good kid, so he attempts to use him to infiltrate Frazer’s crime network. Chris wants to do the right thing, but his fear of Frazer is overwhelming.

Viggo Mortensen stands out as Frazer, a charming sociopath bent on destroying as many lives as possible. Keitel is solid as always, playing a tough cop who doubles as a father-figure for Chris. Director Danny Cannon paints a dark, moody canvas that effectively captures the bourgeoning London underworld. The Young Americans is far from The Godfather but if you’re looking for a good crime drama, you could do a lot worse.

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