Andrea Arnold doesn't make a ton of movies; only four since 2006, but each one has been about living up to the promise of her stunning feature debut, Red Road. And for the most part she has succeeded. Fish Tank was a film of pure, raw power and introduced us to star Katie Jarvis' white-hot talent (so much it burned out quickly). Her adaptation of Wuthering Heights proved polarizing but there's no denying it's place as the most breath-taking screen version of Emily Bronte's classic.
And now Arnold is back with American Honey, which introduces another breakout star in Sasha Lane, and revitalizes the career of Shia LaBeouf. The story follows a girl with nothing to lose who takes a job selling magazines, but descends into a whirlwind of hard-partying, illegal activity, and young love while criss-crossing the Midwest. The film co-stars Riley Keough (Mad Max: Fury Road), Arielle Holmes (of the excellent Heaven Knows What), and newcomer McCaul Lombardi.
The film was a hit at Cannes, winning the prestigious Grand Prix award, her third win at the festival. Will it be enough to propel Arnold into more of a household name here in the U.S.? We'll find out when American Honey opens later this year, probably some time during awards season.
