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American Rust
By Marty Brown,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Dingy crime drama features violence, opioid addiction.
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American Rust
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What's the Story?
American Rust takes place in a small Pennsylvania town that's "closer to West Virginia than Pittsbrugh," according to Chief of Police Del Harris (Jeff Daniels). Harris runs the police department his own way, which includes allowing citizens to harass outsiders with automatic rifles and covering up for his officers drinking on the job. When the son of a woman he's romantically involved with (Maura Tierney) becomes the main suspect in a brutal murder, Harris is torn between his loyalties and the search for the truth.
Is It Any Good?
Crime series and murder mysteries have become so abundant in the streaming era that the best ones really need to do something special to stand out, but there's nothing remarkable here. American Rust is simply a dreary Jeff Daniels vehicle that indulges a ton of other recent murder-mystery cliches, from Daniels' laconic, vaguely corrupt chief of police to the lethargic pace of a movie-length plot stretched out to an eight-episode run. Though it takes place on the opposite end of Pennsylvania as Mare of Easttown, comparisons will be inevitable. But where Mare's portrayal of a low-income Philly suburb was studied and compassionate, American Rust's portrayal of its rust belt locale feels broad and dreary, as if someone who'd never been there was just guessing what rural life might be like.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the rust belt. Where does American Rust take place? What is unique about this town? How do the characters describe life there? Why is this a compelling place to set a drama?
How does the chief of police approach his job? What seems to drive him? Are there inconsistencies in how he performs his duties? What are they?
What is the murder mystery? What are the clues? How are the main characters involved with the investigation? How does their involvement complicate the story? What do you think happened?
TV Details
- Premiere date: September 12, 2021
- Cast: Jeff Daniels , Maura Tierney , Alex Neustaedter
- Network: Showtime
- Genre: Drama
- TV rating: TV-MA
- Last updated: June 3, 2023
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