Wild Bird Tale

I’ve been told that I love a good story. That could be one reason why I love watching shows about cryptids like Sasquatch, Mothman, Nessie, and the like. This is not a cryptid tale, but rather a “truth is strange than fiction” tale — and it’s a good one.

“American Animals” (2018) starts by introducing viewers to two college friends who live in Kentucky. They both attend different universities and have very different personalities. Spencer is an unassuming art student who plays by the rules, but dreams of doing something BIG. His pal Warren, on the other hand, is the exact opposite — loud, ballsy, and brave. While Spencer is touring his school library at the University of Transylvania in Lexington, he is introduced to a rare book — a first edition of “Birds of America” by John James Audubon. The two hatch a scheme to heist the multi-million dollar item and Warren starts talking to his shady connections. Then they end up road tripping to New York to make even shadier connections.

Ace Frehley’s “New York Groove” (written by Russ Ballard) was actually used during a montage in the film a long with Donovan’s “Hurdy Gurdy Man.”

Spencer and Warren recruit a couple of other friends to take part in the planning and execution of the book heist — one is an accounting major who wants to become an F.B.I. agent, and the other is a rich businessman jock type. I won’t spoil the rest of the story, but that’s definitely not all there is to it.

I think the film does a good job of conveying the feelings of isolation and insignificance felt by many of the main characters, as well as the roller coaster ride of risking everything on one big heist. One description of the film called it a “docudrama heist film” because the real college students involved in it (and their parents) appear in the film, too.

“American Animals” was directed by Bart Layton. Layton shares a writing credit with Jon Croker, Peter Straughan, Ed Wethered, and Joe Murtagh. The real incident took place in 2004. I had no idea there was a Transylvania University in Kentucky, but truth can definitely be stranger than fiction.

Till next time, keep your Mojo on the Horizon!