Movieo
Poster for An American Affair

An American Affair

What can you do for your country?

2008 · 1h 33m · R Drama
Directed by William Olsson

Seen it?

Overview

In the early 1960s, teenager Adam Stafford (Cameron Bright) becomes obsessed with his new neighbor, Catherine Caswell (Gretchen Mol), a divorcée and free spirit. Stafford spies on Caswell as she meets with strange men, and, despite the warnings of his conservative parents, he begins working for her as a gardener. Amid rumors of her affair with President Kennedy, the two become close, but political intrigue surrounding her acquaintances soon infringes on their friendship.

Director and cast

Critics on Rotten Tomatoes

Top critics, in their words

All reviews
16%
Tomatometer
Fresh

An earnest, fictional coming-of-age story is squeezed from a bitter, true-life local tragedy. And it works.

Dan Zak, Washington Post
Rotten

The title sums up the bland, unimaginative and cliche-laden thriller/coming-of-age tale.

Claudia Puig, USA Today
Rotten

There are scenes that work here and there, but regrettably not nearly enough to hold the film together. In the end, this affair is definitely not one to remember.

Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times
Rotten

Painfully contrived

Ben Lyons, At the Movies
Rotten

Start to finish, [the film] makes absolutely no sense.

Ben Mankiewicz, At the Movies

Comments

Talk about the film with other members

More films