Watch American Thief

American Thief, released in 2020, is a thriller film directed by Miguel Silveira that revolves around systematic oppression, mass surveillance, racial injustice, and the impact of poverty on an individual's life. The story follows a young white man, Alex (played by Ben Becher), who is forced into becoming an FBI informant in exchange for escaping a drug-related charge.

Alex is portrayed as a lonely, financially struggling individual who lives in a low-income neighborhood. Throughout the movie, the audience is given an understanding of his past and how it led him to his present situation. The initial dialogue establishes him as a man who has no control over his life, and the use of flashbacks highlights the hardships he has undergone. Alex's character is empathetically created, gaining the audience's sympathy and support throughout the movie.

The director of the FBI, Director Keller (played by Xisko Maximo-Majares), offers Alex immunity in exchange for spying on local Muslim Americans. He is specifically asked to target a married couple named Mohammed (played by Khadim Diop) and Sara (played by Zohra Benzerga). Their lives seem calm and scripted, but Alex's actions cause chaos in their lives. He records their every conversation and reports back to Keller, who attempts to frame them for a terrorist attack in New York City.

In contrast to Alex, Mohammed is portrayed as a successful businessman who is fearful of the potential harm of a new Arab-American Reform Act being passed. The Act will put all Muslims in the country under scrutiny, and he fears that it is a move to conduct a mass arrest and deportation. While Alex is under an illusion of the rewards that come with being an FBI informant, Mohammed represents the fears and struggles that come with being a Muslim in a modern 'democratic' society.

Sara, Mohammed's wife, is also a strong character in the film, representing a Muslim woman's life in America. She is passionate about her rights under Islam and is disheartened by death threats she receives from strangers who criticize her for being a practicing Muslim. Her character highlights how Muslims in America are often subjected to intense scrutiny, yet their voices are ignored when they attempt to advocate for themselves.

Coco Monroe is another notable character in the movie. She plays Natalie, an environmental activist who, at the outset of the film, is shown to be wooing Alex. Natalie's character further illustrates how civil rights activists in America are often targeted by the FBI.

The film's pace is quick, keeping the audience hooked with twists and turns throughout. American Thief's powerful message is that the FBI has immense power and influence over American minorities, and it is disturbing how their power can be misused. The movie ends on an emotional note, with Alex contemplating the aftermath of his deceitful actions and the crushing reality of the Muslim couple's fate.

Overall, American Thief is a thought-provoking and thrilling film that highlights issues of racial profiling, government surveillance, and the impact of systemic oppression, poverty, and discrimination. It offers an insight into issues that the nation is grappling with today, and the cast and crew's efforts behind the production deserve to be appreciated.

American Thief is a 2021 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 18 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 3.7.