This is the slowest moving gangster film I've ever seen. Each character in the film walks slowly, makes slow gestures, takes forever to answer the phone, and the dialog really drags. Only the slaps speed things up. It seems to be done on purpose by Fassbinder and I can't fathom why. Some of readers of IMDb comments about Fassbinder's films may have noticed that I have written critical comments about several of his films. I'm a fan of Fassbinder and do admire his "Lola", "Marriage of Maria Bran", "Ali; Fear Eats The Soul", "Merchant Of Four Seasons", The Bitter Tears Of Petra Von Kant", and "Effie Briest". But there are times when Fassbinder can turn out a dud and then he really makes a disastrous film. I suppose that is what a genius does. I just wish we could see his "Berlin Alexanderplatz" and "Lili Marleen" on DVD.
Review of The American Soldier
