The All-American Boy (1973)

Introduction
"The All-American Boy", directed by Charles Eastman, is a 1973 drama film starring Jon Voight, who was fresh off of his Oscar-nominated performance in "Midnight Cowboy". The film is a thoughtful exploration of the American Dream, illustrating the turbulent journey of a young small-town fighter required to face the harsh realities and misdirected ideologies of his environment.

Plot
The movie features Voight as Vic Bealer, a skilled boxer, artistically gifted, yet socially awkward and aloof. His boxing expertise has earned him the endless adoration of his peers and the local neighborhood's expectation of an effective profession in the expert ring. Right before he's set for a major championship battle, he suddenly quits boxing and embarks on a personal journey beleaguered with disenchantment and failure.

Character Exploration
Vic represents the stereotyped All-American Boy-- strong, enthusiastic, gifted, however also ignorant and misguided. His athletic and physical abilities are in stark contrast to his psychological immaturity, making it difficult for him to browse the complexities of life. This is particularly evident in his relationships, especially with the sultry single mom, Janelle, played by Nancie Phillips, and his youth friend, Denny, represented by Paul Shaw.

Theme
"The All-American Boy" critically explores the misconception of the All-American hero and peels it back to reveal, at its core, an awful emotional vacuum. The film is a commentary on the disillusionment that frequently accompanies the so-called American Dream. Vic's character is a perpetual wanderer, torn between a relentless pursuit of success and a defiant rejection of social standards.

Style
The film is fueled by Jon Voight's extraordinary and subtle efficiency, which captures the confusion, aggravation, and emptiness of Vic Bealer with an exceptional realism. The style of the movie is greatly affected by the New Hollywood motion of the 1970s, observable in its gritty realism, unconventional storytelling, and extensive social commentary. Director Charles Eastman effectively uses the world of boxing to symbolize the constant battle in between social expectations and individual unwavering desires.

End Sequence
In an ironic reversal, by the end of the movie, Vic decides only to go back to boxing when confronted with the possibility of obligation and fathership after his affair with Janelle. His character has been rejected a traditional brave ending-- a destiny symbolized as far back as the movie's opening credit sequence when Voight, after shadowboxing in the ring, exits the frame, leaving the video camera to gaze at an empty ring lighted from the ceiling, a sign of the desolation that waits for the American hero within the confines of the American Dream.

Conclusion
"The All-American Boy" is a thought-provoking, albeit bleak, exploration of the realities that underpin the American Dream. At its heart, it illustrates the hero's journey, turned on its head, as the All-American boy comes across a life that is far from brave. Voight's nuanced efficiency includes depth to an enigmatic character facing social expectations, personal ambitions, and emotional immaturity. The movie serves as a poignant critique of the glamorized American hero and the intricacies of personal ambition.

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