American Perfekt

American Perfekt is a fascinating psychological thriller-mystery film, released in 1997 directed by Paul Chart and starring Robert Forster, Amanda Plummer, and David Thewlis. The film weaves a web of obsession, chance, and revenge, with striking performances that pull the viewer into a thrilling road trip that journeys into the darker corners of the human psyche.

The film sets one of the most fundamental problems of human existence at its core: the unpredictableness of life and the human effort to attain some semblance of control over it. English psychiatrist Dr. Jake Nyman, portrayed by Robert Forster, is the embodiment of this concept. Dr. Nyman sets off on a vacation in the desert, tossing a coin to make decisions – a rather fatalistic approach to life.

A chance encounter on the road leads him to Alice, played with unparalleled fervor by Amanda Plummer. Alice flaunts her unique quirks and vulnerabilities, with an unabashed frankness that is as endearing as it is alarming. She is a woman with her forces, plagued by her traumatic past, and possesses a burning desire to protect her mentally challenged sister Rosie (Fairuza Balk) from a similar fate she has encountered.

The narrative then throws into the mix Santini, played by David Thewlis, the rogue cop with unresolved personal issues. Thewlis's character introduction is a harbinger of the chaotic and dark vibes that soon take over the storyline. His meticulous portrayal of the arrogant, bullying, and reckless highway patrolman with a taste for rough justice brings an intensified tension to the story.

The journey that these three characters find themselves embarks on is one of chance encounters and actions driven by flipping a coin, further underpinning the entire luck/chance motif in the movie. The movie effectively intertwines their fates and does an excellent job maintaining suspense while exploring deep issues about fate and personal choice.

Alice's character shows resilience amidst her presenting instability, and her interactions with Dr. Nyman's character are revealing of their multilayered personalities. Paul Chart brilliantly uses their dialogue to hint at their internal battles and underlying personality traits. These character studies juxtaposed against the vast, empty desert landscapes, add an additional sense of isolation and existential dread to the movie.

Adding to the complexity of the story, Rosie’s character offers more insight into the kind of woman Alice becomes, the dark past she comes from, and her equally dark fears for the future. Rosie is the embodiment of Alice's vulnerable side, and her portrayal by Balk is one worth mentioning. It is through Rosie that Alice’s frenzy makes sense, and Nyman’s obsession with fate becomes more complicated.

A notable aspect of the 'American Perfekt' is how it maintains ambiguity at its center, intentionally keeping the viewer guessing and questioning each character's morality, choices, and, thus, their ultimate fate. This is not a narrative that will spoon-feed explanations. Paul Chart plays with the viewers' mind, just as Nyman and Santini play with the fates of Alice and Rosie.

Alan Reeves' underlying original score adds a profound layer to the narrative's overall mood and complements the cinematic desert landscape beautifully captured by the cinematographer, William Wages. The atmospheric music and dramatic landscape evoke a sense of ominous unease fitting for the film's overall tone.

'American Perfekt’ is a movie that challenges the viewer, making them uncomfortable and forcing them to think and question. It's a well-crafted, unique thriller that employs excellent cinematic techniques and performances to provoke deep thought on life’s unpredictability. It forces us to confront our desires for control, our capacity for obsession, and our potential for revenge when control is lost, making it a must-watch for fans of psychological thrillies. A word of caution though, this is a film that lingers and will make the viewer ponder long after the closing credits roll. Overall, the film is a distinctive blend of character study and psychological thriller and a profound reflection on the dice rolls of destiny.