The American

 

Director: Anton Corbijn

Year: 2010

Starring: George Clooney

Synopsis:

George Clooney stars in the title role of this suspense thriller. As an assassin, Jack is constantly on the move and always alone. After a job in Sweden ends more harshly than expected for this American abroad, Jack retreats to the Italian countryside. He enjoys being away from death for a while as he holes up in a small medieval town. While there, Jack takes an assignment to construct a weapon for a mysterious contact, Mathilde (Thekla Reuten). Enjoying the peace he finds in the mountains of Abruzzo, Jack accepts the friendship of local priest Father Benedetto (Paolo Bonacelli) and begins a relationship with a prostitute, Clara (Violante Placido). Jack and Clara's time together evolves into a romance, one seemingly free of danger.

Review:

The film is constructed with minimal dialogue enabling the viewer to focus on the loneliness of the lead character. The cinematography is excellent with beautifully shot landscapes, highlighting the remoteness of the location of the town which can be read as a metaphor for his loneliness. Not a lot is revealed about Jack’s background, but there are clues that he is ex-military (regimental tattoos and familiarity with weapons). References to butterflies appear throughout the film, possibly suggesting a metaphor for his fragile existence. Clooney conveys well, a man on edge who can trust nobody, even his girlfriend. He sleeps fully clothed with a gun at his side, and the slightest noise wakes him.

I felt the film was too long and slow paced. The acting was good and the locations looked beautiful. This is the opposite of your typical Bond/Bourne thriller where the viewer gets completely immersed in the action. You are left to discover the lead characters background and motives from various clues that appear throughout the film.

Rating:

***