Alone among assassins, Jack is a master craftsman. When a job in Sweden ends more harshly than expected for this American abroad, he vows to his contact Larry that his next assignment will be his last.
A rare misfire from George Clooney, 'The American' redefines tedium and makes its relatively lean 95-minute running time seem like an eternity. Director Anton Corbijn's slow burn character study / retro thriller begins with a bang; when world weary hit man Jack (Clooney) is ambushed by rival assassins (Swedes. apparently). He kills them all and is forced to go on the lam; ordered to lie low in rural Italy and await further instructions.
Now I've heard of six characters in search of an author, but now I've seen a film in search of a story; with faultless mise-en-scene (minimalist style at its best) and a competent cast, 'The American' ought to have been more than the sum of its parts. But we're never really drawn into the narrative; aren't particularly interested in Jack's last job to construct a new sniper rifle, intrigued by his relationship with a local prostitute or engaged with the subplot where he's training the female assassin for whom he's making the gun.
Future filmmakers take note; when Clooney decides to reign in the chin-down smirk and gregarious banter, make sure there's enough of a story to warrant the dour cynicism e.g. serious Clooney worked in 'Syrianna' because there were a multitude of characters jostling within a captivating narrative; same thing in 'Solaris', where his pensive, introspective astronaut complemented the film's thoughtful tone. But here, he's just some guy moping around like a wannabe Jef Costello from 'Le Samouraï': all style, no substance.
'The American' is a cool but flat effort to recreate old school Euro thrillers like 'The Quiller Memorandum' or 'The Spy Who Came In From The Cold' via the laid back, non-liner style of New Wave classics like 'Breathless' or 'The Red Circle'. Commendable intent, poor execution.
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Please note this is a region 2 DVD and will require a region 2 (Europe) or region Free DVD Player in order to play. In the aftermath of a job gone awry, an American hitman retreats to the Italian countryside, where he befriends a local priest and strikes up an unexpected romance while awaiting the details of his next assignment. Jack (George Clooney) is lucky to be alive after his Swedish assignment went sour, and he knows that it's only a matter of time before his luck runs out. Not eager to tempt fate again, Jack arrives in a small Italian town and takes a job assembling a weapon for the mysterious Mathilde (Thekla Reuten). During this uncharacteristically peaceful interlude, Jack befriends kindly clergyman Father Benedetto (Paolo Bonacelli), and connects with pretty local Clara (Violante Placido). But in the process of reaching out for a little human contact, Jack is making himself more vulnerable than ever.
Thriller starring George Clooney as Jack, an American master assassin working in Europe. When a job in Sweden ends messily, Jack flees to the Italian countryside and vows that his next assignment will be his last. But this simple decision becomes complicated when his new client, Mathilde (Thekla Reuten), appears to have sinister ulterior motives. Meanwhile, Jack pursues an ambiguous relationship with local prostitute Clara (Violante Placido) and is befriended by elderly priest Father Benedetto (Paolo Bonacelli), who encourages him to put his past behind him and seek absolution. But which of these new acquaintances, if any, can Jack truly trust?
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