Movie Review: "The American"

Seen on: August 30, 2010

The players: Director: Anton Corbijn, Writer: Rowan Joffe, Cast: George Clooney, Thekla Reuten, Violante Placido, Paolo Bonacelli

Facts of interest: Anton Corbijn also directed "Control."

The plot: George Clooney plays an assassin heading to Italy to embark on his final mission before going into retirement.

Our thoughts: Anton Corbijn’s “The American” is by no means a fast-paced action thriller, and that’s totally okay as long as you have a thing for slow-moving dramas. In my book, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with the movie’s pace, but where “The American” eventually starts loosing its appeal is in its rather predictable story. In other words, the payoff we get to watch is not exactly worth the wait.

George Clooney plays Jack, a skilled assassin who’s wrapping up an assignment in Sweden in the film’s intense opening sequence. For some reason though, somebody out there is after him, which means the only logical thing for Jack to do is to get out of the country, check in with his contact, and lay low somewhere until things quiet down for a bit. Jack is a professional, so that’s exactly what he does.

Shortly after arriving in a small Italian village though, Jack’s contact hands him a new mission. Instead of pulling the trigger himself this time, Jack is only responsible for building a special weapon and handing it off to his employer. This is certainly nothing Jack can’t handle, and as the film progresses, we get to watch him assemble a weapon while enjoying the peace of the Italian countryside.

Peace may be a bit exaggerated though, because if Jack has one weakness that simply won’t let go of him, it’s love. Jack may have been instructed not to make any friends during his stay in Italy, but that definitely doesn’t stop him from seeing a whore and delighting her with his incredible charm and muscular body. And that’s exactly what could risk putting his mission and life in jeopardy.

So yeah, this is pretty much what “The American” is about. It’s a very slow film without any major action, focusing instead of how Jack builds his weapon while he risks getting sidetracked via his newfound affection for this beautiful prostitute (played gracefully by Violante Placido). The plot is characterized by repetition and little dialogue, which will undoubtedly anger folks expecting a suspenseful thriller.

That said, I admit “The American” still managed to capture my attention, at least until the final act, which lacks surprise and simply doesn’t offer a satisfying enough conclusion. This is first and foremost a beautifully shot movie boasting unique locations and a strong set design. Corbijn’s direction is flawless throughout, and everything from the film’s editing to sound design just works marvelously.

The casting works as well, even though the actors don’t get to do or say too much. Clooney knows his stuff and definitely comes across as an authentic assassin looking for a way out. Placido boasts charm and dominates her role, and so does Thekla Reuten, a mysterious woman working with Jack on final last mission. You simply can’t go wrong with a trio like this one, and it’s a pleasure to watch them.

As I mentioned, the story lacks substance and variety. Clooney spends a lot of time exercising in the film, and while it’s okay to watch it once, we don’t need to see it over and over again. The same thing happens with other scenes, and just when you think a new character or subplot is introduced for a purpose, it turns out most of them don’t really advance the story well enough. And yes, the ending doesn’t work either.

Freaky quote: "I want out." - George Clooney

The final word: Some cinemagoers will applaud “The American,” and other will tear it apart. I enjoyed the visuals, the acting and the film’s first and second acts, but I still left the theater disappointed by the cheap payoff I got in the end. It’s not a bad film, but I wouldn’t qualify it as a memorable big-screen experience. To be honest, I’m kind of on the fence with this one, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. I’ll leave it at that.

Article by Franck Tabouring

Comments

[Steven Shomler]

Frank,

Another great review! I love this site.

Steven