The American (C+ or 2/4 stars)
'The American' (directed by Anton Corbijn) sounds very interesting on paper. Many critics are calling the film pretentious. I don't find it pretentious (pretending to be some higher, uber-intelligent art piece). But what I do find it to be is empty & slow. After a job in Sweden goes alllll wrong, Jack (George Clooney), a hired American assassin, retreats to the Italian countryside to hide-out. Always on the move, always alone, & always in danger ... the normally cold, hardened Jack relishes hiding out in this quaint, ancient town. While there, Jack's boss, Pavel (Johan Leysen) gives him "one last assignment" (you know how those go) to construct a gun for a mysterious contact named Mathilde (Thekla Reuten, of In Bruges).
Savoring (though, not letting loose & enjoying) the peaceful atmosphere of the Abruzzo mountainside, Jack takes up a strange friendship with the local priest, Father Benedetto (Paolo Bonacelli), & has a torrid dalliance with a gorgeous prostitute, Clara (Violante Placido). Jack & Clara's sexcapades evolve into a loving romance. But by Jack being overcome by these feelings, he lets his guard down, allows himself to be seen, & is thrust back into certain danger.
'The American' has been billed as a thriller. That's sort of correct. The foundation of that genre is here. Problem is: there are no actual thrills. This movie is the perfect definition of a slow-burn. There is tension (however muted). The scenery/cinematography is beautiful. But slowww, is the key word. There are guns, there are assassins ... but the focus is on the inner-mind & lifestyle of Jack. Jack lives a dangerous life, but he's seeking peace. And there's just much more peace than danger as the plot sleepily unfolds. One must be patient to get ANYTHING out of this film. Emotion, too.
The stand-out sequence in the movie has absolutely nothing to do with the plot. It's a sex scene; involving George Clooney & the beautiful Italian actress, Violante Placido. The room is lit with red lights. The camera lingers on a topless Placido while Clooney has his way with her (he's off screen). This one image is shown for a good 2-3 minutes. And it actually woke me up. So yeah, that's a positive thing {haha}.
George Clooney has to stifle his charisma to play a very solemn, insular man. He's a hollow shell of a man; stifling any emotional connections his whole life. Of course, that doesn't make for the most riveting protagonist. You know, there's nothing 'bad' about this movie. Thematically, it speaks of good men who do bad things & contemplate their humanity/soul because of it. No one says anything idiotic (that you may find in a true 'thriller'). But the plot is SO minimal, & the mood is so somber that when the movie ended (and not on a particularly brilliant note), I said to myself, 'so that was it? It all seemed somewhat pointless'. Cryptic is another word for it. 'The American' is a movie with an interesting concept, but lacks the plot to substantiate it.
Savoring (though, not letting loose & enjoying) the peaceful atmosphere of the Abruzzo mountainside, Jack takes up a strange friendship with the local priest, Father Benedetto (Paolo Bonacelli), & has a torrid dalliance with a gorgeous prostitute, Clara (Violante Placido). Jack & Clara's sexcapades evolve into a loving romance. But by Jack being overcome by these feelings, he lets his guard down, allows himself to be seen, & is thrust back into certain danger.
'The American' has been billed as a thriller. That's sort of correct. The foundation of that genre is here. Problem is: there are no actual thrills. This movie is the perfect definition of a slow-burn. There is tension (however muted). The scenery/cinematography is beautiful. But slowww, is the key word. There are guns, there are assassins ... but the focus is on the inner-mind & lifestyle of Jack. Jack lives a dangerous life, but he's seeking peace. And there's just much more peace than danger as the plot sleepily unfolds. One must be patient to get ANYTHING out of this film. Emotion, too.
The stand-out sequence in the movie has absolutely nothing to do with the plot. It's a sex scene; involving George Clooney & the beautiful Italian actress, Violante Placido. The room is lit with red lights. The camera lingers on a topless Placido while Clooney has his way with her (he's off screen). This one image is shown for a good 2-3 minutes. And it actually woke me up. So yeah, that's a positive thing {haha}.
George Clooney has to stifle his charisma to play a very solemn, insular man. He's a hollow shell of a man; stifling any emotional connections his whole life. Of course, that doesn't make for the most riveting protagonist. You know, there's nothing 'bad' about this movie. Thematically, it speaks of good men who do bad things & contemplate their humanity/soul because of it. No one says anything idiotic (that you may find in a true 'thriller'). But the plot is SO minimal, & the mood is so somber that when the movie ended (and not on a particularly brilliant note), I said to myself, 'so that was it? It all seemed somewhat pointless'. Cryptic is another word for it. 'The American' is a movie with an interesting concept, but lacks the plot to substantiate it.