THE AMERICAN REVIEW

It’s hard to know where to start with The American. I don’t want to give too much away with the story as the spoiler brigade would be up in arms, but essentially  George Clooney plays Jack, as assassin who has one last job. That last job is to build and deliver a gun to another woman. Along the way, he befriends the local priest and a prostitute, which he falls head over heels with. From here, an obviousish twist or 2 happens and that last job seems a bit more than worth the hassle.

The trailers for The American promised alot of fast paced action. Well, idle promises as The American is a movie that has little in the way of shoot outs and action as it plods away to it’s pretty decent ending. Sure, there are a number of shoot outs, sorry that should be shot outs but they really are only the icing on a rather beautiful cake. 
The slow, but enveloping pace may turn many off but stay with this movie as it’s rewards are great and payoffs are little. It’s very European in style and substance and a nice change to whats currently doing the rounds.

Directed by Anton Corbijn (who is more known for his amazing music work with U2, Metallica and Depeche Mode) The American is one of the more beautifully shot movies of the year. The tiny little Italian village is almost a character in itself as is its surrounding countryside. Composed with an expert eye, the landscape can instantly convey a mode, be it of beauty or solitude and loneliness for our rather good looking assassin. And Clooney pulls off a pretty intense and broody performance here, which may well see him get some nods from award organisers. A cold and callous killer, Clooney at times is almost emotionless and it’s all so well performed and convincing.

The American is slow, but it’s a comfortable slow and the characters (including the scenery) all put in wonderful performances in what is one of the more refreshing movies of the year! Stick with it!!