Review of The American (2010) by Guy G — 09 Jul 2011
[80/B] A Euro anti-thrill spy flick, that deploys tense minimalist gestures upon a tabula rasa of dappled imagery and a mood of subtly shifting dangers. This is a movie in which the outright action is brief, but stylishly effective and understated, in a manner that draws attention not to furious moments of violence, but to their effect upon the central character.
Like classic movies in the genre, The American uses many of the traditional archetypes you'd expect to find: the grim gunfighter, running out of time; the killer methodically stalking him; the beautiful woman who can redeem him; the arch-criminal pulling strings in the background; etc. But don't bother with it if you're just looking for the usual Hollywood or Hong Kong empty-headed kaboom and babbling. It is thankfully far more Antonioni than it is the same old boring Bond.
Stretches of narrative emptiness, beautifully framed, allow the viewer room and time to meditate upon the enigmatic streams of the plot, purposefully muted in order to cast light upon the palpable anxiety of a craftsman-assassin who finds himself slipping to the outside of his game. Excellently evoked in a disciplined, empathetic performance by Clooney.
His chemistry with the rest of the cast, especially the rapturously handsome Violante Placido, is always genuine and laden with secret hopes and doubts, in tight, ephemeral scenes that counterpoint the prevailing tone of remoteness. Well worth it if you're at all interested in really caring about that gun-wielding spy for a change.
This review of The American (2010) was written by Guy G on 09 Jul 2011.
The American has generally received mixed reviews.
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