Review of The American (2010) by Matthew C — 28 Mar 2014

Anton Corbijn knows what taking his time to say a little means. He's really good at it. The American says very little, if anything at all. Help me out here. Why do I care about this assassin. Because he's on the run? Because it's George Clooney more like it.

The film begins and carries a tone of one of Cary Grant's films when he was the silver fox of his time. Europe, beautiful women, tension proceeding danger at every corner. Then Violante Placido's Clara enters the picture and Jack (Clooney), builds a relationship with this prostitute.

Because there's something different about her, I think?? I'm going to vent a little here but half of Violante's screen time was her birthday suit. Totally unnecessary and it very nearly ruined the film for me.

What I can't grasp is what the script is trying to impart to me. What am I to take away from this. The American is trying to get out. A priest with a sketchy past takes interest in Clooney's soul but that only ends up wrestling for meaning and screen time with Clara's body.

There are mysterious points but not a whole lot happens. People are trying to kill and get killed. It's the quieter more artsy version of Taken or Bourne or any assassin story with a clear purpose.

And the sexuality is just... come on! Anyways, maybe I missed the deep meaning shuffling down the cobblestones of Italy. Maybe it's a movie about looking over your shoulder and how that's no way to live.

Maybe it's about a new start and the hauntings of past choices. I don't know. It's open ended and a tragedy. Pass.