Official Movie Website Theatrical Release 09/01/2010 Home Video Not Available MPAA Rating Rated R for violence, sexual content and nudity Running Time 105 Minutes Genre Horror Director Anton Corbijn Writer Rowan Joffe Cast George Clooney, Violante Placido, Thekla Reuten, Paolo Bonacelli, Bruce Altman Studio Focus Features |
THE AMERICAN (2010)
SYNOPSIS
The suspense thriller THE AMERICAN stars Academy
Award winner George Clooney in the title role for
director Anton Corbijn (Control). The screenplay by
Rowan Joffe is adapted from Martin Booth’s 1990 novel
A Very Private Gentleman.
As an assassin, Jack (played by Mr. Clooney) is
constantly on the move and always alone. After a job in
Sweden ends more harshly than expected for this
American abroad, Jack retreats to the Italian
countryside. He relishes being away from death for a
spell as he holes up in a small medieval town. While
there, Jack takes an assignment to construct a
weapon for a mysterious contact, Mathilde (Thekla
Reuten).
Savoring the peaceful quietude he finds in the
mountains of Abruzzo, Jack accepts the friendship of
local priest Father Benedetto (Paolo Bonacelli) and
pursues a torrid liaison with a beautiful woman, Clara
(Violante Placido). Jack and Clara’s time together
evolves into a romance, one seemingly free of danger.
But by stepping out of the shadows, Jack may be
tempting fate.
. --© Focus Features
The suspense thriller THE AMERICAN stars Academy
Award winner George Clooney in the title role for
director Anton Corbijn (Control). The screenplay by
Rowan Joffe is adapted from Martin Booth’s 1990 novel
A Very Private Gentleman.
As an assassin, Jack (played by Mr. Clooney) is
constantly on the move and always alone. After a job in
Sweden ends more harshly than expected for this
American abroad, Jack retreats to the Italian
countryside. He relishes being away from death for a
spell as he holes up in a small medieval town. While
there, Jack takes an assignment to construct a
weapon for a mysterious contact, Mathilde (Thekla
Reuten).
Savoring the peaceful quietude he finds in the
mountains of Abruzzo, Jack accepts the friendship of
local priest Father Benedetto (Paolo Bonacelli) and
pursues a torrid liaison with a beautiful woman, Clara
(Violante Placido). Jack and Clara’s time together
evolves into a romance, one seemingly free of danger.
But by stepping out of the shadows, Jack may be
tempting fate.
. --© Focus Features
© 2003 St. Louis Movie Review Weekly. All rights reserved, except where indicated.
All movie titles, pictures, etc...are the property of their respective studios.
All movie titles, pictures, etc...are the property of their respective studios.
| ST. LOUIS MOVIE REVIEW WEEKLY |
George Clooney returns to the big screen in Director Anton Corbijn’s The American. Clooney trades his
trademark charm and great smile to play a paranoid, disturbed, loner hit-man. Forced to kill a friend
Clooney’s character variously known as Jack, Edward, or Mr. Butterfly must flee town. He calls his control
and relocates to a small town in Italy. Distraught and paranoid he makes friends with a priest (Paolo
Bonacelli) and a hooker (the beautiful Violante Placido). After many scenes of watching Placido prance
around the room nude, it will be no surprise that Clooney begins to fall for her. Tormented by his past and
fearful for his future Jack agrees to do one more job. The cinematography is breathtaking and at
moments it is hard to tell if Corbijn meant this to be a thriller or an art film. The movie moves extremely
slow and seems very redundant in the middle; however, the end of the film picks up and leaves the
audience satisfied.
trademark charm and great smile to play a paranoid, disturbed, loner hit-man. Forced to kill a friend
Clooney’s character variously known as Jack, Edward, or Mr. Butterfly must flee town. He calls his control
and relocates to a small town in Italy. Distraught and paranoid he makes friends with a priest (Paolo
Bonacelli) and a hooker (the beautiful Violante Placido). After many scenes of watching Placido prance
around the room nude, it will be no surprise that Clooney begins to fall for her. Tormented by his past and
fearful for his future Jack agrees to do one more job. The cinematography is breathtaking and at
moments it is hard to tell if Corbijn meant this to be a thriller or an art film. The movie moves extremely
slow and seems very redundant in the middle; however, the end of the film picks up and leaves the
audience satisfied.
By Brenda Ladd
