The American (2010)

An assassin hides out in Italy for one last assignment.

Director:

Anton Corbijn

Writers:

Rowan Joffe (screenplay), Martin Booth (novel)

Stars:

George Clooney, Violante Placido, Thekla Reuten

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
George Clooney	...	Jack / Edward
Violante Placido	...	Clara
Thekla Reuten	...	Mathilde
Paolo Bonacelli	...	Father Benedetto
Johan Leysen	...	Pavel
Irina Björklund	...	Ingrid
Filippo Timi	...	Fabio
Lars Hjelm	...	Hunter #1
Giorgio Gobbi	...	Man on Vespa
Silvana Bosi	...	Old Cheese Vendor
Guido Palliggiano	...	Waiter (Market)
Samuel Vauramo	...	Young Swedish Man
Antonio Rampino	...	Postmaster
Björn Granath	...	Hunter #2
Ilaria Cramerotti	...	Hooker #2

Storyline

Alone among assassins, Jack is a master craftsman. When a job in Sweden ends more harshly than expected for this American abroad, he vows to his contact Pavel that his next assignment will be his last. Jack reports to the Italian countryside, where he holes up in a small town and relishes being away from death for a spell. The assignment, as specified by a Belgian woman, Mathilde, is in the offing as a weapon is constructed. Surprising himself, Jack seeks out the friendship of local priest Father Benedetto and pursues romance with local woman Clara. But by stepping out of the shadows, Jack may be tempting fate.

---

Plot Keywords:

priest | assassin | prostitute | dalarna sweden | death | 

---

Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence, sexual content and nudity

Details

Official Sites:

Official Blog Official Facebook

Country:

USA

Language:

English Italian

Release Date:

1 September 2010 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Very Private Gentleman

Filming Locations:

Castel del Monte, L'Aquila, Abruzzo, Italy

Box Office

Budget:

$20,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£411,707 (UK) (26 November 2010)

Gross:

£1,290,205 (UK) (17 December 2010)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Focus Features, Goldcrest Post Production London, Greenlit Rights

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The reason why George Clooney's character chews gum a lot in the film is because the character simply doesn't have a lot of dialogue and Anton Corbijn wanted Clooney's face to not be completely static throughout. This is also another reference to spaghetti Westerns as Clint Eastwood - also a strong, silent character - would often be chewing tobacco.

---

Goofs

When Jack receives the Swedish newspaper clipping the text following the headline has several grammatical and punctuation errors indicative of it being written by someone whose native language is English. One of several examples from the article is that in Swedish homicide investigation is a single word - "mordutredning" - not two ("mord utredning").

---

Quotes

[first lines]
Ingrid: You know, I thought I maybe drive into town. You want something?
Jack: No.

---

Crazy Credits

The credits at the end are in order of appearance. However, the 3 hookers are listed in the order: Hooker #2, Hooker #3 and Hooker #1, which logically doesn't make sense.

---

Connections

Referenced in Maltin on Movies: The Best Films You Missed in 2010 (2010)

---

Soundtracks

"UN BEL DÌ VEDREMO"
from 'MADAMA BUTTERFLY'
Written by Giacomo Puccini, Luigi Illica, and Giuseppe Giacosa (as Guiseppe Giacosa)
Performed by Maria Callas and The Philharmonia Orchestra
Conducted by Tullio Serafin
Courtesy of EMI Classics
Under license from EMI Film & Television Music

User Reviews

the second-best movie of 2010

Before anybody reading this review goes to see "The American," let me give you some sincere advice. If you are expecting this to be another Jason Bourne or James Bond-style of movie with elaborate action sequences, tight pacing, and ear-throbbing music...you had better stay away, for you will be sorely disappointed. The advertising campaign and production photographs gives one the impression that George Clooney is taking on a role in a movie like Liam Neeson did in that marvelously powerful thriller "Taken" released in 2008. But that is not the case. "The American" is shot on a foreign location, features a lot of foreign dialect, and was made by a Dutch director with a mostly Italian cast. In other words, it's not really an American action production. It's an Italian melodrama and a really fascinating one at that.

Lots of questions are raised and very few of them are given answers (detailed ones, at least) in this incredibly affecting thriller. We know and find out very little about our protagonist (George Clooney) who goes by two names: Jack and Edward. All we know is that he's a trained killer, somebody wants him to manufacture a special rifle for an assassination, and that's about it. We don't find out who exactly he works for, and we really don't need to. Clooney is an American sent into an Italian town for a last assignment. While he is waiting for the right time, Clooney tries to avoid being shot at by assassins, and begins a relationship with a prostitute (Violante Placido) which slowly transforms from lust to love.

This is not really an action picture and to a certain extent, it's not even really a thriller. "The American" is a transfixing character study. We learn not about the George Clooney character's history, but his integrity as a human being, which it not very much. Director Anton Corbijn frequently has Clooney in a one-note personality and sets up his cameras at a combination of close-ups and medium shots that remain static as he performs rather mundane tasks as he waits for his assignment to come through. One would assume that this would produce tedium and boredom and for some people, it will be just that. But for me, and those who really get involved, this is rather fascinating and it doesn't drag on for very long at all.

However, the best scenes in the movie revolve around the relationship between George Clooney and Violante Placido, who is effective and charismatic as the prostitute who falls in love with him. The director sets up earlier scenes of them having sex and then later changes the direction to show them not as a pair of sex-starved individuals looking for a way to kill a boring night, but as two human beings who care for each other. At first, I was questioning the point of the Placido character and I was griping, as I usually do, about the sex scenes and how they seem, as usual, to have no purpose. But now in hindsight, I commend the filmmakers for their choice. The sex scenes, for once, are appropriate because they show how the relationship between these two characters evolves from lecherousness to a pure and affectionate love.

Director Anton Corbijn and cinematographer Martin Ruhe have done a superb job at crafting their nostalgia-stirring opus. The movie's misc en scene and lighting is absolutely wonderful. The film is great to look at as well as experience. There are some marvelous and more importantly, creative landscape and interior shots and it's almost a treat that the camera is frequently locked-down so we can admire these moments.

In regards to the performances, they are solid. George Clooney proves his worth as an actor yet again with his portrayal of this tormented, cynical man of few words. Violante Placido is also very effective as the girl. Thekla Reuton is icy and more than scenic in her performance as the in-between person working with Clooney. Paolo Bonacelli is compelling as the priest whom Clooney befriends, and Johan Leysen is chilling in his moments as the mysterious individual who always answer his phone with a gruff "Yeah?" "The American" is one of the best movies of the year. However, I cannot guarantee that many people will agree with my statement. First of all, because a lot going in will be misled that this is a high-tensity action picture like "The Bourne Identity" and when they find out it's not, they will leave the theater feeling vastly empty. So that's why I am giving you warning. Don't go in with that attitude. Go in with expectations for a fascinating, nostalgia-stirring character study and be especially keen as you watch the relationship between Clooney and Placindo transform. And believe me: scenes that seem pointless at first will seem ideal when you look back on it in hindsight.