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.

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Plot Keywords:

priest | assassin | prostitute | dalarna sweden | death | 

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

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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

A lot of the locations the production team had originally hoped to use were ruined in an earthquake suffered in the region. The pace of reconstruction proved too slow so new locations had to be sought out.

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Goofs

Toward the end of the film when Jack approaches the river to meet Clara, a stuntman can be seen driving the car.

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Quotes

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

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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.

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Connections

Featured in Maltin on Movies: The American (2010)

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Soundtracks

"NEL GIARDINO DELL'AMORE"
Written by José Feliciano and Hilda Feliciano
Performed by Patty Pravo
Courtesy of Sony Music Entertainment (Italy) s.p.a.
by arrangement with Sony Music Licensing

User Reviews

Superb, Absolutely Superb!

George Clooney outdid himself in this movie! I really did not know what to expect. I kind of knew what it was about, but decided that I will let it surprise me.

This movie is a low key follow the movie and its steps. You keep guessing and keep wondering what will happen next. You wonder who is behind it all. Of course you can guess what will happen, at least if you watched enough movies you can make an intelligent guess.

But what gets me with this movie is that even though I see things coming I still want to watch what happens. This movie just grips you and spits you out. It is not a blockbuster shoot them up type of movie. No this is more like the old style Italian Mafia movies.

If you decide to watch this movie make sure you have time to focus. Its the little details, the little steps that make all the difference. Otherwise it just becomes another movie.