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

George Clooney played a trick on the crew. When the train pulls into Sulmona Introdacqua station, it was set up so the doors would open and the woman step straight into shot. The train driver was given a marker to stop at. Clooney told the driver there was a change of plan and he had to stop 5 m past his marker. Laughter from Clooney and consternation from the crew.

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Goofs

After Jack assembles the rifle, he pulls back the bolt to cock the rifle and dry fire it. However with an empty magazine in the rifle, as it was, the bolt would lock in the rear position and not fully cock for dry firing.

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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

Referenced in Tosh.0: National Anthem Fail Girl (2011)

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Soundtracks

"TU VUÒ FÀ L'AMERICANO"
Written by Renato Carosone and Nicola Salerno
Performed by Renato Carosone
Courtesy of EMI Music Italy
Under license from EMI Film & Television Music

User Reviews

Brilliant movie, not for the unwise.

They rarely produce such movies anymore and set themselves up for this high standard at the expense of commercial success.

The acting was good, the cinematography was good, the story was good, but the realism factor was absolutely brilliant. In that sense it comes very close to the bourne series. Most people who do not like this movie simply don't have an eye for detail or appreciate the amount of work that may have gone into making the movie this close to reality.

Off course there isn't hopeless romance, unbelievable bullet dodging and over the edge action sequences with the lead running a marathon. Overall a very satisfactory experience.