The American: Review By Paolo Sardinas

Anton Corbijn, the famed music video director, made his big screen debut with one of 2007's best movies, "Control". The film about Joy Divison's troubled lead singer was shot in a stunning and photographic black and white. In that film Corbijn took some risks. With his latest film, "The American", he plays it safe throughout a majority of the movie. Now it's not to say that it's a disappointment because this is one of the few movies (by few I mean three) released this summer to actually keep me interested and invested in what was happening on screen. But I still couldn't help asking myself what was the point, besides seeing grandiose visions of Italy, stunning women and an aging George Clooney.

"The American" doesn't focus much attention at separating itself from amongst all of the other hitman movies released over the years, at least not story wise. The film pays homage to European thrillers from the 60's and 70's like Antonioni's "The Passenger" and the films of Jean Pierre Melville like "Le Samourai." Of course neither of those films starred George Clooney, nor did they feature the main character killing off his love interest five minutes in. The plot centers on Clooney's Jack, a hitman who, after a job that didn't go so hot, decides to take on one last job that has him venturing into the beautiful countryside of Italy.

Those who are able to stick with the film after its opening five minutes will be treated to beautiful vistas and equally stunning women. Both of which virtually steal the movie from "Gorgeous George", and who take the place of any genuine thrills. The lack of genuine excitement and thrills might befuddle the mainstream American audience who have grown accustomed to seeing movies where everything gets blown up, everyone gets killed in some highly stylized fashion, the faces of both Tom Cruise and Will Smith and an ending that sums up the plot in about ten minutes. The lack of action is taken place by a serious character study that attempts to delve into the inner workings of Clooney's hit man who becomes acquainted with an elderly priest who attempts to save his soul and a beautiful prostitute with whom he falls in love with yet who know nothing of his murderous and dangerous profession.

While clichés are abundant throughout the film nearly two hour run, they work, for the most part. Luckily enough we have Anton Corbijn helming the picture and with that bit of information you know that the film at least looks good. It does. The films photography and cinematography are phenomenal. Everything from the snowy scene of one of Jack's killings, to the cobblestone streets of an Italian village, to the sun drenched forests looks and feels real enough to at least transport you to the film visually. The film is a generally quiet film but it's nice to enjoy silence in the background while the characters converse with one another. The only problem is that it could be a bit difficult to hear with a misbehaved theater audience.

In terms of acting Clooney is unusually and uncharacteristically subtle throughout the whole film. Since this is virtually a one man show Clooney needed to step it up to another level and make his character interesting enough so that the audience could actually be interested in him. Clooney does this to a fault. Famed film critic Roger Ebert compared Clooney to Alain Delon in "Le Samourai." I wouldn't go that far but Clooney does give something different than what we're used to seeing from him. Whether it's good or not is really a matter of taste. Clooney's love interest Clara is played by the absolutely stunning Violante Placido whose performance is quite exquisite but the whole "hooker with a heart of gold" cliché has really become the mother of all clichés.

Clooney is always watchable, he is consistently taking on different roles of different calibers and that is what makes him an interesting enough guy whose films you might actually pay to see. There is a scene in the film where Clooney's character sits down to watch "Once Upon a Time in the West" and it's an ironic one since his character is much like Fonda's in the film. They're both evil men yet they fear life as much as they enjoy taking it. This is what I found to be the most interesting while watching "The American."

Should you go see "The American?" It really depends on your personal preference. If you are willing to sacrifice high octane action violence for slow building tension then you might find "The American" to be worth your time. The film is far from perfect, solid, but far from perfect. Corbijn/Clooney made something that appeals more to a European audience rather than an American audience. But even with that being said the movie spends too much time paying homage to other Euro-thrillers of the past and not enough time creating something original.

But aside from its flaws I found "The American" to be a relatively entertaining film, one which plays off of subtle nuances and builds enough tension to separate itself from the bombastic action films that have been released this summer. Mainly due to the fact that it doesn't have any action but that isn't always a bad thing, a reasoning that might not be favored by everyone but was able to make the film worth seeing.