Dueling Reviews: THE AMERICAN

Tom’s Take:

George Clooney plays the title role as THE AMERICAN, a superb suspense thriller from Danish director Anton Corbijn. As a lone-wolf hit man, Jack (Clooney) is always on the move and constantly looking over his shoulder. The story begins seemingly mid-plot, after an assignment in Sweden goes violently wrong and Jack retreats to the Italian countryside where he holds up in a small town. While there, he’s given his next assignment: build a sniper rifle for mysterious fellow killer Mathilde (Thekla Reuten). Appreciating the relaxing quietude he finds in the Abruzzese Mountains, Jack befriends wise local priest Father Benedetto (Paolo Bonacelli) and begins a relationship with the beautiful prostitute Clara (Violante Placido). Their time together develops into a real romance, but by stepping out of hiding Jack finds dark forces after him and he’s unsure who to trust.

The ‘hit-man redeemed by the hooker with a heart of gold’  plot is hardly new but THE AMERICAN achieves something close to perfection. It combines stylish direction, an intelligent script, first-rate performances, and overpowering atmosphere into one of the most tense and absorbing thrillers I’ve seen in some time. It distills the crime movie to its essence and may be the leanest, most spare hit man picture ever to star a Hollywood A-lister. THE AMERICAN has understated elegance to it; it’s not brimming with characters or plot twists (though there are some), but invests instead in small gestures, such as the flight of a butterfly or a beautiful woman stripping slowly before a mirror. Corbijn doesn’t go for shoot-’em-up pyrotechnics, and those expecting slam-bang Hollywood action might be scratching their heads at the deliberate pace and simplicity of plot, but THE AMERICAN has a calm style that meshes perfectly with the pulpy storyline, allowing the director to transcend genre conventions and find a bloody sort of grace. Corbijn has made a decidedly existential crime movie, and if gangster philosophy isn’t your thing, there’s always the beautiful Italian countryside and the chiseled chin and brown eyes of George Clooney. THE AMERICAN opens with Jack shooting an innocent woman in the back of the head and the film spends little time trying to win back any audience sympathy. Clooney is in practically every frame of the film but Jack is an incredibly withholding character, and almost nothing is revealed about his past. Initially the meticulous execution of his work seems to be the defining facet of his character but he’s slowly softened by a woman and realizes too late what he’s missed in life. There are several tense, wordless scenes where he acts only with his haunted eyes and it’s so impressive what Clooney, that most ‘American’ of actors, pulls off here. The location photography is notable, giving the Italian countryside a sense of both romance and dread, of menace and the possibility of escape. ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST is showing on a TV in the background of one shot and the nod to Sergio Leone, that master of pacing and visually storytelling, is both earned and inspired. From its silent opening moments to its devastating conclusion, THE AMERICAN is clearly the work of a confident director and is easily one of the year’s best films.

Overall Rating: 5 of 5 Stars

Melissa’s Take:

I am going to start out by saying that THIS MOVIE SUCKED! I can’t remember the last time that I was this bored in a theater!!! If staring at the back of George Clooney’s head as he walks around with no dialog for 103 minutes, then this movie is for you.

Things I understand:

I understand that Mr. Butterfly builds weapons.

I understand that he was hired to build a new weapon for someones assasination.

I understand that he is lonely after a life of being invisible and wants love.

I have just explained the entire movie to you!

Things that make no sense:

Why was he obsessed with butterflies? Was it because he is always flying around? That they both have short lifespans? Is it because he has a man tramp stamp of one… (Only his is in between the shoulder blades, usually where dudes put a Godsmack sun or some sort of tribal crap!) They don’t focus on it, don’t explain it, but the reference is there.

Why did they make a movie where nothing happens. Sure, ladies love George Clooney, but not the back of his salt and pepper hair for at least an hour.

I should have just brought a pillow and blanket, and had someone nudge me whenever something actually happened. I am a big fan of artsy films, or films without dialog, but this was just plain goofy! This is the worst film that I have seen in a theater this year! Heck, this review has more words, plot, and storylines than THE AMERICAN does!

I honestly an at a loss of what to write about because NOTHING HAPPENS IN THIS MOVIE! IT”S LIKE WATCHING ICE MELT!

Overall Rating: 0.5 out of 5 stars (And that is only because a girl gets shot in the eye!)