The American

 

The American (2010)

On the heels of a rough assignment, assassin Jack (George Clooney) declares that his next job will be his last. Dispatched to a small Italian town to await further orders, Jack embarks on a double life that may be more relaxing than is good for him. Although duty will surely call, Jack becomes friends with Father Benedetto and falls for villager Clara in this suspense thriller.

The words to describe this film are hard to find…ridiculously in love with itself come to mind.  Among the reviews there are basically two opinions that surface, either the reviewer found the movie boring or zen-like.  Roger Ebert goes so far as to liken Clooney to a Samurai.  I found it hard to care about Clooney’s character.  I mean you find out almost nothing about him and you’re never quite sure what the hell he’s doing. 

I also found myself comparing it to the Jim Jarmusch film The Limits of Control.  The comparison was in the slowness and the silence.  The difference is that in Limits of Control there is something actually palpable in the silence.  It has fantastic shots and crazy characters.  The American’s silence was just flat. 

There were some reviews that agreed with me.  Time magazine’s review referred to The American as “surely the dreariest thriller of the year.”  The New York Post review was hands down my favorite – I love the writer’s style.  The reviewer called it “a pretentious Euro-snore that should occasion a fraud prosecution for any marketer who calls it a thriller.”

My thoughts exactly.