"It’s a calm and somewhat tranquil movie – despite featuring a car chase"

‘The American’ begins in Sweden, where we see the character of Jack, played by George Clooney, brutally murdering two attackers. Instantly you’re hooked, yet what unfolds is not exactly what was initially expected.

You think you’re going to be in for a crime and action thriller, as we see an assassin (Jack), staying in a remote village near Rome, in Italy, working on his next assignment; whilst worrying about who else will be trying to kill him.

However, what we are treated to is almost the complete opposite. With little action and a modest amount of dialogue, the film relies much on the acting credentials of Clooney and the beautiful cinematography of director Anton Corbijn (Control).

Corbijn was initially a photographer, and this film shows off his ability to capture the essence and beauty in life, thus really bringing the already picturesque, remote Italian village to life, and ensures that the evolution of Clooney’s character is completely comprehensible. As the setting changes, Jack’s violent and brutal past finally seems to be catching up on him.

Jack, who befriends the local priest (Paolo Bonacelli), and falls for a local prostitute (Violante Placido), seems to portray a different character to which we were introduced to at the beginning of the feature. It seems that love and companionship really makes an impact on Jack, which is also a reason behind the lack of ensuing action. He even claims to his contact, Pavel (Johan Leysen), that the current assignment will be his very last.

In what is quite an old-fashioned film in many ways, with a tinge of European cinema about it, Clooney makes the film worth watching. The lack of dialogue and even a real plot as such, is carried by the stylish and elegant aura that Clooney possesses.

It’s a calm and somewhat tranquil movie – despite featuring a car chase, murder and much sexual passion. It plays with your senses. At points it is silent, focusing solely on the surroundings and serene atmosphere – yet in just a flash it becomes full of suspense and paranoia as you wonder who or what is following Jack and what will become of him.

Based on the novel ‘A very private gentleman’ by Martin Booth, the film’s undoing is almost its very own advertising campaign. It has similar attributes to that of a silent movie and is very much a character study – on the ageing hit man Jack. However, it has been advertised as a crime thriller, which, despite including certain aspects and scenes involving crime and action – is not what the film is all about. If anything, they have undervalued it somewhat, and taken away its selling point. It’s like an action movie without the action – but with suspense, charm and charisma. I feel that it needs more direction, but then again, I don’t believe that’s what Corbijn intended in this particular feature. You just have to be sure you go to see this film with an open mind and in a contemplative mood. It’s more like a piece of art, than anything else.

Despite the lack of any real storyline or direction, it features Clooney in one of his better performances, and one that we, the audience, are not too familiar with. It’s an altered performance for Clooney – replacing his infectious charm and wit, which we have grown to become so fond of, and instead he has become quite deep and intense in what is quite an affecting role. It’s beautifully shot, beautifully acted – and as a visual experience it’s fantastic. It’s certainly lacking action and direction however, yet in a way this makes the atmosphere much more poignant and gives the film the touch of elegance and sophistication that it obviously aspires to.