“The American” is a quietly magnificent film reminiscent of classic European cinema from the sixties and seventies. George Clooney stars in a beautifully restrained performance that reminded me a great deal of Matt Damon’s efforts in another recent masterpiece, “The Good Shepherd”. Clooney plays a weapons specialist who is assigned to a remote Italian village in order to construct a custom built rifle. He is reclusive. He is distant. He is a walking mystery — practically on autopilot as he assembles the killing machine. However, something about this Italian village, and the people in it, affect him. His stoicism gives way. There are some beautiful and understated performances in the film from Violante Placido and Thekla Reuten. The cinematography is gorgeous and the writing is precise. Director, Anton Corbijn, has crafted a truly haunting masterpiece that demands to be considered as we approach Oscar season. The film will assuredly contend for a lofty place in my year-end Top 10 List.
It was a little slow. But I still liked it.
I prefer the term “patient” to “slow”.
I agree. This is a great movie.