George Clooney as an assassin? No way. In looking for someone to play an American, the choice is a no brainer. I’m writing about squeaky clean, George Clooney, the quintessential American who steals our hearts when he portrays a character on screen. George Clooney who produces telethons and raises millions of dollars to compensate for the injustices of poverty, death, turmoil and despair. George Clooney who lives the life every red blooded American dreams of living. He’s our flag bearer–our leader. Us guys live vicariously through the exploits of ‘Mr. Wonderful.’ Needless to say, the women can’t get enough of his persona.
So, when I saw him shoot his first innocent victim in a snow-laden meadow in Switzerland, I winced and was hard put to believe that it was, you know who, whose finger gently squeezed the trigger. And then, without a trace of emotion, he walks away and soon accepts a job that takes him to a picturesque village hidden in the hills of Italy. It’s a small medieval town whose priest, Father Benedetto (Paulo Bonacelli), befriends him while being suspect of Clooney’s sudden appearance. While there, our assassin (I still don’t believe it) accepts an assignment to construct a weapon for a mysterious, and beautiful contact, Mathilde (Thekia Reuten).
Adapted from Martin Booth’s novel, Rowan Joffe’s screenplay harbors many secrets and enigmatic schemes that are not revealed. Slow paced and meticulous, Anton Corbijn’s direction is riveting and acting, especially the Italian siren, Violante Placido as Clara, is uniformly first rate. There are incidents and other sordid affairs that tug at the heartstrings. It is rated ‘R’ for violence and nudity. In the end, it’s Clooney’s film. He is somber, macho, gritty, fearless. He is, and I can’t believe I’m writing this, the quintessential killer. The bottom line is, if you can accept Clooney as an assassin, you will be treated to an action filled delight along with Martin Ruhe’s incredible photography. The American is a very entertaining movie!
3 and a Half Bagels out of 4
