THE AMERICAN (2010)

 
The American (2010)
My rating 5/5

I think the best way to start to review ‘The American’ is to say SILENT. The whole movie is filled with unbearable silence which provokes intense solitude luring around the main character Edward or maybe Jack. Jack (Or Edward!) is a professional assassin cum weapons maker (I assumed he is an assassin but actually it’s not really evident in the movie). He is solidly precise in his line of work and takes jobs from a contact named Pavel. His profession brings him a vast loneliness which it seems like taking its toll. Jack wants to have contact with woman and starting to feel like he has arrived at the edge of his career. And his previous job ends not very smooth and taking his girlfriend with it, he decides to leave for good. After falling in love with a prostitute in a far small town in Italy and finishing up his final job, Jack finally believe that he can lead a normal life. But the circumstances proves otherwise.

 
What I truly like about ‘The American’ is its story telling. Like I mentioned at the beginning its very silent. Slow too but not severely slow. The story don’t stall in boring conversations or unwanted scenes. There is no background score at all. Which is a very hard stunt to pull off in a movie but ‘The American’ does it really well. In fact that’s what makes the movie so silent and even the little sounds of flowing water or feather cluttering of a bird make so much sense.

And If I don’t praise the cinematography of ‘The American’ I will be cheating downright. Every scene of the movie is pure art. Just wonderful capture of landscapes, cityscapes and architecture. And even the human elements are so wonderfully used in every scene. And I wish I can spend my life among those wonderful landscapes of Italy in that lonely small town right about now. It is that perfect. Those scenes truly make you forget that you are watching a movie about a cold assassin and things are about to get messy.

Acting vice George Clooney is the only mention worthy actor. The story as such that all other actors are supporting and has minor rolls to play. Clooney no doubt does his role very well. Being a movie with small dialogues, impressions are the key factor. And by looking at his facial impressions the whole of his soul pours out in front of you.

 
Don’t watch it thinking it’s gonna be a Jason Bourne ride. If so You might get bored in 10 mts. But there is something more deep in ‘The American’ which you will feel once you realize what it’s truly about.