The American

George Clooney just loves the Italian countryside, and no other film better illustrates the reason for that (or in a more beautiful way)... Anton Corbijn is a director with renowned artistic skills. At first glance, The American is quiet and sad portrait of a hit man who, at first glance, is also quiet and sad. It’s not the first time we have seen such a story, but it’s the first time it has been filmed in such an intimate fashion, without the need for action, but with a constant sense of restlessness and uncertainty. It is a great fit for a lonely moment spent over a glass of whiskey. Let us appreciate new views on old things. Originality is (and increasingly will be) rare in films. (20/01/2011)

A few reviews say something like “like one of Melville’s movies"; which is more than accurate, but they fail to specify whether this is “like one of Melville’s worse movies" or “like one of Melville’s better movies". In my opinion, I simply add that The American is “like one of Melville’s best movies ever". In fact, it’s so good that it can stand up for itself and no such undignified comparisons are necessary. (20/11/2011)

A film with an average screenplay, but with excellent direction that relies primarily on the drive and style of crime movies from the seventies. This is reflected in the location where the story takes place, the simple visual stylization, the straightforward plot, and the laconic main character, as well as the austere and rather raw action scenes without unnecessary hi-tech additions and other frills. Clooney surprises in a role where he hardly smiles and doesn't have his typical manly outbursts. The ending is somewhat “artistic”, but that is probably the least important thing. It has style, and I appreciate that. (24/12/2010)

The most stylish film of the year so far. Slow and simple? Yeah, but at the same time very well made, atmospheric and riveting. After some time, I’m raising the rating from four to five stars, the experience grew in me. Very nice alternative. Edit: I bring it back down to four, those five stars were too much :) (14/12/2010)

A really big surprise. While the text on the DVD cover called for some kind of action spectacle, the trailer suggested a much more intimate and atmospheric story, and I was hoping that's what The American would be like. It was. George Clooney is great. Actually, not only that, he's more brilliant than ever. He inhabits the skin of a hitman perfectly, playing the quiet, slightly paranoid man in such a way that you believe he really can make a silencer out of a few bits of junk from the garage and that he is a sharpshooter par excellence. That’s the first huge plus. The second reason I liked The American so much is the style in which it is shot: very old-fashioned, and I like that. Plus all the beautiful shots of the Italian landscape and the narrow streets of the sleepy town, the believable romantic admixture, the dialogues with the priest... Everything was perfect. A one hundred percent "drama/thriller" film that you will also relax whilst watching. You just can't expect an action flick from it. (30/07/2011)