In a lot of ways, The American is as much a Western as a hitman film with it's quiet, smoldering anti-hero. Clooney is Jack, a hitman attempting to get away from the crazy, paranoia inducing life he by escaping to Sweden with the woman he loves. Jack seems content. Happy. And it's clear from the look on his face that it's been a long time since he felt that way. Just as that moment of joy arrives it's stolen away, as his past suddenly arrives to haunt him, forcing Jack to take swift and violent action that shatters his little corner of paradise.
"Never make friends". It's Jack's mantra that he seems to have forgotten. Jack whisks himself away to a quiet little town in Italy. One of those places with more churches than homes, plenty of winding alleyways just made for sneak attacks, and seemingly a parade or procession every day ofthe week. While trying to figure out how he's been found and who exactly is trying to kill him, Jack takes a seemingly easy job creating a custom rifle for Mathilda(Thekla Reuten), a gorgeous assassin on a major job. He becomes fast friends with the inquisitive Father Benedetto, who can see through Jack's emotional armor with ease. And hey, this is a Clooney flick, so of course he falls in love with the hottest woman in town, a local prostitute named Clara(Violante Placido).
Clara presents a unique opportunity. The chance to finally escape from the isolating life he's lead so far. A life full of mistrust and fear. As we all know from years of assassin and other jobs of a highly incriminating nature, it's never so simple. You can't just turn in your pink slip. Jack has to find out who's after him if he's ever going to retire in peace. That last job is always the toughest nut to crack.
The American is based on Martin Booth's 1990 novel A Very Private Gentleman
, a captivating tale perfectly adapted for the screen and embodied by Clooney, who is giving perhaps the most understated performance of his career. You don't normally associate "minimal" with assassin or spy flicks, but Jack's character isn't the type sport flashy weapons or live in the upper crust of society. He's not James Bond. Nor is he Jason Bourne. The weight of the burden being carried has dulled any sense of joy he might experience. The desire for a normal life is prevalent above all else. It's unusual to see Clooney in this type of role. Not flashy at all, in a way muzzling his natural charisma. He's an old school, legit movie star, and his screen presence shines through no matter what. It's a story we've seen before: hitman on one last job before walking off into the sunset. Corbijn, who first came to such high acclaim after directing 2007's Joy Division biopic, Control, proves that he's going to be more than just a one-hit wonder. In the same way he created a deeply personal look into Richard Curtis' tumultuous life in that film, he shows he has the same level of artistry in carving out Jack's little corner of the world. Despite a life that's full of gorgeous locations and beautiful women, it's a strangely somber experience.
Some are sure to balk at the pace, which as mentioned before can be a little slow at times. The script is threadbare, but that's actually to the story's benefit as each conversation has a distinct purpose. Not a single line of dialogue goes to waste, and each character has a reason for being a part of Jack's life. The ending can be considered a cliche, but there's a reason cliches continue to exist. They are effective, and I for one found myself hoping to see the conflicted warrior find some peace of mind. Whether or not that happens isn't for me to say but for you to find out for yourself.
