> The American
3 stars (out of 5)
Director: Anton Corbijn
Cast: George Clooney, Irina Björklund, Johan Leysen, Paolo Bonacelli, Thekla Reuten, Violante Placido.
Rating: (R16)
With The American, famous band photographer and director of super-stylish music videos Anton Corbijn proves that it's a big step up to feature-length drama. As one might expect after his brilliant visual touch in Control, Corbijn leaves nothing in the can in terms of exquisitely composed shots.
But where he had an insider's understanding of Joy Division, this tale of a gruff assassin on the run was probably not ideal for his second feature.
George Clooney is Jack, a professional assassin holed up in a small Italian village after a botched attempt on his life. Skulking about the cobbled alleyways, Jack slowly goes about assembling a sniper's rifle from mail-order parts.
Ritually exercising his sinewy frame, Jack takes his orders from Pavel (Johan Leysen) who frequently reminds him he is losing his touch. Apart from brazenly walking about the small town in daylight, Jack's primary weakness is his wandering eye.
Fortunately for him and for us, relief from his monastic existence is delivered via the phenomenally attractive prostitute Clara (Violante Placido).
Clooney's performance departs significantly from his normal roles. It's as if the film budget was slashed in half, and with it Clooney's lines. It's actually novel to see Clooney, almost exclusively using stern facial expressions and curt mutterings, floundering without a clever script.
Unfortunately, a promising start slowly dissolves into a collection of barely connected sequences where Clooney just looks disaffected and bored.
Best thing: The cinematography, as pure eye-candy The American is top rate.
Worst thing: Frustrating plot holes. There are simply too many loose ends and red herrings to sustain any level of intrigue.
See it with: A good strong coffee.
- Mark Orton.
