The American

The American certainly is a film that transports you to another location, the Italian countryside that is. With the scenic aerial views of the landscape and intricate filming of the backstreets of an Italian village I was carried out of the cinema into the tense and muted world of an assassin undertaking his final assignment. With a beautiful snow filled and shocking opening scene I was drawn in from the start.

A captivating performance from George Clooney, with only snippets of dialogue throughout, the acting is of paramount importance as he leads you through a very lonely narrative. I am glad to say Clooney delivers. He plays a cool character with a vulnerable edge that makes him endearing and I was rooting for him to get the girl and save the day. With his brooding stare and intense gazing he leads the audience through a symphony of emotions.

This is Anton Corbijn’s second foray into feature film, the first being Control, and they are two totally different films; although the crafting of the music is tantamount in both. He builds the tension so well I was literally questioning every single person’s intentions. Considering the fact we are basically given no knowledge of Jack’s (Clooney) background, this film relies on the strength of the acting and we are given a well-crafted character piece with a European art-house ambiance.

This understated flick reminded me of the drawn out, seventies thrillers that have long since gone. A film that certainly has its place in modern cinema,  although perhaps not as fast paced an action film as you may be expecting from some of the trailers. Corbijn does deliver violence and pace, but in short bursts that pierce the otherwise uneasy silence of the bulk of the film. A handsome, suspenseful drama that had me biting my nails with suspicion.

The American is in cinemas from the 26th November.