The American

Early in its marketing, the producers of The American thought it clever to make the film appear more like a Bourne film in its trailer and posters. It has a huge star: George Clooney, and the plot somewhat resembles that of your standard thriller, so it got its crowds based on the idea that: this is the next Bourne, except with George Clooney. However, The American is a minimalist and subdued film by the exemplary Anton Corbijn. Even Clooney himself put up a lot of money for this movie to be made. However, upon its release, it was met with anger because it was not the high octane thriller it had appeared to be from trailers, posters, and pure expectation. It's been called boring, and I can certainly understand where that comes from, for the film is very very silent and barely has any dialogue. Instead it relies upon city shots and rising tension. It let's us think about how the character is acting and why. The story follows Clooney as Mr. Butterfly (who has a couple of other aliases) as he hides out in an Italian town to avoid people who want to kill him. Mr. Butterfly is a master at making weapons, especially custom weapons, and is himself a very refined killer. He does everything for a reason, or his reason, and the result is a sad, fascinatingly low-key study of a man. It is gorgeously shot, filled with nuance acting, and finally becomes an absolutist view upon the action movie. Most action films must constantly entertain and grow ridiculous, but The American is more concerned with showing how Mr. Butterfly got where he is and where he will inevitably go. It's one of the best films of 2010.
The American: ★★★★