The American

"You're American. You think you can escape history. You live for the present."

George Clooney is "the" actor with expressive eyes. In very few words, he conveys a tremendous amount through his eyes. He is able to use this ability to portray a "bad" guy who is in reality much more complex, by using minimal dialogue. This man who has been an assassin wants to have a fresh start, but is learning you cannot escape your past.

The cinematography is gorgeous in this film. The Italian countryside makes for a wonderful backdrop, but I felt the breathtaking views were a stark contrast to the slow-paced action. The small village life plays a balance to the life The American leads.

The violence in the film is not the disturbing part for me. I got tired of seeing the nude prostitute with the heart of gold The American takes up with. Enough already! If it wasn't the "reason" behind his wanting to leave behind the profession, I would have liked this movie better. He makes a friend of the village priest, and the interactions between the two men were much more interesting to me. I would have preferred a change of heart based on that relationship.

The film is more arthouse than mainstream, but the marketing was aimed at the mainstream - George Clooney, assassin, guns, beautiful women. Unfortunately, this was probably the movie's biggest downfall.