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The American

Play trailer Poster for The American R 2010 1h 45m Mystery & Thriller Drama Action Play Trailer Watchlist
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64% Tomatometer 222 Reviews 39% Popcornmeter 50,000+ Ratings
When an assignment in Sweden ends badly, master assassin Jack (George Clooney) retreats to the Italian countryside with the intention of remaining anonymous. In an uncharacteristic move, he becomes friends with a local priest and pursues a torrid romance with a beautiful woman (Violante Placido). But by stepping out of the shadows, Jack may be making a fatal mistake.
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The American

The American

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Critics Consensus

As beautifully shot as it is emotionally restrained, The American is an unusually divisive spy thriller -- and one that rests on an unusually subdued performance from George Clooney.

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Critics Reviews

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Deborah Ross The Spectator 08/30/2018
This is a western wrapped up in an Abruzzo tourism brochure, but that's OK. I now know it's my favourite kind of cowboy film. Go to Full Review
Michael Atkinson Sight & Sound 07/10/2018
The American is in fact a double-stunner - a retro-ish Euro-espionage thriller that's written, acted and directed as if it were still 1974. Go to Full Review
Nev Pierce Empire Magazine 11/29/2010
3/5
A muted thriller, weighed a little too obviously with existential angst. Still, sexy and tense, with a brave, bare performance from Clooney. Go to Full Review
Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review 08/09/2023
1.5/4
The entire picture relies on Clooney’s characterization, but the script by Rowan Joffe, based on the novel A Very Private Gentleman by Martin Booth, offers nothing but atmosphere without feeling. Go to Full Review
Graeme Tuckett The Post NZ 11/11/2022
If you're a fan of Jim Jarmusch and Nic Roeg, you might enjoy what Corbijn is trying to do here. Otherwise, don't bother. Go to Full Review
Rene Jordan El Nuevo Herald (Miami) 07/20/2022
Despite its title, The American, is a pretentious European cut. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Jonathan K Nov 17 It's a slow, methodical film, and I think if I had known up front that the premise and style were meant to mirror the paranoia and hypervigilance of an assassin trying to get out of the life, I might've appreciated it more. With that context it makes sense, but watching it cold, it mostly feels like you're waiting for something to finally happen. When things do kick in near the end, it's satisfying enough, and it pulls the rest of the movie into clearer focus. Overall it's fine. I probably won't remember much about it down the road, but it's a well-made film. See more Jason B Oct 23 This is an underrated and overlooked film…if you appreciate film and not action packed cgi movies. Understated, nuanced, beautifully filmed and great performances by the entire cast. I concur with one review that said it’s a bond film for the art house crowd. If you don’t like art and don’t care about film techniques then this film will bore you. See more Benjamin G @BxDxGx Sep 23 To go from watching “The Killer” to “The American” I suddenly realized that The American is a much more romantic film that soaks in both the scenery, pursuit of genuine connection/love, and stoicism that movies like The Killer lack. Although I can appreciate the grit and realism of modern films that capture “protagonists” in these types of professions, “The American” adds layers of sophistication that make you respect Clooney’s take versus what I keep seeing in all of these other hitman type of films. Even though Clooney is technically a bad man, you want him to make it to the river alive so he can move on with Clara. Whereas in movies like “The Killer”, I have little empathy whether he makes it back home in one piece or not. See more Steve C Sep 7 This was the biggest waste of 2 hours of my life that I can never get back . The scenery of Italy was beautiful but that’s where the positives end. Clooney produced or directed which means he can do neither. If it wasn’t for ER he’d been gone a long time ago. See more Jeremy S Sep 5 This tested my love of George as an actor. As watchable as he is, he couldn't make this interesting. See more Mikey B Jul 2 Being a George Clooney fan first of all, he does such a great understated job in his role. Those expecting an action packed flick will be disappointed, but those expecting a smart thriller will be pleased. See more Read all reviews
The American

My Rating

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Movie Info

Synopsis When an assignment in Sweden ends badly, master assassin Jack (George Clooney) retreats to the Italian countryside with the intention of remaining anonymous. In an uncharacteristic move, he becomes friends with a local priest and pursues a torrid romance with a beautiful woman (Violante Placido). But by stepping out of the shadows, Jack may be making a fatal mistake.
Director
Anton Corbijn
Producer
Anne Carey, Jill Green, Ann Wingate, Grant Heslov, George Clooney
Screenwriter
Rowan Joffe
Distributor
Focus Features
Production Co
This Is That Productions, Greenlit Productions, Smoke House
Rating
R (Sexual Content|Nudity|Violence)
Genre
Mystery & Thriller, Drama, Action
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 1, 2010, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 14, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA)
$35.6M
Runtime
1h 45m
Sound Mix
Dolby Digital, DTS
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