The American

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The American

R

Released Sep 1, 2010

1h 45m

Mystery & Thriller

Drama

Action

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Popcornmeter

64%

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223 Reviews

39%

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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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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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Deborah Ross

The Spectator

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.

Aug 30, 2018

Full Review

Michael Atkinson

Sight & Sound

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.

Jul 10, 2018

Full Review

Caryn James

Newsday

The American doesn't set out to be anything other than a twisty, deliberate film that relies on suspense and paranoia more than car chases and gunplay. The problem is that even on its own artsy terms, the film falls apart long before the end.

Feb 7, 2018

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

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.

Rated: 1.5/4

Aug 9, 2023

Full Review

Graeme Tuckett

The Post NZ

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.

Nov 11, 2022

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Rene Jordan

El Nuevo Herald (Miami)

Despite its title, The American, is a pretentious European cut. [Full review in Spanish]

Jul 20, 2022

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Shane O

It did have a nice pace and feel to it , acting was good , but the story was lacking and I guessed the ending before it happened.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/18/25

Full Review

Helen W

You could fast forward and miss bits and it wouldn’t matter and, really, that would be the best option…or better still- don’t bother as it just means you’ll have more of your life to do something with .

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

02/22/25

Full Review

Shaz B

Just sex and nudity for the sake of it. Adds nothing to the story at all. Boring plot and seriously self indulgent. Could have been so much better.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

02/21/25

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Cj P

I honestly thought this movie was fantastic. I was not expecting it to be this good. George Clooney is great

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

12/29/24

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j F

If you like John le Care this is ok. But it does not capture much emotion but is a restrained spy novel.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

12/28/24

Full Review

A. M

Beautifully made Polish film , script/dialogue in original english, it's an artistic masterpiece. The cinematography, editing, sound, costumes, makeup/hair...a fantastic crew of film professionals made this piece. Great acting, incredible ballet. It was a bit thin on plot because we all kinda know where it's going. But I was hooked, and impressed.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

12/13/24

Full Review

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Anton Corbijn

Director

George Clooney

Jack

Violante Placido

Clara

Thekla Reuten

Mathilde

Paolo Bonacelli

Father Benedetto

Johan Leysen

Pavel

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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, Smoke House, Greenlit Productions
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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