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The American

The American

2010
Drama, Suspense/Thriller
1h 45m
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Avg Percentile 46.42% from 1891 total ratings

Ratings & Reviews

(1891)
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Rated 31 Oct 2010
5
43rd
A poor man's "Le Samurai". Even though I adore Corbijn, a true genius of the visual, "The American's" boatload of clichées (the moralistic priest, reformed whore etc) and consistently forgettable dialogue finally wins out over beautiful music and cinematography. Plus for gun assembly scene(s), sex scene, action and a line-up of scrumptious Monica Belucci-knock-offs. A beautiful, empty canister that's not even close to holding a candle to "Le Samurai's" cool. Let's call it an interesting failure.
Rated 17 Oct 2010
88
89th
The American is a superb slow-moving suspense film. Instead of being jam-packed with action the majority of the film remains smart and cerebral. When the action picks up it is intense but conservative to maintain realism. Clearly it takes a page from the classic Le Samourai. Clooney is superb in this and Violante Placido, an unknown to me, does an amazing job acting against such a high calibre actor. With that said the extended montage moments could be lessened but aside from that, it's great.
Rated 25 Dec 2010
70
65th
A European take on American genre conventions. Deliberately paced, yet never dull. Mean-spirited critics might call it slow and cliché-ridden (they would be right) but the fact that the film in general - and Clooney's performance as well - is so subdued worked for me and Corbin's direction is certainly never short of very, very stylish.
Rated 22 Sep 2010
70
86th
The European art-film version of the rogue assassin story. It does tend to meander through the scenes, but I was very satisfied by both the beautiful photography and the beautiful ending.
Rated 26 Sep 2010
82
97th
Great US euro-thriller in the best tradition of 70's & 80's european criminal films. It's atmosphere reminded me of the suspense in No Country for Old Men. Skilfully crafted & engaging. George Clooney did a good job.
Rated 31 Dec 2014
71
54th
The entire movie is spent trying to determine whether George Clooney is playing a dick or not. Movie did it's thing, and it did it very well. Solid.
Rated 14 Sep 2010
48
21st
Reformed whore, questionable priest and a minimal assassin forced to display personality despite apparent paranoia. Tired, tried dialogue. Opened in an unpredictable fashion then The American lost it's way. When the film reached it's conclusion, I did not care if it went either way for Mr Butterfly.
Rated 03 Jan 2011
90
85th
Wowed me much more than I thought it would. Clooney's subdued performance is mesmerizing and melds into the rest of the downplayed film. Strong music coupled with amazing single shots and long shots make what could have been a boring film an amazing one when brought together with the performances and overall tone of the film. One of the finest I've seen so far this year.
Rated 08 Sep 2010
90
91st
Thought this was a pretty great movie. It wasn't what I expected. I loved watching how an assassin lives day to day. What really got to me was the paranoia. I've never been an assassin (heh, heh) or anything, but I imagine this movie shows just how one would feel. Clooney is fantastic, his facial expressions tell so much. I also loved how there's very little backstory, it throws you in the here and now and lets you examine the situation without saying much.
Rated 06 Sep 2010
55
44th
Oh, poor lonely assassin! On the plus side it's nice to have some quiet.
Rated 04 Nov 2010
30
18th
Don't expect any high speed car chases and a lot of action. It is a so called mood-movie. You either click with it or not. It's subtle with nice cinematography. Maybe a good watch for a rainy sunday afternoon.
Rated 03 Oct 2010
91
77th
Really feels like a throwback to 70s cinema in a lot of ways, but with a modern touch. One hell of an aesthetic ride. Eagerly anticipating a second screening.
Rated 01 Jan 2011
85
89th
A criminally overlooked film. Not exactly groundbreaking but it's a very polished work with subtle dialogue and a refreshingly assured pacing. Didn't mind at all that it was slow-moving coz it suited its meditative atmosphere perfectly. Clooney's ability to convey so much with so little words is impressive and the ending, though predictable, is unexpectedly affecting.
Rated 20 Dec 2010
3
92nd
A bitter sweet modern day fairytale. One could say it feels like a stretched trailer, but also an effectively paced drama with elements from the spy genre. Clooney delivers, so does the beautiful Placido. The film could have been more interesting if Corbijn would have focused more on the plot and character development.The ending doesn't feel really necessary, as if Clooney (assassin) needed to be punished for 'losing his alertness'. Good movie, but could have been better.
Rated 14 Apr 2011
82
81st
a stand up quiet assassin movie, most of it has no killing actually, but the plot, acting, and writing are all gems. i was impressed with clooney, and the beautiful italian scenery makes the meandering plot oddly captivating.
Rated 27 Jan 2011
50
27th
Hard not to be left cold by this one. Not much of interest in the plot, one-dimensional, derivative, shitty script. It is stylish as hell, though. Nice to look at.
Rated 16 Dec 2010
85
83rd
Corbijn dedicates this to butterflies those are dying out.
Rated 14 Sep 2010
80
90th
I fell in love with it. Despite some minor problems with the script, this is a superbly shot, very mature, hypnotic and intelligent film with Clooney at the top of his game.
Rated 29 Dec 2010
82
54th
The American is a well shot film that is definitely emulating films like Le Samourai. Scenes move slow, letting the film breath and build suspense. The dialogue is subtle, which fits the pace and characters well. It's just missing something that would take it from good to great.
Rated 27 Oct 2010
50
30th
Pretty, but not beautiful. Good acting, but not allowed the brilliance that the potential should demand. Exciting, but not nail-biting. Thought-through, but not genious. Undertold, but never really told. It's not nearly as succesful as Control, although of course they're very different.
Rated 04 Sep 2010
60
28th
I'd call it deliberate rather than slow. Good suspense and I was never bored, even when he was just sitting there thinking, or something. But there were 2 gaping plot holes I kept expecting them to tie ups, but instead I was walking out of the theater saying huh. Either that or I missed some stuff big time. It's a shame too because the irony of his situation at the end was well played and effective.
Rated 08 Oct 2010
50
5th
Tried too hard to be artsy, lacked excitement, creativity, or any provocativeness whatsoever.
Rated 29 Oct 2010
20
9th
Do you like one-dimensional characters in a plot-less movie? Do you like watching George Clooney ride around in cars and walk around for 90 minutes, with remarkably little dialogue or anything to hold your attention? If yes to both, this movie is for you!
Rated 05 Oct 2011
30
12th
Humdrum, plodding "thriller" that is far more predictable and conventional than it seems to believe: the movie in fact does nothing whatsoever that is not completely predetermined by generic rules. Pretty scenery, but the extreme devotion to laying an artificial "orange-and-teal" palette over nearly every shot detracts greatly from even the visual pleasures of the Abruzzo region. The scenes with the priest were awfully heavy-handed. Presumably the star wished to spend some time in Italy.
Rated 15 Oct 2010
49
6th
Intentionally slow, methodical, somber movie is unsurprisingly plodding, boring and idiotic. Full of over-the-top-low-on-ammo symbolism, a twist that doesn't need a fancy scope to be seen from afar... really, what does this have? If I wanted to see a whole lot of pretty shots of the same damn village I'd buy a Lonely Planet, then I wouldn't be bothered by the bullshit cinematography. Nice poster I guess
Rated 22 Sep 2010
76
50th
An assassin's somewhat mundane life with somewhat suspense makes for a somewhat mundane movie with somewhat suspense.
Rated 25 Jan 2011
60
47th
Average assassin movie but hello Violante Placido you are hot.
Rated 01 Feb 2017
60
47th
Slow moving, but it has some nice scenes and a good protagonist.
Rated 16 Mar 2011
71
44th
Nothing great about this movie and George Clooney was pretty good over all I thought the movie was ok.
Rated 08 Mar 2011
57
24th
Things we already knew: 1) In Italy, you can find beautiful landscapes and women, and 2) George Clooney, when stripped of neuroses and glib prancing, can be pretty dull; here he shoots for paranoia but comes up dry, so Hulme edits it in for him. The remaining material is unfortunately heavy-handed, desperately clutching at a symbolism and melodrama that ultimately detract from the dirty minimalism of the action. A script should be allowed a choice of hooker, assassin or priest, not all three.
Rated 30 Mar 2011
81
58th
it's easy not to like the american. it's paced like a slug, it takes its visual strength from the natural landscapes of mamma italia and promises action without guns blazing all over the place. however, the fact that it actually creates a tense and thrilling atmosphere with only just these makes it all the more interesting. the movie's bedrock is clooney's genius acting. as he moves and mimics, the feeling of the plot shifts as well. overall, the american is good but only for the mature-minded.
Rated 04 Nov 2010
84
86th
this one deserves a VIP treatment
Rated 09 Nov 2010
58
54th
Minimalist and forgettable but at the same time strangely pleasing.
Rated 29 Oct 2010
60
54th
Brilliant out-of-focus-action-scenes, and there you have it - true extensialism captured on film. But Clooney disappoints - it feels as if, he could have brought much more to intensity to the character. Still, every shot is like a mild orgasm.
Rated 28 May 2011
75
46th
I just wanted it to end......and it did, with a very predictable ending.
Rated 31 Oct 2010
50
34th
The morale: The world's hottest prostitutes resides in Italian villages. Oh yes, and they're worth getting killed - not to mention watching otherwise mediocre movies - for
Rated 05 Jan 2013
2
17th
corbijn inducts his iconic american star into the grand european tradition of romantic fatalism and yearning, hoping to tease out contrasts with the states' cold, stoic pragmatism in the process, but any fresh take on the muted melville noir is lost amongst a mixture of clumsy existential symbolism (butterflies, priest/prostitute dualism, clooney underacting to the point of artifice, oh hey look there's once upon a time in the west), freshman philosophising and increasingly sappy melodrama.
Rated 02 Nov 2010
75
65th
More of this please. The pacing. Oh god, the pacing.
Rated 04 Jun 2015
80
68th
Really good stuff, amazingly tense throughout; Jack's paranoia practically bleeds through the screen into your gut, making the viewer search the gorgeous wide-angle frames in a panic for anything suspicious. On the other hand, a prostitute falls in love with George Clooney because he fucked her real good, which, ugh, really?
Rated 04 Sep 2010
7
84th
An elegant thriller anchored by strong performances and beautiful cinematography. I was a bit concerned going in from all the critics saying it was slow, but it grabbed me from the first minute and kept my attention the whole time. I don't know what to say to people who feel bored during this fine film. Consider Ritalin?
Rated 20 Dec 2015
60
38th
Its certainly very pretty but i was expecting more complexity and originality. Lacking those it became boring.
Rated 19 Sep 2012
30
18th
Very disappointing because there are so many gaps in the story. I was constantly wondering "What is going on?", and "Why is he doing that?". I usually like Clooney, but he seemed mostly subdued and vacant in this role. I also dislike the title. A few seductive women, but only on the screen breifly.
Rated 03 Jan 2011
65
5th
65
Rated 23 Apr 2011
25
23rd
Clooney isn't hitman stuff. The girl he is trading with is not hitman material as well. And the plot.. well I don't know what the plot is. The points are only for the beautiful shots from the village life of Italy, exceptional landscape and out of the ordinary selection of hotel rooms and restaurants which manages to add movie a bit of identity.
Rated 01 Nov 2011
80
61st
There comes a point where simply being well made doesn't fully overcome the fact that I've seen it all before. That's the case here, as the film takes a bunch of common lone assassin tropes and mixes them around with some nice style and entertaining moments. But it doesn't really come up with something that feels fresh, so enjoyable as it was it probably won't stick with me long.
Rated 22 Sep 2010
60
24th
I don't know how they thought they had enough to make a film out of. Plenty is implied, but none of that seems too compelling. They should have cut a solid 30 minutes from the film (and could have done so easily) or replaced the material with something to give the plot at least two dimensions.
Rated 09 Jan 2012
51
28th
This was a very slow movie, almost like a one hour tv show stretched into two hours. Clooney is good, but the plot needs a lot of work. I'm not upset I watched it, but sad I wasted my time.
Rated 18 Nov 2013
52
56th
Quiet cat-and-mouse thriller that has few surprises, but quite a bit of atmosphere.
Rated 13 Jul 2012
50
35th
ger; [the american]; ein killer soll in einem italienischen dorf seinen letzten auftrag erledigen.;
Rated 16 Oct 2011
66
51st
About as plodding and slow paced a "thriller" you will ever see, it's more a character study and slow boiling train wreck.
Rated 31 Jan 2015
68
45th
George Clooney is sad about a lady, so he meets some similar looking ladies but it just makes him even sadder. And pretty much nothing happens.
Rated 08 Sep 2010
60
25th
Have to give it props for going old-school spy genre. Very cerebral, very deliberate. But in general, I found it to be TOO slow in its delivery (which is usually not a bad thing, but here, I unfortunately found myself to be bored). I didn't find Jack to be worthy of getting invested in. That was one of the bigger disconnects; it's a character-centric movie that couldn't get me to give a damn about the character. Felt like a Bond film without the intrigue of James Bond. Beautifully shot, though.
Rated 21 Jan 2011
72
43rd
There's a Michael Mann-like sexiness to the direction, a fittingly slow pace, some gorgeous cinematography, and a fine, minimalistic score. Unfortunately, the story is both shallow and cliché, and ultimately the whole thing just lacks impact. What we've got left is thus merely an aesthetic experience. And as obviously stated in this film, aestheticism leads to nothing. Anyway, though somewhat disappointing in the end, it still had a great ambience and a couple of good scenes.
Rated 25 Sep 2011
68
58th
This is a character driven action/thriller--which means two important things: 1) if you're looking for a lot of thrills and action, you'll likely be a little disappointed; 2) everything is riding on Clooney's performance. Personally, I thought it was just OK; hence my rating. The visuals were quite nice. I understand that the director has a photography background and it shows.
Rated 09 Aug 2013
70
52nd
It's OK. It was misadvertised to me so I'm having trouble separating the film I was offered verses the film I watched. That poster for example, not sure why that is how it is.
Rated 16 Aug 2011
65
65th
Some elements of the American are absolutely brilliant, but director Anton Corbijn seems so intent on understating everything that he fails to deliver a great deal.
Rated 15 Nov 2011
5
0th
every once in a while there is tiny bit of hope the movie might make some sort of artistic sense, which the movie then kills off immediately.
Rated 21 Jun 2012
79
45th
awesome intro.
Rated 25 Aug 2012
65
59th
After reading the synopsis and Roger Ebert's glowing review, I was expecting some sort of brilliant homage to Le Samourai. At first it seemed to be headed that direction, but midway the film started to take a turn toward the conventional. George Clooney isn't Alain Delon, in other words. They're both play intensely private hitmen, but Jef is self-assured and principled while Jack seems to be more and more confused. Jef created his circumstances, and Jack is victim to them. Worth watching, but...
Rated 27 Nov 2010
89
62nd
Pretty decent film. Doesn't fall into too many clichés, but don't expect anything like the trailer. The amount of bang-bang is minimal, and I, for one, I'm glad about it. Slow burner, but enjoyable nevertheless.
Rated 27 Jan 2011
80
73rd
Amazing throw-back to the 60s and 70s in terms of patient thrillers. Key word, patient. Seriously though, this is really prime film making with a deliberate pace that fits Clooney's character perfectly.
Rated 02 Apr 2011
82
85th
A movie which could be based on the expression "it's not paranoia if they're really out to get you!" There is not a lot of action but plenty of time is well-spent slowly building up the suspense and an atmosphere of paranoia, showing that the life of an assassin is actually rather sad. Which was a nice concept. I actually preferred the slow studied setup phase to the frantic, if slightly anticlimactic denouement. Apart from that, hot women and stunning scenery; what's not to like?
Rated 27 Apr 2012
95
79th
A strong performance by George Clooney and great photography and direction from Anton Corbijn. A spy movie that has it all - action and emotion.
Rated 24 Jul 2011
41
34th
dull & plodding direction destroyed what could have been an exceptional movie
Rated 31 Jan 2014
73
73rd
A little overly ponderous at times, but I can't say I had any issues at all with the pacing. This is a well performed, stylishly shot slow burner that will reward those willing the submit to its charms.
Rated 09 Nov 2010
60
52nd
This one proves that even though you have a great talent for a visual style as Corbijn clearly has you have to have a good story and some great acting as well. This one misses out on both, but is great cinematography-wise... Nuf said...
Rated 14 Dec 2010
65
43rd
It lacked a soul in my eyes. I just couldn't feel for Clooney's character. It was beauty without style or meaning. Well made, but ended up only being average.
Rated 12 Jan 2013
75
40th
Meh and depressing and slow.
Rated 19 Feb 2012
70
69th
slight pacing issue, the ending seems rather rushed compared to the buildup of the story. but it was a refreshingly subtle take on the whole "assassin-develops-conscience"-theme, and clooney seems to have a good eye for outside-the-box lately.
Rated 15 Dec 2010
65
64th
Beautiful music, gorgeous images... But rather slow and predictable :/
Rated 05 Aug 2011
84
38th
pithy review: a good looking but rather bland "american"......... positives: beautiful people and vistas, like the portrayal of father benedetti by paolo bonacelli. negatives: too slow going and uneventful........ overall impression: certainly no "ugly" american, but ultimately unsatisfying despite the visual treats.
Rated 04 Feb 2011
50
56th
The plot progresses at a slow drip and the lead is almost too laid back, with a personality divorced from meaningful expression. It is unfortunate that so much of the story is invested in a somewhat banal romantic subplot that doesn't seem altogether plausible. But the smooth pacing and the fact that the film is made almost entirely of quiet, subdued moments in a genre dominated by yelling and explosions makes the effort put forth in the American commendable, while at the same time forgettable.
Rated 04 Jun 2011
20
16th
"If it's half-baked Italian modernism you're after, you've come to the right place."
Rated 11 Nov 2012
70
74th
Good job to cinematography...
Rated 17 Oct 2010
85
70th
Quite enthralling and suspenseful, however, in this case, too much was saved for the final act, and even then, the story is not finished. Can't say whether or not that's a good thing.
Rated 03 May 2012
76
69th
This is all about atmosphere, not action, and in that sense is a throwback to the '70s. The simplicity of the story has a kind of purity, the sparse sound contributes to the tension, despite the slow pace.
Rated 26 Aug 2013
70
39th
Over stylized semi entertaining thriller with a typecast Clooney as spy. Seriously the entire movie is tense scene building , unfortunately with a rather bad climax. Still not a bad flick.
Rated 29 Sep 2010
65
59th
*One of Clooneys best performances. It was obvious that the director is a photographer, really great cinematography. The use of music was also very good. There were a few minor pacing issues but other then that, a well handled movie.
Rated 24 Jan 2011
60
42nd
- pretty good :: the logic of the movie seemed to run in the opposite direction of my own personal logic.
Rated 21 Jun 2011
35
19th
Slick but slight, this is a suitable Clooney vehicle. It also fits with a crowd of other thrillers dressed-up as low-key dramas to appear in recent years; The Town and In Bruges come to mind. The American is set in a small European town, with a lot of scenery shots and a pointlessly slow pace, as if aiming to be something ponderous and arty. Like the others, it's really just a bag of clichés: Quiet lone gunman, prostitute falls in love with him for no reason, procession in the ending, etc.
Rated 24 Jul 2011
72
62nd
While it might be a little on the slow side, it's also wholly rewarding to watch a spy movie that actually takes the time to spy instead of rushing through action sequences. I'm not sure a quicker pace would do justice to these characters, as the actors (Clooney especially) make fine use of their screentime, mining the extra minutes to bring a contemplative weight to otherwise underwritten roles. Stark photography, captivating gun assembly sequences and a nice set of tits make this one worth it.
Rated 18 Jun 2012
85
67th
A languid, European approach to a classically American story
Rated 13 Nov 2017
76
43rd
BACK-FILLING WHOLE LOT OF FILMS NOT SEEN FOR A LONG, LONG TIME -> Recall/Scores may be 20-30% off. Not at all offended, grateful actually, if anyone wants 2 drop me a cordial msg if think memory dulled a gem or gave a rosy tint to clunker. IE. Tell me WHY Im wrong & what U think I should score. Love film chat/debate| Clooney fine serious performance, gun-smithery scenes & exterior shots beautiful. Plot hasn't left huge impression though. Only 1 shockingly clinical decision stays in my memory.
Rated 05 Oct 2010
74
61st
Very slow paced. Almost too slow. Very nice shots from the Abruzzi.
Rated 20 Apr 2011
75
59th
George Clooney's a modern-day Steve McQueen which means a movie can go a long way with just him at the forefront. This isn't to say that this film isn't good, but without Clooney it would more than likely be a lot less interesting. It's fittingly slow-paced, emphasizing quiet character moments over its sporadic thrills. The cold open is the kind I love for a thriller: jolting and mysterious without feeling like a jigsaw puzzle.
Rated 17 Jan 2012
69
51st
On a technical level, there's nothing wrong with The American. Too bad it's just another one of those 'assassin prepares for one more job and then plans to retire' stories, in this case with a very slow pace and barely any standout moments. Le Samouraï this ain't.
Rated 07 Oct 2012
80
57th
This movie has a pretty slow pace but it does keep you guessing through most of it. Clooney did a good job as the solitary gun-for-hire. I liked how the movie was really quiet with hardly any music and it kept the dialogue to a minimum. It didn't have the ending that I was hoping for but it wasn't a bad ending either. The girl who played Clara was really beautiful in this though and I also liked the actress Clooney kept meeting with about the gun that he was building for her.
Rated 29 Dec 2010
72
85th
Does for hitmen what THE GIRLFRIEND EXPERIENCE did for hookers.
Rated 05 Jun 2011
60
44th
"The American" doesn't have many new things to offer, especially as far as storytelling is concerned, but remains an enjoyable ride throughout.
Rated 03 Jan 2011
60
19th
Not as bad as I expected.
Rated 15 Dec 2011
74
42nd
This movie takes a little while to get going but if you stick with it you will be rewarded. George Clooney gives an interesting performance in the title role. The plot keeps you interested and there is some great scenery.
Rated 11 May 2013
80
89th
The American is a very subdued thriller. It's more of a character study than anything else, but it's fascinating and very intense on top of that. It makes and requires you to think, as it doesn't reveal any more than is necessary at the time, and sometimes even less than that. It brings you to a beautiful location, and engages you with swift direction -- despite the slow pacing -- and it contains a stoic, strong, and surprisingly silent performance by handsome man George Clooney.
Rated 30 Apr 2011
85
82nd
A 'different' and interesting Clooney movie. I had to re-watch it several times. The surprise ending is atypical Clooney, but believable in the context of the movie. He clarifies and downplays the intensity from Michael Clayton in more believable, subtle and engaging manner.
Rated 03 Dec 2013
1
20th
Clooney kept taking his shirt off while looking miserable and lonely and doing some assassin/McGuyver stuff. I'd had enough after an hour.
Rated 20 Feb 2011
79
55th
A similar mood to "Michael Clayton", but much more intimate.
Rated 10 Mar 2011
70
44th
A meditative character study wrapped up in a thriller.The subdued, slightly paranoid way that George Clooney played this character worked well with this film.The subtle music and the way the film was shot added a lot to the feel of the movie.The only downer for me was that this film was a little too slow paced and dragged at times.
Rated 18 May 2012
45
0th
George Clooney'den nefret ettiren film olarak kayda geçirelim.
Rated 29 Oct 2010
65
76th
I was having doubts if Clooney was the right casting for it, after all it gives an excuse for all the Bond chicks running around. To my surprise Clooney drops his usual self assured prick and gives subtlety to fear ridden, paranoid assassin. The ending is misunderstood by most, it wasn't the natural course of events, but was self-induced by impotency of assassin. Could have ended 20 seconds earlier without the out of place melodramatic effect.
Rated 03 Jul 2012
50
33rd
Iredeemable main character kills for a living and runs away with a prossie...And George is tooo thin. Affectedly slow and very average.
Rated 11 Nov 2011
74
46th
Deliberately paced thriller gets most of its mileage from a shattering performance by Clooney, arguably his finest performance on screen to date. The intensity of his performance (and fine cinematography making the most of beautiful Italian locations) carries the film through its lulls, and a general tendency to meander; if it had been a little tighter and leaner, we might have really had something.

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