The American: Creative, compelling character study

Written by Mark Schumann, Father of Three
Thursday, 23 September 2010 13:04

Each week, the Reel Dad checks the nutritional value of a movie — new or classic — to help parents choose what to watch with their children. This week’s pick is a new film, The American.

The face speaks volumes without saying any words.

An emotionally damaged assassin — after barely escaping a sniper’s bullet — hides in a small village in rural Italy. He has been at the game too long, bears too many scars from too many conflicts, and experiences an intense loneliness that leads him to take unnecessary risks.

The killer is haunted by the acts of his past, the relationships that ended, the dreams never fulfilled. He dares being discovered — in a type of death wish — simply to experience human contact. He realizes, sadly, that few hired assassins experience happy endings; ultimately the chased are discovered.

With The American, director Anton Corbijn effortlessly rethinks the traditional who-is-that-chasing-me thriller by focusing on the chased, not simply the chase. His well-crafted, highly entertaining character study offers action, surprise, thrills, and a hero who may face inevitable demise. If The American is not the action picture its advertisements (reminiscent of the Bourne films) suggest, its depth of character more than compensates for the lack of visual stunts.

George Clooney — who cannot do anything wrong at the movies right now — subdues his natural charisma to create a deep portrayal of the troubled assassin. Clooney has grown so much as an actor in recent years that he continually surprises with his depth. To put this performance side by side with his recent work in Up in the Air is to appreciate a fine actor at the peak of his form. The intensity of his portrayal, in fact, is perfectly suited for Corbijn’s visual approach. By focusing on character, rather than plot, Corbijn is able to rely less on special effects and more on performance to advance his story. And Clooney delivers a solid portrayal.

The American also works because it smartly limits its focus. The film doesn’t try to be more than it is — a deeply moving character study of a man trapped in his own professional choice. Instead of confining the character to predictable chases, Corbijn focuses on the flawed aspirations of this man who still clings to a hope he can exchange this life for a quiet domesticity. Visually, Corbijn creates a stunning locale in the Italian village, capitalizing on the naturally remote atmosphere. He chooses to shoot the film in a series of isolated camera moves that enhance the fundamental state of the Clooney character, including an extraordinary shot from the sky that effectively defines the killer’s world.

Ultimately, the film offers a meaningful moral, that no matter where you hide, you can be found, by others, and by yourself. As you watch with your older children, discuss how they react to the character’s ultimate fate, the choices he made along the way, and the hope for redemption that may be within his grasp. But let them know this is not a Bourne film. It’s a character study of, perhaps, what Bourne could become when he reaches middle age.

(The American is rated R for nudity, profanity and violence. It runs 105 minutes.)

Film Nutritional Value:

The American

Content: High. The film offers a strong story, deep characters and urgent situations.

Entertainment: High. While not the action film some may expect from the advertisements, the interest in the lead character and the thrilling visual style will hold audience attention.

Message: Medium. This is not intended to be a message film beyond the focus on the lead character’s choices. Still it does teach us something about the inevitability of outcomes.

Relevance: High. Any film this well crafted is always relevant.

Dialogue: High. For an assassin picture, a favorite Hollywood genre, there is actually a lot to discuss and enjoy with your older children. But this is not a film for the entire family.

4 Popcorn Buckets

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