MovieChat Forums > The American (2010) Discussion > severely underrated gem.

severely underrated gem.

posted 10 years ago by npanou
14 replies | jump to latest

Movies that don't hold your hand and ham fist exposition and character development in your face are rare nowadays. This is a fantastic little gem about getting inside the head of a justifiably paranoid killer. People dismiss it as boring or even empty and meaningless. I loved it.

[–] civicsic 10 years ago

Agreed, I just watched it again this morning on Netflix and I think it's great. I love watching the paranoia of Jack, you can see it in everything he does. It's great to watch IMO.

[–] amormortua 10 years ago

Absolutely agree. It's a nuanced and truly interesting picture. Watched it today for the first time, but, surely, I'll watch it again in the future, it's worth it.

[–] joolztoolz 10 years ago

Meh....reminds me of a typical American 'hit you over the head trying to be artsy' type of film....and this is a typical American's idea of what 'artistic' is.

Could have been done alot better as a foreign film with a different actor. Oh well, Clooney does his best when he's not working out or having coffee.

The plot, is almost not bad.

Lamb stew? awwwwww really? You guys had to go there?

I am a leaf on the wind - watch how I soar.

[–] michaeltrenton 10 years ago

It's a hidden gem. I agree. I really like this film :)
I don't understand why so many people seem to dislike it...

.

[–] tnzk 10 years ago

It's not an American film. The only thing American about it is George Clooney and the fact that it's called 'The American'. Otherwise, it's a thoroughly European film.

[–] mike_elston 9 years ago

Maybe that's why I like it... 😉.

[Sorry, couldn't help it]

[–] Sidewindr 9 years ago

Meh....reminds me of a typical American 'hit you over the head trying to be artsy' type of film....and this is a typical American's idea of what 'artistic' is.

Could have been done alot better as a foreign film with a different actor.

It IS a foreign film you twit, you should do a bit of research before opening your mouth. The director is Dutch, it is based on a novel by an English writer (A Very Private Gentleman) and the screenwriter is also English, the only thing USAian in the whole movie is Clooney as the rest of the cast are European..

[–] bcstoneb444 9 years ago

Agree. I liked it very much, Day of the Jackal with a heart, if you like. And the Italian girlfriend was just beautiful...
The pacing and story of 'American' generally reminded me of Night Train to Lisbon, though in that film the character searching for redemption was a teacher and not a hit man.

[–] !!!deleted!!! (36957384) 9 years ago

I certainly didn't think it was boring. I just watched it for the second time and liked it even more the second time.

[–] 9 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Future_Games 9 years ago

I watched it for the second time last week. I'm not a big fan of George Clooney, but I didn't mind him in this. It's a quiet, understated and nuanced film. The Italian backdrop and landscape are beautiful.

ROCK STARS HAVE KIDNAPPED MY SON

[–] 9 years ago

[deleted]