Sunday, January 2, 2011

RAVE - The American

It's a shame that most people - me included - feel the need to discuss the pace (or lack of it) when reviewing this film.

So let's get that out of the way shall we?

The American is no Bourne, and there's no flash, bang, or whallop. This American is no Hollywood hit man, and the movie makes no attempt to zip along any faster than good storytelling will allow.

George Clooney is an assassin ordered to lie low in rural Italy when things get a bit messy on an operation in Sweden. The main body of the film follows Clooney as he goes about his daily life in a small Italian village, befriends the local priest and an equally local prostitute, while he is contacted by the co-planner of his next "job".

The slow pace allows each relationship, each element of the story to properly develop.

There's plenty of action in this film, but it plays out in a way that leads some to believe there's not enough. It's their loss, as this is an excellent drama, perhaps even an excellent thriller.

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