SUMMER REWATCH: THE AMERICAN: Discussion

Okay I shall start, hes hot hot and oh so bendy..... lol..... will now talk about the movie.

Have not watched it this week but will as soon as I get an hour/half to myself, so this is all from memory.

One of my favourite films, loved the dark, quiet intense side of George that I personally saw in this movie and would love to see him play a similar type of character that combines that kind of quietness.   At first I wasn't sure if it was a movie that I would enjoy but I have seen in now 3 times and each time Im completely engrossed in it.   Great supporting cast as well though their names escape me at the moment.

Damn shame it ended the way it did though as it would have been nice for him to get the girl.

I like the movie but not my favorite. As for George, I love his look in the movie and sit close at the TV   
But the movie is for me too "slow" sometimes....Starts for me already at the beginning when they walk in the snow before she got killed......I think the second half of the movie was better then the first half....But of course this is just me...

I wasn't expecting to like this film, but I really did. Cinematically it's beautiful - made me want to go back to Italy - and the wide shots really set the tone for the story. The emptiness of the landscape seemed to echo the emptiness of his life.

I found George's performance hypnotic. I couldn't look away, watching every change of expression, every move. He didn't need to speak to fully inhabit the character and make him completely believable. You can feel the ache in him to be free of the life he's living, the need he feels to trust and make a human connection. Wonderful!

My only quibble with the movie was that I knew he was the target and was pretty sure early on how the film would end. It didn't spoil the film for me because I enjoyed his performance so much (and because I thought the scene was great) but it did bother me a little. All in all, one of my favorites - up there with Michael Clayton and FDTD.

Nicky80 wrote:I like the movie but not my favorite. As for George, I love his look in the movie and sit close at the TV   
But the movie is for me too "slow" sometimes....Starts for me already at the beginning when they walk in the snow before she got killed......I think the second half of the movie was better then the first half....But of course this is just me...

Total agreement, Nicky.  Rather slow, esp the first  driving scene.  In all honesty,I was ready to walk out of the theatre, thinking if the whole movie is this slow-forget it.  Actually, just "sat through it" at the movies.  Didn't really get into it until the DVD came out, and I had had time for an attitude adjustment toward the project.

a bit egotist but
ITALY!   

It's Me - Not egotistic at all. Italy is beautiful and this movie really shows it off. It's like another character in the film.  

Pigpen - Did you like it any better after you adjusted your attitude? I loved the driving sequences.I thought they were very atmospheric and seemed to represent the possibility of escape - if he could only just keep going and drive away from his problems.

I think the pace of the film was meant to help the audience share the feeling that the tension and isolation of his life seemed never-ending - it just droned on and on, wearing him down until all he wanted was to get out.

Obviously, I really liked this movie. 

Definitely enjoy it more on DVD.  Oddly, not the sex scenes ( bedroom).  He just didn't seem convincing.

Funny, I thought the sex scene was more realistic than his others. I liked that in that scene he didn't have a real connection to her yet. As he said, he came to get pleasure not to give pleasure - reminding himself to keep his emotional distance - she's a hooker, that's all - remembering what happened to his last girlfriend and that in his business it isn't safe to have friends.

Not the character.  He as an actor wasn't convincing. Just MO.  Stiff ( no pun intended, seriously) flat.

PigPen wrote:Not the character.  He as an actor wasn't convincing. Just MO.  Stiff ( no pun intended, seriously) flat.

I think that's just the point PP.
The character wasn't supposed to show any emotion towards
the girl in that scene.
So his acting was spot on/just right/perfect....IMO.

Jo - I agree. I didn't think his acting was flat, just that the character was emotionally withdrawn. He treated her in a way that reminded them both exactly what their relatonship was - a business transaction and nothing more.
I liked that their "romance" played out slowly and that it was so hard for him to come to a place of trust with her. It reinforced what a miserable life he was living and why he wanted so badly to change.

Life imitating art, Lizzy? or the other way round. 

Alisonfan - Neither. I don't think he's ever felt as distant from human emotion or as trapped as this character was. I doubt he sees himself as someone seeking redemption. If you want something really close to reality, I'd say watch "Up In The Air". IMO that's as close as he's ever come to playing himself on film.

Yes I think so too. Up In The Air is the one which matches his life very close...Felt the same way when I watched it.

he was seeking for redemption
yes
IMO

and
for real affects too

some more 'normal'life