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The American Review

Movies.com Critics

4.0

Dave White Profile

Clooney: A real chill murder-bro. Read full review

3.0

Jen Yamato Profile

Even assassins get the blues. Read full review

Other Critics provided by Metacritic.com

Critics scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more favorable reviews.

  • 4.0
    61

    out of 100

    Metascore®
    Generally favorable reviews
    based on a weighted average of all
    critic review scores.

  • 100

    out of 100

    Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert

    Here is a gripping film with the focus of a Japanese drama, an impenetrable character to equal Alain Delon's in "Le Samourai," by Jean-Pierre Melville.

    Read Full Review

  • 50

    out of 100

    Entertainment Weekly Owen Gleiberman

    The role requires Clooney to dial down his charm to nearly zero, and frankly, he looks twitchy and uncomfortable without it.

    Read Full Review

  • 50

    out of 100

    The Hollywood Reporter Kirk Honeycutt

    Nothing really adds up, and the ending is downright absurd. You would like even the most austere, doctrinaire existential movie to earn its downbeat ending. This one fails utterly to do so.

    Read Full Review

  • 60

    out of 100

    The New York Times A.O. Scott

    It is a reasonably skillful exercise in genre and style, a well-made vessel containing nothing in particular, though some of its features - European setting, slow pacing, full-frontal female nudity - are more evocative of the art house than of the multiplex.

    Read Full Review

  • 63

    out of 100

    Chicago Tribune Michael Phillips

    The movie is a paradox. It's ostentatiously restrained. You cannot say Corbijn lacks rigor. You can, however, say that when a talented director's approach too precisely mirrors the tightly calibrated performance strategy of his leading player, a movie risks stalling out completely.

    Read Full Review

  • 70

    out of 100

    Los Angeles Times Kenneth Turan

    While many of its elements whet our appetite and make the film well worth seeing, The American doesn't manage to deliver a fully satisfying meal. It's against the film's religion to have us believe too deeply in its characters, and that agnosticism, combined with the plot's sense of predestination, put a noticeable crimp in its grand ambitions.

    Read Full Review

  • 70

    out of 100

    Wall Street Journal Joe Morgenstern

    With its retro pacing, its pretentious lapses and its narrow emotional range, this elegantly crafted existential thriller risks alienating its audience; at times it feels like a test for attention deficit disorder.

    Read Full Review

  • 75

    out of 100

    USA Today Claudia Puig

    Clooney has excelled in serious roles - notably in "Michael Clayton" and "Syriana." But his Jack, a brooding assassin seeking redemption, is a bigger departure, and he pulls it off well.

    Read Full Review

  • See all The American reviews at Metacritic.com

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For Families provided by Common Sense Media

Iffy for 16+

Taut, mature drama examines the life of a lone assassin.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that this slow-paced, suspenseful drama focuses on an assassin for hire (played by George Clooney), but it's neither an action film nor a thriller. It has some intense gunfights, but the real "action" is watching the quiet life of a lonely mercenary who longs for human connection but is always looking over his shoulder in fear. A few scenes include smoking and drinking, and there's a good deal of nudity (including full-frontal female) and some explicit sex. Teens expecting a violent spy film might be disappointed (and even bored), but more mature viewers may appreciate this intimate look at a solitary life spent on the run.

  • Families can talk about how the media typically portrays assassins and spies. How is this movie different? Which seems more realistic?
  • Who do you think this movie is intended to appeal to? Is it successful?

The good stuff
  • message true0

    Messages: According to the movie, the life of an assassin is lonely and filled with extended periods of solitary anxiety and a few brief moments of danger. The nature of the job precludes personal connections, and they always seem to be looking over their shoulder.

  • rolemodels true0

    Role models: The main character is clearly a professional and master of his craft, but the work is taking a toll, and his guard seems to be slipping. He makes the job seem soul-killing rather than glamorous, so it’s no surprise when he says he wants to get out.

What to watch for
  • violence false3

    Violence: Several intense gunfights. The action scenes come up suddenly and end quickly, with enemies dispatched efficiently and without remorse. A few scenes show bloody bodies, including one dying assassin whose body has been mangled by an explosive.

  • sex false4

    Sex: Plenty of nudity, including extended, full-frontal shots of a female prostitute and a brief glimpse of a man’s naked butt. One sex scene is particularly long and explicit, with lots of thrusting, writhing, a suggestion of oral sex, and a woman who appears to climax.

  • language false2

    Language: Not a lot of swearing. A couple of uses of "f--k," and one conversation has several references to “bastards.”

  • consumerism false1

    Consumerism: A few European automotive brands are mentioned/visible, including a Fiat car and a Vespa scooter.

  • drugsalcoholtobacco false2

    Drinking, drugs and smoking: Some scenes show people drinking wine at dinner, and few feature harder liquor, though nobody appears to be drunk. A few people smoke cigarettes, including a half-naked woman who lights up after sex.

An independent nonprofit dedicated to providing families the information they need to help kids thrive in a world of media and technology.

© Common Sense Media Inc. 2010. All rights reserved.

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Fan Reviews provided by

Average Rating: 2.203
Read all reviews Write a review at Fandango
5

Excellent Film by charmaine.gilbreath
This is a film that requires your attention while you are watching it. It is not an action film in the conventional sense. I really appreciated that the score was implemented as an accent rather than a dominant part of the cinematics. I also really liked how we discover with Clooney's character the nature of his circumstances as he tries to break free of his "old life". Very satisfying film. Definitely GO.

2

by deitrichp

4

by lizcass

1

suks the sack by cadenicholl
This movie has too much nudity and sex also too boring DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY BUYING OR RENTING THIS MOVIE

5

by geoelevation25

1


4

by gbfortune

Read all The American reviews at Fandango
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