The American , a review ( sort of )

The latest George Clooney outing - The American , may be lording it over in the tills but , for me it has been a bit of a disappointment . Tony and I watched it over the weekend after we have seen the exciting trailer and heard some pretty good reviews. We were thinking that since it is an 'assassin' movie , it would be as action packed and thrilling as a Bourne movie. Sadly, it isn't and not even by half. I thought for sure after the opening scene , where Clooney's character ends up killing 3 people including the girl he was in bed with just hours before , that it was going to be a 'sitting on the edge of my seat , heart-palpitating , hand-covering my face ' experience. Well, I tell you , after that initial scene, the rest of the movie went slow mo as slow mo can get. George drinking coffee in a restaurant....George using the payphone ....George having a bad dream.......hey , wait- here's a perk--- George going to a bordello and meeting Clara , a perfect specimen of womanly beauty. Yeah, yeah, there is nudity here ( actually , a lot ). And hey, here's another perk- ladies actually get to see George's behind ! ( At last!) I've watched a million and one Clooney movies, which , by the way , I loved - Up in the Air, Syriana,Michael Clayton ,etc.etc. and this is the first time I've been treated to such sight. Quite picturesque too , was the Italian mountain village location.

In the movie, George Clooney is a cold blooded gun for hire who's having second thoughts about his profession and who wanted out after one last assignment. His boss agreed to let him go in a 'quiet' way. And that's where trouble begins.

The American is a contemplative thriller , that's how the critics call it. I don't think I am a big fan of this genre. I will take a well made action thriller anytime. Tony actually enjoyed the movie, however.

One little highlight of the Sunday movie date was the woman a seat away from me who kept mumbling angrily and was ticked off with the sound of popcorn munching in the theater. She approached a family one level down and across the aisle and told the boy who was just enjoying his popcorn to 'f----off! ' I was shocked with the audacity and the nerve of this woman. After the movie, the boy's dad calmly approached the woman and said : " I don't appreciate you telling my son to f_ _ off! If you like quiet , why don't you stay home and watch movie in your living room! You are a piece of work! You are rude. " When she was called rude , the woman just said " I know! ".

For a 'proper' review of the movie , check what my favorite movie reviewer and critic Roger Ebert has to say , and see why he gave the movie a respectable 4-stars .