The American

George Clooney lives in Italy, so he has now decided to make a film nearer to home. This is certainly a more low key film than he is used to.

In 2007 photographer turned director Anton Corbijn made an excellent film about singer Ian Curtis. One of the best aspects of the film was the cinematography. Anton being a photographer he knows how to compose the screen to display the best shots. Once again Anton has made a very beautiful film. This is one of the best things I liked about it. The story is told in a very visual way and with very little dialogue. The story is not all that great and is quite predictable and cliched, but I did not mind that. It maybe a familiar story but it is told in a unique way. I also know that many think the film is not tense enough but once again I disagree. I don't think the film is meant to be very tense. It is very much a character study of a man who is nearing the end of his career and realising he is feeling lonely and wants some companionship but is unable to because of his career. It moves slowly but that suits the story.

George Clooney would have to be my favourite actor. He can do such a wide variety of roles from Comedy to drama. Plus he branches out into other areas like producing, writing and directing. Which is why I have a great deal of respect for him. This is certainly a less flashy role for him. He gives a very restrained portrait of a man who is trapped in his job and cannot escape. Even people he loves get caught up in the torment. George is supported by a couple of great actors in fairly cliched roles. Paolo Bonacelli is nicely supportive as the priest who becomes Jack's friend. Thekla Reuten is nicely cryptic as the client Jack must work with. Violante Placido does a good job in the pretty thankless role as the hooker with a heart of gold that must fall for Jack.

A nicely subdued adult drama. Not the high impact action style thriller that you may expect. But still a refreshingly different type of film that tells a familiar story in a nice way.