I actually regret not taking my father to see this one. As a man who I know loves the kind of espionage thrillers that Sydney Pollack used to make, and also not only enjoys firearms but the construction and mechanics behind them, I am quite sure that he would have found this film even more fascinating than I did.The American involves an assassin, weapons manufacturer, and butterfly enthusiast named Edward who is ordered to hide out in a small Italian town after a botched job. While there he is given a new mission to construct a concealable rifle for a client. He also sparks up an ill-advised friendship with the local priest, and an even more risky romantic entanglement involving the local hooker with a heart of gold. To reveal anymore of the very simple plot would involve a spoiler alert.
The main thing that jumped out at me about this film is its silence and subtlety. This is such a quiet and elegant thriller that never feels forced or in your face. Yes there is a chase scene involving cars, guns, and a moped, but what interested me the most was that a thumping Paul Oakenfold techno track blaring over the soundtrack is refreshingly absent. This is an artistic piece that feels like it escaped from the seventies. A film made for adults and audience members with patience. While not entirely original it sometimes feels great to see a film that intrigues more than it exhilarates. B
1 comments:
I agree with you that this movie seemed to escape from the '70's. It was as simple as a movie can get, without any wasted dialogue or indulgent scenes. The only criticism I had, in retrospect, was that the person who ultimately ends up coming after Clooney would have been so elaborate about it.
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