Focus Features just announced Academy Award winner George Clooney and Director Anton Corbijn (Control) will start production this week in Italy on the movie The American, based on Martin Booth’s suspense thriller novel A Very Private Gentleman (2005). Focus Feature holds world-wide rights to the film.
Alone among assassins, Jack (Clooney) is a master craftsman. When a job in Sweden ends more harshly than expected for this American abroad, he vows to his contact Larry (Bruce Altman of Peter and Vandy) that his next assignment will be his last. Jack reports to the Italian countryside, where he holes up in a small town and relishes being away from death for a spell. Surprising himself, Jack seeks out the friendship of local priest Father Benedetto (Italian screen and stage veteran Paolo Bonacelli) and pursues romance with local woman Clara (Italian leading lady Violante Placido). But by stepping out of the shadows, Jack may be tempting fate.
The American is Corbijn’s second feature film as director, following the award-winning 2007 drama Control, for which the director was honored with two British Independent Film Awards. I thought Control was a great piece of film shot in black and white. Corbijn told a great story about the famous but short-lived musician, Ian Curtis, who killed himself.
Popularity: 1% [?]
