Every now and then, a big star Hollywood actor does an off-beat film that doesn’t garner much in the way of attention. The American is the latest film from George Clooney, a tale of a retiring hitman-come-weapon-maker who is looking for peace.

This film won’t appeal to most, hence its rather short lived release at the box office. It is slow, adult but most of all not like Clooney’s other films. Here is a man reaching the end of his career, just looking for a place to settle down without the sins of hist past catching up to him.

The characters are all unique, especially the crumbling rural town he finds himself in. Even a chase through the old quarter, which could very easily become a Bourne-esque fight scene, is handled delicately. The ending is much like the beginning, expected but unpredictable in its nature.

This is one to watch if you want to see something new and don’t mind a lot of dialogue.

My rating: 8/10