Anton Corbijn’s 2010 film, The American, is impressive for its plot content and for its aesthetic beauty. The film focuses on character development of the main hero, Jack, or Mr. Butterfly played by George Clooney. The location, chosen for this picture, enters into a dialogue with the main character. The lone, rocky and rugged terrain of Italy’s countryside is intended to be a harmonious accompaniment to character development of lonely and mysterious professional assassin, Mr. Butterly. Similarly to a province that is tucked away from the rest of Italy’s flurry, Mr. Butterfly is isolated from the world and is lost within his own thoughts. He is filled with anxiety and paranoia. He seeks redemption to his actions, and hopes to turn his life around. According to the film’s director The American is intended to have a strong Western feel. (Focus features. The American: The Production.)
“The look, the stories, the morality of movie Westerns always attracted me. Although The American is not actually a Western, it is structured in that genre; a stranger comes to a small town and connects with a couple of the people in it, but his past catches up with him – and there is a shootout.” – Director Anton Corbijn. (Focus Features. The American: The Production)
The guidelines for a Western require a linear narrative, based around one story, which revolves around one character. The American fits these guidelines superbly, thanks to Rowan Joffe’s screenplay, adapted from Martin Booth’s 1990 novel “A Very Private Gentleman”. (Focus Features. The American. The Synopsis.)
“With a Western in mind, I wove together my favorite passages from the book, simplifying the overall structure into a character-motivated thriller with a streamlined plot, a powerful redemptive theme, very spare dialogue, and a wild Italian landscape that acts like a character in its own right, exerting its transformative, melancholy beauty on our hero and assisting him in his journey to redemption. George Clooney’s interest in my first draft allowed me to continue refining subsequent drafts with him in mind; that was a considerable dramatic boon for the script as well as a rare opportunity to craft a character for one of the greatest movie actors alive.” – Screenwriter Rowan Joffe. (Focus Pictures. The American: The Production.)
To pursue the norms of a Western genre, Anton Corbijn uses typical visual elements of a Western, like long extended shot, wide shots of the landscape, solemn music and a muted pallet throughout the film. With all if the elements combined and worked from the perspectives of cinematographer, Martin Ruhe, and editor Andrew Hulme, (The International Movie Base. The American: Full cast and crew.) The story preserves its authentic Western vibe even though it is set in a picturesque European location.
“Because Anton comes from the world of photography, he is able to compose his frames in a striking way – something that many directors spend their entire careers striving to achieve. But he also brings a perspective where he doesn’t see anything straight on; everything comes from a bit of an odd angle, which is a plus.” – Produces Grant Heslov (Focus Features. The American: The Production.)
Work Cited
“The American | Focus Features | Inside Our Movies | The American: About The Production." Focus Features | Welcome to Focus Features | The World's Best Pictures. Web. 13 May 2011. <http://www.focusfeatures.com/article/the_american__about_the_production?film=the_american>.
"The American (2010) - Full Cast and Crew." The Internet Movie Database (IMDb). Web. 13 May 2011. <http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1440728/fullcredits>.
"Google Images." Google. Web. 13 May 2011. <http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.filmofilia.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/the_american_pm.jpg>.
"YouTube - 'The American' Trailer HD." YouTube - Broadcast Yourself. Web. 13 May 2011. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ywmoXZwkA0>.
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