Page 24 THE VILLADOM TIMES I, II & III • September 15, 2010 Hit man story and art house style don’t click by Dennis Seuling No one ever questioned George Clooney’s status as a movie star. His charm, good looks, and special something make him unique and remind viewers of the urbanity of Cary Grant, the sparkle of Jimmy Stewart, and the masculinity of Clark Gable. Yet Clooney is his own person, and is a pleasure to watch, even in substandard fare. Regrettably, Clooney has taken a giant misstep with “The American.” What starts out as a fast-paced suspense thriller about a cold and calculating hit man is encumbered by a style more suited to the art house than the local multiplex. The opening of “The American” grabs viewers immediately. Jack (Clooney) is an assassin who leaves his remote hideout after he is discovered by unknown persons who are intent on killing him. His boss (Johan Leysen) tells him to go to Italy, where he is recruited to build a weapon for another assassin, Mathilde (Thekla Reuten). He meets a local prostitute, Clara (Violante Placido), but is constantly on guard, fearful that his past will catch up with him. Director Anton Corbijn has squandered Clooney’s assets in his attempt to present a modern-day tale of intrigue and the people who murder for pay. Clooney is relegated to going through the motions with little emotion. Perhaps the idea is that he is methodically focused on his job, but viewers never see Jack as a real human being. Clooney plays his scenes perfunctorily, almost as if all he wants is to get home early. A lot of this detachment is due to direction. When the viewer can’t get on board with the central character because he is simply too remote and too vague, the movie suffers. Although he is known for lightweight productions such as “Ocean’s Eleven,” Clooney has shown he can carry serious films, such as “Syriana,” “Michael Clayton,” and “Up in the Air.” But he is a totally different actor in “The American” -- not just dispassionate, but disengaged. Corbijn presents some beautiful sequences, but they become self-conscious and get in the way of narrative, bogging down the pace considerably. Instead of a quickpaced a movie about a hit man on the run, we get a ponderous nod to the genre. Too often, Hollywood directors go over the top in making sure every few frames has a car chase, a shootout, an explosion, or some other form of mayhem. Corbijn goes too far in the opposite direction. There are good moments, such as a scene set at night on narrow, winding Italian streets, when hunter becomes prey and Jack relies upon instincts in an unfamiliar location to turn the tables on his would-be assassin. However, the scene is too short to be effective. There is an opportunity here to build suspense and juggle the cat-and-mouse byplay, but the director simply tosses it away. With the exception of Placido, the actors play their roles George Clooney andThekla Reuten in ‘The American.’ with somber earnestness, giving the film a dreary flatness. Sure, we understand that the life of a professional hit man isn’t a barrel of laughs, but why does everyone in the picture -- including a priest (Paolo Bonacetti) Jack meets -- look as if they’ve come from a funeral? Rated R, “The American” is a film with great potential that ultimately disappoints. Star leading men in the past have made their share of clunkers and survived to continue with flourishing careers, so I don’t think Clooney has to consider another line of work just yet. “The American,” released just before the Labor Day weekend, marked the end of the summer movie season. The five highest-grossing movies taht were released between June and August were “Toy Story 3,” “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse,” “The Karate Kid,” “Despicable Me,” and “Inception.” North Jersey Biz Expo 10 scheduled Members of the Mahwah Regional Chamber of Commerce will join business organizations and other chambers of commerce from across the region at the North Jersey Biz Expo 10 on Thursday, Sept. 23, at Birchwood Manor, 111 North Jefferson Road, Whippany. The expo will be open from noon to 5 p.m. and is New Jersey’s largest networking event. The North Jersey Biz Expo brings together hundreds of business owners, purchasing agents, human resources experts, consultants, service providers, manufacturers, sales people, and marketing professionals. Attendees and exhibitors can view a wide array of goods and services of interest to them and their businesses. Meet with the area’s premier business leaders to exchange information, and share ideas, contacts, and business referrals. Booth space and sponsorship opportunities are currently available. For more information, call the North Essex Chamber of Commerce Chamber office at (973) 226-5500. Contact the Mahwah Regional Chamber of Commerce at www.mahwah.com or call (201) 529-5566. C • O • R •T• I • N • A R I S T O R A N T E “A HIDDEN GEM” K IRK E RS INN Sauerbrauten • Schnitzels • Bavarian Sausages Goulash • Potato Pancakes • Dumplings Spaetzel and more. 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