It's funny how people in the comments seem to be complaining, but the American imo is a kind of film you don't get to see anymore. The notion of celebrity lead movies is kind of dead as its the franchises who bring in the audiences to theaters (or home theater, for now in the covid-19 era). Like, seeing it is a great experience.
This film is superb. Yes, it's slow, yes there's no massive explosions, but these films with that European feel and setting are what I grew up on and there should be more of them. I used to watch subtitled Alain Delon films on the 4 channels that were available in the 80s. Imagine kids doing that now? I'm not sure.
I don’t think the reviewer really does the film justice in regard to its cliche. Yes it is there, it is there by intention. You can say that the characters exist as facile archetype or work as signifiers, after all this movie is not called A Very Private Gentleman, it is called The American, but aside from whatever cultural reference the easily consumed symbol is, if you do not address the priest’s son, you do not quite get to the notion that everyone is adrift in the consequences of their life choices. And that’s what this film, and possibly the book, is really about. It’s about looking back on one’s life and knowing with certainty that there is no way to recreate it. There is no more chance to escape consequence of the course a person has set on their life. It is the story of an aging man taking stock of his life and wondering if the fate of his own hand may still be escapable. I know I am an American, and so am schooled in facile symbols, but perhaps the woman who is a prostitute and the father figure who is a priest become less reducible to a “vicar and tart party” when you care to look behind that facade.
@ehansen3 Yes, but Blow Up and The Passenger can be classified as "thrillers" even if it's in a much broader sense than what we would normally call that today.
@Professicchio The Passenger was released in 75. Blow Up is a thriller though I agree. So maybe the statement should read "in the tradition of Antonioni's 60's thriller classic Blow Up" :) p.s I prefer Blow Out to Blow Up. Just thought I'd share that with you haha
This is the only film where George Clooney has given a serious performance. I've always seen him in comedic style roles, Intolerable cruelty for example.
+Onmysheet What about Michael Clayton or The Ides of March or his Academy Award winning perfornance in Syriana? Despite his reputation as the the smooth and funny "playboy" he is very much capable of taking on serious roles.
@13evilpriest13 do you mind giving me examples of this? I Like i said, for me the movie just kind of told Curtis's story and told you he was depressed, without really getting too deep into how it influenced the sound of the band. It showed him being depressed and the music being depressing without tying the two in any interesting way. Did it do it on some subtle level that i didn't pick up?
@pontiuspilot1 Did you do copy and paste? They're very unforgiving with that here. I hit Not Spam. Hopefully it'll help. You couldn't return the favour on Kermode's Code of Conduct video, could you?
Whilst the film needs to be more emotional & better written, the film’s still A well acted, stylish & well directed assassin thriller. (68%) (3.5/5 stars) (mixed to positive)
@ehansen3 I knew The Passenger was from 1975, but it is from Antonioni and it's a thriller, so 2 out of 3 ain't bad :) Regardless of preference there would not have been a Blow Out without Blow Up being made first, so it's all good.
@MrHopeTelevision ...Well, alls I can say is, that's a strange viewpoint. Antonioni's style was to make movies that deliberately distance themselves from their audience, while being filled with a sense of ennui and frankly unresolved plots. Don't get me wrong, I like Antonioni, and I can certainly recognise his influence in the works of many modern directors. But to call his films "thrilling", I personally consider to be a little bizarre.
I don't understand why people like 'Control'. There doesn't seem to be much to it. It seems to do the same thing that Kermode accused the Biggie biopic of doing. Not getting deep into the art of the musician in question.
It is funny.....this is the 2nd review that said watching him make the weapons were some of the best scenes.....that makes me really worried to watch it lol
I found this movie absolutely awesome, it's extremely subtle, and most will miss these moments.
It's funny how people in the comments seem to be complaining, but the American imo is a kind of film you don't get to see anymore. The notion of celebrity lead movies is kind of dead as its the franchises who bring in the audiences to theaters (or home theater, for now in the covid-19 era). Like, seeing it is a great experience.
Amen to Mark's last comment!
George Clooney, just on his own, on screen, is indeed a cinematic spectacle!
This and Michael Clayton are brilliant films for the serious movie goer who wants a good story and brilliant acting. Superb!
This film is superb. Yes, it's slow, yes there's no massive explosions, but these films with that European feel and setting are what I grew up on and there should be more of them. I used to watch subtitled Alain Delon films on the 4 channels that were available in the 80s. Imagine kids doing that now? I'm not sure.
I don’t think the reviewer really does the film justice in regard to its cliche. Yes it is there, it is there by intention. You can say that the characters exist as facile archetype or work as signifiers, after all this movie is not called A Very Private Gentleman, it is called The American, but aside from whatever cultural reference the easily consumed symbol is, if you do not address the priest’s son, you do not quite get to the notion that everyone is adrift in the consequences of their life choices. And that’s what this film, and possibly the book, is really about. It’s about looking back on one’s life and knowing with certainty that there is no way to recreate it. There is no more chance to escape consequence of the course a person has set on their life. It is the story of an aging man taking stock of his life and wondering if the fate of his own hand may still be escapable. I know I am an American, and so am schooled in facile symbols, but perhaps the woman who is a prostitute and the father figure who is a priest become less reducible to a “vicar and tart party” when you care to look behind that facade.
Just came out here too, been waiting for a while, it was great, its a much better film than last years similarily set Limits of Control
@ehansen3 Yes, but Blow Up and The Passenger can be classified as "thrillers" even if it's in a much broader sense than what we would normally call that today.
@Professicchio The Passenger was released in 75. Blow Up is a thriller though I agree. So maybe the statement should read "in the tradition of Antonioni's 60's thriller classic Blow Up" :) p.s I prefer Blow Out to Blow Up. Just thought I'd share that with you haha
This is the only film where George Clooney has given a serious performance. I've always seen him in comedic style roles, Intolerable cruelty for example.
+Onmysheet What about Michael Clayton or The Ides of March or his Academy Award winning perfornance in Syriana? Despite his reputation as the the smooth and funny "playboy" he is very much capable of taking on serious roles.
Up in the Air is serious as well, and i liked it
@13evilpriest13 do you mind giving me examples of this? I
Like i said, for me the movie just kind of told Curtis's story and told you he was depressed, without really getting too deep into how it influenced the sound of the band. It showed him being depressed and the music being depressing without tying the two in any interesting way.
Did it do it on some subtle level that i didn't pick up?
@pontiuspilot1
Did you do copy and paste? They're very unforgiving with that here. I hit Not Spam. Hopefully it'll help. You couldn't return the favour on Kermode's Code of Conduct video, could you?
By whom is the "The Samurai" film that Dr.K refers to? I would love to see it :)
Le Samourai, Melville. Starring Delon, good stuff
"...thriller classics of Antonioni..."
Antonioni never, EVER made a "thriller". His whole cinematic raison d'etre was to anti-thrill.
Whilst the film needs to be more emotional & better written, the film’s still A well acted, stylish & well directed assassin thriller. (68%) (3.5/5 stars) (mixed to positive)
@ehansen3 I knew The Passenger was from 1975, but it is from Antonioni and it's a thriller, so 2 out of 3 ain't bad :)
Regardless of preference there would not have been a Blow Out without Blow Up being made first, so it's all good.
"60's thriller classics of Antonioni" Red Desert and Zabriskie Point aren't exactly what i think of when the word "thriller" is used :|
@MrHopeTelevision
...Well, alls I can say is, that's a strange viewpoint.
Antonioni's style was to make movies that deliberately distance themselves from their audience, while being filled with a sense of ennui and frankly unresolved plots.
Don't get me wrong, I like Antonioni, and I can certainly recognise his influence in the works of many modern directors. But to call his films "thrilling", I personally consider to be a little bizarre.
I would say Control is less of a Joy division film and more of an Ian Curtis biopic
I don't understand why people like 'Control'. There doesn't seem to be much to it.
It seems to do the same thing that Kermode accused the Biggie biopic of doing. Not getting deep into the art of the musician in question.
@75Bonez "Le Samourai" by JeanPierre Melville
@Professicchio Fair enough :) and also no The Conversation hehe
It is funny.....this is the 2nd review that said watching him make the weapons were some of the best scenes.....that makes me really worried to watch it lol
It sounds like a series of unfortunate events ba da da lol
@LiquidSwords99 interesting, I thought the opposite of what you just said
hahaha, all these ppl have no clue, i thought the movie was terrible and pretentious too.
@pontiuspilot1 Here here. Dead right.
Aka boring.
This movie was not well made