The American is a suspenseful ride that keeps getting better and better -- and don't come in late and miss the beginning.

I love the tone and mix of this stylish cloak-and-dagger-type film.

And of course you need guns, stunning settings, and beautiful women -- that is women wrapped in mystery.

Yes, The American has all of this plus George Clooney in one of his best performances.

Clooney plays an assassin working for some ill-defined organization and being hunted by members of another ill-defined organization.

This movie really takes the time to establish the proper atmosphere, style, and cleverness by paying attention to small details.

If you're looking for an exciting, high-powered action film about assassins, this isn't it!

Boring to the unsophisticated moviegoer, its languid pace may put some viewers off.

But the slow, deliberate cadence is what makes it so realistic.

Not unlike the life of a private detective, the real world of murder for hire is, well, dull at best.

It's not all about explosions and car chases.

As a matter of fact, the chase scene in this film is comical in its simplicity.

It's tedious, full of irony, and yes it even has a prostitute with a heart of gold.

The movie The American is a suspenseful film about a cold-blooded assassin who hides out in the Italian countryside and becomes involved with a local woman.

The star, George Clooney, plays a brooding killer and is nothing like the charming guy he's made out to be in many films.

This picture takes us into the mind and lifestyle of a weary, hardened veteran assassin and follows the tale to its predictable conclusion.

The great thing about this gloom-and-doom, leave-no-witnesses flick is in the bloody end, the evil-minded star is trying, in a round-about way, to regain his soul through redemption, which is a worthy journey for a film character.