The latest George Clooney movie, The American, takes its inspiration from Martin Booth’s bleak novel, A Very Private Gentleman. The gentleman in question, who narrates the novel, makes customized weapons for assassins. This latest commission, to make an automatic weapon for a woman, is to be his last. Retirement beckons. But, of course, the gentleman’s past intrudes. Much of this discursive novel concerns the gentleman’s life in a small Italian town. He makes some friends, sleeps with two college students who sell sex to pay their tuitions, and dreads the inevitable “shadow-dwellers” who come to threaten him. There are long conversations with the village priest. You’ll find about five pages of action in this novel. Clearly, Clooney and company will have to jazz up the movie version to keep audiences from snoozing. My review of The American will be my posting tomorrow. GRADE: B
(Thanks to the Holley Community Free Library for providing this book.)
Well, I didn’t read the book but I did see the movie and it sounds – unfortunately – pretty close to the book. I know Ebert loved it but we were disappointed. Yes, it was beautifully filmed and the scenery (women and Italy) was gorgeous, but… well, I await your review.
Let’s just say something happened in the first ten minutes that colored my response to Clooney’s character for the rest of the movie.
I won’t be reading the book.
Although THE AMERICAN was the Number One movie of the week, Jeff, I think we’ll see a dramatic drop-off in attendance this week. Believe it or not, A VERY PRIVATE GENTLEMAN is warmer than THE AMERICAN.
From the reviews, they did not inject much action. I guess I will skip it-book and movie.
There are about five pages of “action” in the book, Patti. And, maybe 10 minutes of action in the movie. The movie had no narrative momentum. Although beautifully photographed, the movie was just a series of scenes piled one on top of another.
The trailer I saw on TV made it look like a real action thriller. Probably the entire best 30 seconds of the film. I’m with Patti, I’ll take a skip.
The trailer to THE AMERICAN is deceptive, Rick. It makes you think the movie is a Bond movie when it’s the exact opposite.
I tried to read the novel several years ago. Lunesta in book form.
I found it slow going, too, Drongo.