The American (R, 2010)
common sense media says
Taut, mature drama examines the life of a lone assassin.
parents & educators say
- 80% say sexual content is an issue
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this slow-paced, suspenseful drama focuses on an assassin for hire (played by George Clooney), but it's neither an action film nor a thriller. It has some intense gunfights, but the real "action" is watching the quiet life of a lonely mercenary who longs for human connection but is always looking over his shoulder in fear. A few scenes include smoking and drinking, and there's a good deal of nudity (including full-frontal female) and some explicit sex. Teens expecting a violent spy film might be disappointed (and even bored), but more mature viewers may appreciate this intimate look at a solitary life spent on the run.
Positive role models:
The main character is clearly a professional and master of his craft, but the work is taking a toll, and his guard seems to be slipping. He makes the job seem soul-killing rather than glamorous, so it’s no surprise when he says he wants to get out.
Violence:
Several intense gunfights. The action scenes come up suddenly and end quickly, with enemies dispatched efficiently and without remorse. A few scenes show bloody bodies, including one dying assassin whose body has been mangled by an explosive.
Sex:
Plenty of nudity, including extended, full-frontal shots of a female prostitute and a brief glimpse of a man’s naked butt. One sex scene is particularly long and explicit, with lots of thrusting, writhing, a suggestion of oral sex, and a woman who appears to climax.
Language:
Not a lot of swearing. A couple of uses of "f--k," and one conversation has several references to “bastards.”
Consumerism:
A few European automotive brands are mentioned/visible, including a Fiat car and a Vespa scooter.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking:
Some scenes show people drinking wine at dinner, and few feature harder liquor, though nobody appears to be drunk. A few people smoke cigarettes, including a half-naked woman who lights up after sex.
More on The American
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Most useful reviews by all members
Honestreviewer
adult
adult
Bad movie
I heard this was a good movie, so i went to it with a friend. we got up and left during the second sex scene. there was hardly any dialog (which was kind of awkward), and LOTS of nudity. May as well have been a straight up porn-o (not that i endorse that at all), but it was bad. I definitely lost respect for Mr. Clooney.
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wolfdad57
parent of 5 year old
parent of 5 year old
movie was an excellent example of the lonliness of an assasin.
clooney was at his best. i even jumped a couple otimes.. i give the show a 9...
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aamd13
kid, 11 years old
kid, 11 years old
ive never seen it but it sounds E X P L I C I T
sex sounds eXplicit
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Q81
adult
adult
VERY Sexual!! I don't think that this movie is appropriate for anyone, it is about one step shy of a porno! There are multiple sex scenes and lots of nudity.
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Supplymtnbkr
educator and parent of and 6 , 11 , 14 year old
educator and parent of and 6 , 11 , 14 year old
Not one of Clooney's best performances
Nude scenes that add nothing to the plot, which is very thin. The movie was very slow with no suspense and the characters are all very shallow.
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Sarah F
adult
adult
This movie is terrible and completely inappropriate for all ages. The sex scene is extensive and graphic. There is also a lot of nudity! There is full frontal female nudity and a males butt. I wouldn't recommend this movie to anyone. Besides all the nudity the story line is terrible. It is boring and you can't wait for it to end. I should have just walked out.
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moviemadness
adult
adult
The American is not that it was hyped to be -but don't let that deter you
I went into the theater expecting another action packed spy thriller that the trailer had prepared me for. Instead, I saw something very different, but still very good. In a world where the undercover life is portrayed as exciting, romantic, financially rewarding, and glamorous, "The American" was a reality check. It honestly shows the gritty loneliness that the main character experiences and his desperation to find human connection. The bleak colors, deserted Italian towns, and tense character of the film back this up tremendously. Parents be warned, there is an extended explicit sex scene and several scenes of female nudity. There are one or two bloody moments as well. This is not a spy thriller for kids. It's a cerebral, desolate, deeper-look for adults only.
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mommydance3
educator and parent of 12 year old
educator and parent of 12 year old
Don't Waste Your Money or Your Time
Both my husband and I abhorred this movie--for somewhat different reasons. In no way is this movie appropriate for a child of any age. The graphic nudity and sexual scenes are inappropriate for children and add nothing to the movie. We felt like asking for our money back for having wasted our time and money! There is very little plot to the movie, the acting is weak at best, and the movie promos show the handful of action scenes that actually occur. The storyline is so slow that I fell asleep during part of the movie! I am less embarrassed about that than I am about having stayed for the entire show, waiting for it to get better. We find it difficult to believe that George Clooney would allow his name to be attached to this movie in any way, and we would not recommend it to anyone of any age!
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Mr. K
parent of 17 year old
parent of 17 year old
Finally, I movie with George Clooney as an assassin. I've been waiting for this for a long time and The American really delivered
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mariannp
parent of and 8 , 9 , 13 , 16 year old
parent of and 8 , 9 , 13 , 16 year old
Odd movie, more like a novel
Iffy-iffy. Opening scene is very violent although that isn't a constant in the movie. The movie shows how a man evolves & wants to leave his life behind. It became easy to figure out what was going to happen next as the movie went on. I did enjoy the music, whoever composed the score was a genius & the placement really helped get a feeling of who George Clooney's character was. Not happy with the ending although I figured out mid-way thru the show what was going to happen.
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LMATTHEW
parent of 16 year old
parent of 16 year old
Not for kids
Enjoyed the movie, but the nudity and sex makes it very inappropriate for anyone but the most mature of viewing audiences!
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