The American Review

• 22nd Nov 2010

Clooney always picks very interesting roles, and this one is juxtaposed with a character confident at his craft, yet unsure of his future and what is important to his entire being. It is all of course addressed as the gun-maker finds himself relocated to a quiet, old fashion town in the hills to work and take in the sights.

This comes about after an attempt on his life, a desire to get out of the business and the chance to do “one more job.” He spends his time either alone working, talking to the local father from the church or taking up the time of a working girl who soon becomes a full time romantic interest.

While there are long moments of dialogue free scenes, there are moments of intense paranoia and even the odd outburst of action as his location is found by those who would like nothing better than to put him out of his misery.

The business part of his life takes a turn for the worst in the most contrived part of the film, however. You question why it is that his employers would want him dead the moment he turned in his retirement papers. Seems a bit of a risk not worth pursuing, but then what do I know about this business world? Seems though that every assassin and gun-maker in the world of film gets chased the moment they want to do one last job. Hardly an attractive prospect! Still, it’s a slow and beautiful film and with a strong leading performance from Clooney. It manages to marry old school thrillers with a heavy world cinema feel and is a welcome alternative to the blockbusters that are running rampant at the moment.

Steven Hurst