The American(o)

The American, directed by Anton Corbjin, is a slow burn, but a warm one. Clooney, playing Jack, evokes tension and terror as an assassin hiding in out rural Italy after a mishap in Sweden. His job is to craft a tricky gun for a woman, Mathilde, too beautiful to be an assassin. While doing this Jack falls for a woman, Clara, too beautiful to be a prostitute. The film does everything with taste and class. The sex is poetic. The violence is discreet. Jack’s craftsmanship is inspiring. This is a departure from most of Clooney’s resume, as he plays a tense and rather private portrait of a careful man, destroyed by his human side. The only issue is we do not see the antagonist until the third act. But it’s solving this mystery of antagonism that drives the movie: who is following Jack? How do they know about Sweden? Is Clara divulging information? Just as the majority of the movie operates in shadows, some of the films best scenes are spent in the shadows.



Clooney on the run. Props to the 70's style onesheet.

In light of this, I present you the Americano:

2 oz. Sweet Vermouth
2 oz. Campari
Club Soda

Pour vermouth and Campari into ice-filled highball. Fill with club soda and stir. Add a twist of lemon peel.

Campari is an apertif that is very delicious and sweet. This is best served, or drank, before dinner or some form of food consumption. Much like the slow pacing of the film, this is best drank slow and savored, thought and mulled over. Maybe while cooking something Italian this will give you something bubbly and tasty to sip on.

via Mr. Boston