The Limits of Control, The American & The Day of the Jackal

[Peter11216]

Not too long ago, my wife and I watched "The American." It was released in 2010, starring George Clooney. I thought the movie was almost good. It seemed to have the potential to be great, but in the process of falling short, slipped off a cliff. The movie wasn't poor enough that I thought about turning it off, but I won't remember much about as time goes on. I think it failed because it was neither a simply-to-entertain movie, nor one that provoked much thought or contemplation.

Clooney plays a somber tough guy, who seems to work as a contract killer, though apparently he is also a highly skilled gun smith. The film follows his character from an act of cold blooded murder, to his eventual demise and I suspect intended-by-the-director salvation. Most of the film takes place in the Italian countryside, where he designs and fabricates a rifle for a mysterious female sharp shooter. Through various devices we learn Clooney's character is capable killer. As the movie continues, we discover part of it is dedicated to showing how his character creates the rifle in the barren room of his rented apartment. It seemed implausible to me, but I know nothing about gun smithing. As he puts together the rifle, he meets characters from town; a catholic priest, his son (what Catholic priest doesn't have one), and a prostitute. He has a few meaningful talks with priest, and falls for the prostitute.

One the one hand, the movie lacked the action and violence of "The Day of the Jackal." On the other, it had way more action and violence the the excellent "The Limits of Control." "The Day of the Jackal" follows a nameless contract killer, on his mission to assassinate President DeGaulle. There's nothing too subtle about the plot. Cold blooded killer, gets a contract to kill DeGaulle - and we are entertained by his ingenious preparations. Aside from his ingenuity, there is nothing likable about the character. It is a great movie, and definitely something to watch just for fun. "The American" lacks the entertainment value of "The Day of the Jackal."

In Jarmusch's "The Limits of Control," we get the Day of the Jackal stripped down to only a few elements. Isaach De Bankol� plays another contract killer, maybe. We know he's sent to kill someone (played beautifully my Bill Murray), but we never find out why. Not only this, we never find out how! In the standard contract killer genre, the hero performs some superhuman feats - like putting together a high precision rifle with a mallet and drill press in the middle of tiny Italian village, or evading all of France's security apparatus, while still managing to take a couple of shots at DeGaulle. In the Limits of Control, we see none of this directly. We only know that Bankol�'s character is somehow able to infiltrate a secure facility, and execute his target.

The films follows his journey, focuses on a series of characters he meets along the way. The film uses the contract killer genre to convey some other theme. For someone who likes action movies, this isn't the easiest film to watch, besides having no action, it moves very slowly and carefully. Nonetheless, if you know action movies, like the Bourne series for example, you can get a lot from this one, if you have the patience. I would [not] necessarily recommend the film, because I'm sure some would find it boring. If you can handle slow-paced films this is a great one, though.

Thus, "The American" falls awkwardly between "The Limits of Control," and "The Day of the Jackal." It misses the best aspects of both movies, while hitting on the worse.

Best,

Pete

whoops - forgot the "not" before "necessarily" above.

[thechenman]

The American was so boring, I actually fell asleep.

[Peter11216]

The American was so boring, I actually fell asleep.

You definitely don't want to watch "The Limits of Control," in that case. I think Day of the Jackal, though, was pretty cool. Made in the 70's (I think), it doesn't have any of the constant action/MTV cuts of the Bourne series, but it still exciting enough.

[mazolaman]

You definitely don't want to watch "The Limits of Control," in that case. I think Day of the Jackal, though, was pretty cool. Made in the 70's (I think), it doesn't have any of the constant action/MTV cuts of the Bourne series, but it still exciting enough.

The day of the Jackall is a definite classic.

Lacking the need to try to coerce your attention with music or flash images all the time,allowing the tension to build itself.

Great example of a thriller.

There was a re-make,that was crap.

Would like to see "the American",as Clooney's films are often worth a look,particularly the more underground ones.

I think this one was meant to be a bit noirish.....

[Peter11216]

Would like to see "the American",as Clooney's films are often worth a look,particularly the more underground ones.

I think this one was meant to be a bit noirish.....

It was. I think the thing that bothered me was that it reminded me of "The Limits of Control," and when so reminded, it failed in comparison.

[mazolaman]

Would like to see "the American",as Clooney's films are often worth a look,particularly the more underground ones.

I think this one was meant to be a bit noirish.....

To go off the topic a bit.

Various Clooney films have,to me,been excellent.

Oh Brother where art thou? has always been a favourite of mine.

Confessions of a dangerous mind,is an excellent film,which Clooney directed and had a role in.

It is based on the (self claimed) life of Chuck Barris,a game show host in the USA int the sixties,who concieved and hosted "the dating game".

He also claims he was recruited by the CIA as a sleeper assassin,the film brilliantly illustrates his attempts int his work.

Sam Rockwell is nothing short of brilliant as Chuck Barris,Julia Roberts,Drew Barrymore,George Clooney..all excellent,not "starry",all eclipsed by Rockwell.

The film is interspersed with clips from the original game show,one of which is the funniest real life television I've ever seen.

Barris asks one lady"where's the oddest place you've made love"?

Her answer is hilarious.

Parts of the film are a critique of television,and the premiss on which it is made.

A well rounded film,with intrigue,humour,style,and sadness.

Bombed at the box office,proving the fact..there's no accounting for taste!

[frenchkiwi]

Interesting review thanks.

I might give Jarmusch's movie a go someday then. I really enjoyed reading the Day of the Jackal, there was something intense about the way the unsympathetic, calculating assassin went about his business and manipulated people and their feelings to his own ends...

[Peter11216]

I like Forsyth's books. Have you read The Dogs of War? It is an account of the overthrown of an African country, probably based on Equatorial Guinea. Many have remarked on the similarities to the recent, thwarted, attempt against the dictator of the country. See the Telegraph.

Jarmusch makes very "slow" movies. As far as movies go, not a lot happens in his movies. I can't explain exactly why I like them.

Interesting review thanks.

I might give Jarmusch's movie a go someday then. I really enjoyed reading the Day of the Jackal, there was something intense about the way the unsympathetic, calculating assassin went about his business and manipulated people and their feelings to his own ends...

[Bunker1028]

Petrus, thanks for the reviews. I watched both, and thought The American was okay, not much more than that. "Limit" was a drag, and really felt robbed of 2 hours. LOL.