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George Clooney continues to do no wrong.  The actor has been on a roll for the past couple of years and the one thing that I've come to love from the man is that he keeps on picking interesting films and working with only the best (or most promising new) directors.  The latest director to be blessed by Clooney is going to be Anton Corbijn for his new movie "The American".  The long time famed music video director finally made his debut film with "Control" in 2007 and if you've seen the film, then you know why you should be excited about this one.  To find out all the details, just hit the jump.

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The film, which is beginning production in Italy, will be written by Rowan Joffe ("28 Weeks Later") and is an adaptation of "A Very Private Gentleman" by Martin Booth.  I remember hearing about this film a couple of months back when I was checking up on what Corbijn had coming up, but back then the film was going by the same name as the novel.  Now, the title has been changed to "The American" for some reason.

So what is the film about? Well, here is the plot synopsis thanks to the press release:

"Alone among assassins, Jack (played by Mr. Clooney) is a master craftsman. When a job in Sweden ends more harshly than expected for this American abroad, he vows to his contact Larry (Bruce Altman of this fall's Peter and Vandy) that his next assignment will be his last. Jack reports to the Italian countryside, where he holes up in a small town and relishes being away from death for a spell. The assignment, as specified by a Belgian woman, Mathilde (Thekla Reuten of Focus' award-winning In Bruges), is in the offing as a weapon is constructed. Surprising himself, Jack seeks out the friendship of local priest Father Benedetto (Italian screen and stage veteran Paolo Bonacelli) and pursues romance with local woman Clara (Italian leading lady Violante Placido). But by stepping out of the shadows, Jack may be tempting fate."

I'll be honest and say that the film's plot doesn't really interest me too much.  What has me interested in this one is Clooney and especially Corbijn.  I'm sure there is a reason why both of these guys decided to do this film and I'm going to take a guess and say that when this film finally comes out that it will be on all of our radars.  The film is also set up at the pretty great Focus Features so this only makes me anticipate this film even more.  In the press release Focus CEO James Schamus basically sums up why you should be excited for this film by saying "The combination of a visionary artist of the stature of Anton Corbijn with the great George Clooney is, for all of us at Focus, a movie marriage made in heaven."  and I couldn't agree more.

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