In George Clooney’s next film, The Men Who Stare At Goats (which I saw the other night – my review is coming), he’s a man trained by the army to be able to kill. In his film after that, The American, he’s a man hired to kill. Based on the novel A Very Private Gentlemen by Martin Booth, the film will find George traveling to Italy to kill people in style. Here’s the synopsis straight from Focus Features:
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.
The director here is Anton Corbijn, who is following up Control. The oh-so-reliable IMDB has the film shooting right now, so it’s possible we could see the picture some time next year.