An underrated George Clooney movie has found its way to Netflix, and the 15-year-old thriller is definitely worth a revisit. George Clooney was one of the biggest movie stars of the ’90s and 2000s, but he got his start on the small screen on shows like Roseanne and ER. It didn’t take him long to become a leading man, and Clooney made a name for himself in roles that showed off his charming side. Clooney’s status as a major Hollywood heartthrob continued for years, though he eventually evolved into more mature roles that took advantage of his range.

George Clooney’s best movies are an illustration of his versatility, and he is deft in nearly every genre. His comedy acumen is well-known thanks to his many rom-coms, but he has also starred in subversive comedies like O Brother, Where Art Thou? and Fantastic Mr. Fox. Clooney snagged a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for Syrianna, and has been nominated as a director as well as an actor. One of his more underrated talents on screen is in action-oriented roles, and a 2010 film showed off a side of Clooney that had never been seen before or since.

The American Is Now On Netflix – What It’s About

George Clooney Plays A Hardened Killer With A Dark Past

Going against type, The American casts George Clooney as a hardened killer who isn’t afraid to do what needs to be done to survive. In the film, Clooney’s Jack is nearly killed by an ᴀssᴀssin while staying in a secluded cabin, and that spurs him back into action. He seeks out an old ally in order to obtain information about his would-be killers, and begins working as an illegal arms manufacturer for a new client. What follows is a twisting and wild ride as Jack begins to suspect anyone around him could be the person who wants him ᴅᴇᴀᴅ.

The movie features tense action scenes and plenty of exotic scenery, but it is mostly about Jack’s struggle to cope with his own lifestyle. The criminal who is pulled back into the underworld is an old standby storyline, but The American adds to the cliché with clever twists and strong performances from the likes of Clooney and co-star Violante Placido. Unlike the more action-oriented movies with similar plots, The American is still a character drama at heart and makes Jack’s journey the focus of the story. Each moment has weight, and every twist has major consequences.

The American Works Because Of How Great George Clooney Is In It

The Oscar Winner Elevates An Otherwise Middling Action Film

Though The American was clearly an attempt to turn George Clooney into a conventional action star, it is his charm that really saves the film. On paper, the 2010 movie is nothing particularly special, and features elements cherry-picked from a dozen other cinematic sources. Jack’s emotional journey is interesting, but as a character he is ill-defined and quite flat. If someone other than Clooney had been tapped to play the role, especially an actor with more genre experience, The American would likely have blended in with all the other action films of the early 2010s.

Clooney is undeniably charming, even when trying to play a stone-faced killer like Jack. Though it is often seen as a detriment to the film, it is that charm that helps resurrect The American into something salvageable. Because Clooney is such a good actor, he can’t help but find little moments to shine, and though it’s never explicitly shown onscreen, he gives the impression of a much richer character just below the surface. The American is hardly a perfect film, but it would have suffered with anyone other than George Clooney in the lead role.

The American‘s modest box office take can be chalked up to Clooney’s starpower, and the novelty of seeing the actor in a wholly different role undoubtedly got viewers to come to the theater. However, that doesn’t paint the full picture of what The American manages to accomplish. Clooney had played Batman in Batman & Robin, and had already starred in crime movies like the Ocean’s franchise, but The American is something different. It’s proof that George Clooney isn’t just another leading man, but an actor who can elevate a project with his talents and not just his marquee prestige.